Yes, you can smoke at Tribhuvan International Airport (KTM) — there is a designated smoking area in the international departure hall after immigration and security, an enclosed indoor smoking room in the landside Executive Lounge, and an outdoor smoking area at the domestic terminal.
As Nepal’s only international gateway, KTM handles nearly all of the country’s overseas air traffic, so it keeps designated smoking facilities for transiting and departing passengers. Nepal’s Tobacco Product (Control and Regulation) Act bans smoking in public places but lets an airport manager designate a ventilated smoking area, which is why these facilities exist.
International Terminal — After Security (Airside)
The airport’s official FAQ lists designated smoking areas in the departure lounge of the international terminal, so departing and transiting passengers can smoke without leaving airside. Travellers report the facility in the gate-hold hall past immigration and security — the international terminal has a single large hold area serving the bus gates, and the smoking spot is on the far left when facing the departure gates. Signage is limited, so ask a member of staff if you cannot spot it. Note that the airside Horizon Lounge is non-smoking.
International Terminal — Executive Lounge (Landside)
The Executive (Radisson) Lounge sits on the upper level of the international terminal, before the final security and immigration checkpoint. At the rear of the lounge, next to the quiet room, is an enclosed glass-walled smoking room fitted with sofas, coffee tables and ashtrays; the glass partition keeps smoke away from the main seating. Lounge access is required — via membership, a lounge programme or a walk-in fee. Because the lounge is landside, you cannot return to it once you have cleared immigration, so use it before you go through to the gates.
Domestic Terminal
The domestic terminal keeps its smoking area outdoors, just outside the main terminal building. There is no indoor smoking facility on the domestic side, so step outside before your flight and re-enter through the standard screening.
Vaping
Nepal restricts e-cigarettes: use in public places — including airports — is prohibited, and there are no vaping facilities anywhere in the terminal. The designated smoking rooms are for cigarettes only; treat vaping as banned airside and indoors, and keep any e-cigarette packed away.
Summary table
| Area | Smoking | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| International departures, after security | Yes | Airside gate-hold hall, far left of the gates |
| Executive Lounge smoking room | Yes | Landside, enclosed indoor room, lounge access required |
| Domestic terminal | Outdoor area | Outside the main building |
| Vaping | No | Prohibited in public places |
For Nepal’s airport smoking rules and vaping law, see our Nepal airport guide.