Romania Airport Smoking Areas

By , Author, Air Travel Writer · Updated

Romania’s main international gateway is Bucharest Henri Coandă International Airport (OTP), at Otopeni north of the city, and it is a comparatively smoker-friendly airport: it keeps designated smoking areas airside, past security, among the departure gates. That makes a Bucharest layover easier than at many European hubs where smoking is outdoor-only.

For international travel through Romania, Bucharest (OTP) is the airport that matters, as TAROM’s hub and by far the country’s busiest.

How Romanian Airport Smoking Works

Romania’s Law 15/2016 bans smoking in enclosed public spaces, including airport terminals — the general concourse, halls and gate areas are smoke-free — while airports may still set aside designated smoking areas:

  • Designated smoking areas airside at Bucharest, past security, near the international departure gates
  • Smoking is also at designated outdoor areas outside the terminal, landside
  • The general terminal, check-in halls and gate areas are smoke-free
  • E-cigarettes are treated like tobacco — not in the open terminal; use the designated areas

The Hub

Bucharest Henri Coandă International Airport (OTP). Romania’s largest airport and TAROM’s hub, at Otopeni, handling around 17 million passengers a year through a single terminal whose airside concourse splits into domestic and international flows. Bucharest Otopeni’s smoking areas sit airside among the international departure gates — travellers report spots near the Gates 4-6, Gates 7-11 and Gates 24-29 clusters — with additional marked outdoor areas outside the terminal for arrivals and pre-security smoking.

Tips for Smokers at Romanian Airports

  • Bucharest keeps airside smoking areas by the gates — you can smoke during a layover without exiting security
  • Individual spots can move during terminal renovation; allow a few minutes to find the nearest one, or ask airport information
  • E-cigarettes follow the same indoor ban as tobacco — use the designated areas
  • Smoke landside at the marked outdoor areas outside the terminal entrances

Romania Airports Compared: Indoor, Outdoor & After Security

AirportAfter securityIndoor roomOutdoor area
Bucharest Henri Coanda Airport (OTP)YesYesYes

Last updated:

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you smoke at Bucharest Otopeni Airport (OTP)?

Yes — Bucharest Henri Coandă (OTP) keeps designated smoking areas airside, past security, near the international departure gates, so transit passengers can smoke without leaving the secure zone. Marked outdoor areas outside the terminal cover landside smoking.

Is there a smoking area after security at Bucharest Airport?

Yes — designated smoking areas sit in the airside international departures concourse, reported near the Gates 4-6, Gates 7-11 and Gates 24-29 clusters, usually small enclosed spots by the bars and cafés. Individual spots can move during terminal works.

Are e-cigarettes and vapes allowed at Romanian airports?

Romania’s indoor smoking ban treats e-cigarettes like tobacco, so vaping is not allowed in the open terminal or at the gate — use the designated smoking areas, airside or the outdoor areas landside.

Where can I smoke at Bucharest Otopeni Airport?

Airside at the designated smoking areas near the international departure gates, and landside at the marked outdoor areas outside the terminal entrances. The general terminal is smoke-free.

What is Romania's airport smoking law?

Romania’s Law 15/2016 bans smoking in enclosed public spaces, including airport terminals, so the general concourse is smoke-free. Airports may provide designated smoking areas — Bucharest Otopeni operates them airside among the departure gates and outdoors outside the terminal.