Russia has one of the more interesting recent histories in airport tobacco policy. The 2013 federal anti-smoking law banned indoor smoking at all enclosed public spaces, including airports — and indoor smoking rooms were closed nationwide. Six years later, in 2019, Russia amended the law to explicitly permit enclosed, ventilated smoking rooms at airports. Most major Russian airports promptly rebuilt their indoor smoking facilities, and today Russia operates one of the more flyer-friendly airport smoking models in the world.
For travellers, this matters: a layover at Sheremetyevo, Domodedovo, or Vnukovo means you can smoke in a heated, enclosed indoor room without leaving the secure zone. Compare with similar transit at London Heathrow (outdoor curbside, exit security required) and the difference is substantial.
How Russian Airport Smoking Works
The 2019 amendment (Federal Law N 38-FZ amendment) permits airports to provide enclosed, ventilated smoking rooms accessible to passengers. The rooms are:
- Post-security, available without leaving the transit zone
- Heated/cooled with HVAC ventilation
- Free to use at most airports (Sheremetyevo’s premium Moscow Lounge has a fee)
- Distributed across departure and transit areas at major hubs
The pattern follows European norms more than US ones — closer to Frankfurt or Munich than to LAX or JFK.
The Three Moscow Hubs
Sheremetyevo (SVO). Moscow’s busiest airport. Outdoor smoking pavilions at departures plus the paid Moscow Lounge in Terminal D with indoor smoking access. The lounge is a premium experience worth it for long layovers.
Domodedovo (DME). Moscow’s second hub. Indoor smoking rooms reopened in 2024 at Gallery E Gates 5 and 8 after a renovation. Both are post-security and free to use.
Vnukovo (VKO). Moscow’s third hub, used heavily for domestic flights and smaller international destinations. Eight indoor smoking rooms — four in international zones, four in domestic — plus an IQOS-branded lounge near Gate 25.
Major Regional Airports
St. Petersburg Pulkovo (LED). Indoor smoking rooms on the third floor near BUD Burger and on the first floor near gate clusters. Cabin-style rooms.
Yekaterinburg Koltsovo (SVX). Indoor rooms in business lounges and general transit areas. Hub for Ural region flights.
Kazan (KZN). Renovated for the 2018 FIFA World Cup; indoor smoking rooms post-security.
Sochi (AER). Black Sea resort airport, 2014 Olympics renovation. Indoor rooms plus outdoor zones for those who prefer fresh sea air.
Novosibirsk (OVB). Siberia’s largest city. Indoor rooms — essential given -30°C winters that make outdoor smoking impossible.
Krasnodar (KRR). Southern Russia, milder climate. Indoor rooms plus outdoor options.
Irkutsk (IKT). Lake Baikal gateway, Trans-Siberian railway terminal. Indoor rooms.
Tips for Smokers at Russian Airports
- All three Moscow airports have indoor smoking facilities post-security — easy transit
- Sheremetyevo’s Moscow Lounge in T-D has smoking access (paid entry, worth it for long layovers)
- Vnukovo has eight indoor rooms plus an IQOS lounge — most facilities of any Russian airport
- Russian winters at northern airports (Yekaterinburg, Novosibirsk, Irkutsk) make indoor rooms essential
- Cigarettes are inexpensive in Russia (~$3-5/pack landside, more at airport duty-free)
- Heat-not-burn devices and vapes are welcome at most smoking rooms
- For long-haul transit (Asia-Europe via Moscow), Russia’s airport smoking infrastructure is competitive with the best of East Asia
Russia Airports Compared: Indoor, Outdoor & After Security
At a glance — which Russia airports let you smoke after security, in an indoor room, or in an outdoor area: