Ankara, Turkey
Smoking policy at Ankara, Ankara Esenboğa Airport (ESB)
Warnings & Caveats
Smoking is only permitted in designated areas. Smoking anywhere else in the terminal is prohibited under Turkish law. The domestic airside terrace near Gate 301 is standing only, with no seating provided.
Ankara Esenboğa Airport (ESB) does permit smoking, but only in specific designated areas both before and after security. You can smoke landside and airside, but the options are limited and you need to know exactly where to go. The airport operates as a single combined terminal handling domestic and international traffic under one roof, which shapes how the smoking areas are laid out.
Before Security
Landside, your main option is the outdoor terrace at the Nero Coffee Shop (also referred to as Café Nero). A traveler report from April 2026 confirms this terrace is usable for smoking. It is a proper outdoor seating area rather than a cramped corner, making it one of the more comfortable pre-security spots at this airport. No specific hours were reported, but Café Nero generally operates during normal airport hours.
After Security
Domestic side: Head down via the escalator or elevator to the ground floor near Gate 301. In the corner of that level you will find an outdoor, standing-only smoking terrace. This has been confirmed by multiple traveler reports (March 2020 and April 2026). There is a café nearby on the same floor. Note that this is a standing-only area with no seating.
International side: The sources indicate there are smoking facilities inside the international terminal, though the exact location description is limited to a general reference and a terminal floor plan image. The floor plan (image index 2) shows a smoking symbol on the upper level of the international departures area, suggesting the facility is on the mezzanine or upper floor of that section.
Lounges
The Primeclass Lounge operates in both the international and domestic terminals (both open 24 hours). Access is available by paying at the door, through prepaid lounge passes, lounge membership programs such as Priority Pass, or credit card rewards programs. Neither lounge listing in the sources explicitly confirms a smoking area inside, so you should not count on the lounge as a guaranteed smoking option.
Vaping Rules
No specific information about vaping rules at ESB was found in the available sources. Turkish law generally restricts vaping in enclosed public spaces, so treat it the same as cigarettes and use only the designated outdoor areas.
Transit and Layovers
If you are transiting through ESB, access to the Gate 301 outdoor terrace on the domestic side requires going down to the ground floor. For international transits, the smoking facility in the international terminal should be accessible without re-clearing security, but confirm with airport staff if you are unsure about your specific transit routing.
Bottom Line
Smoking is possible both before and after security at ESB, but the airside options are limited to a standing-only outdoor terrace near Gate 301 (domestic) and a facility in the international terminal. Plan your smoke breaks around these specific spots rather than expecting widespread access.
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