Athens International Airport Eleftherios Venizelos (ATH)

Athens International Airport (ATH) is one of the more smoker-friendly airports in Europe, with designated smoking facilities both before and after security. Multiple Winston-branded smoking lounges and booths are spread across Terminals A, B, and C airside, so you have real options regardless of which concourse you depart from. That said, the landside options are more limited, and vaping rules are not explicitly posted anywhere.

Before Security

Landside smoking is restricted to a handful of spots:

• Outdoor designated areas outside the terminal buildings, accessible before you enter the check-in hall. These are the most straightforward option if you arrive early.

• Winston Smoking Zone booth in the departures hall, located between check-in desks 106 and 107 (shown on the official airport map). Note: at least one traveler reported in May 2024 that this booth may no longer be operational, so treat it as unconfirmed and check on arrival.

• A smoking booth in the departures area before security (a standalone glass-walled Winston Smoking Zone cabin) has been photographed inside the terminal concourse landside.

After Security

This is where ATH really delivers. You'll find Winston Smoking Lounges across all three concourses:

• Terminal A, Gate A8 (Departures, extra-Schengen): A smoking lounge directly in front of Gate A8, confirmed as recently as August 2025. There is also a smoking room near Gates 9-13 in Departures A, confirmed October 2022.

• Terminal A, Gate 08/09 area (Arrivals A): A smoking room behind the Starbucks in the Arrivals A zone, confirmed open July 2022.

• Terminal B, Gates B12-B13 (Departures B, Schengen): The most frequently reported and photographed location. A spacious Winston Lounge with air conditioning, seating, and tables, situated between the Lufthansa Lounge and Gate B12/B13. Confirmed by multiple travelers as recently as May 2026.

• Terminal B, Gates B19-B21 (ground floor, Departures B): A smoking point on the ground floor in front of Gates B19-B21, also useful for arriving Schengen passengers heading to baggage claim. Confirmed March 2026.

• Terminal B, Gate B13: A smaller smoking booth directly in front of Gate B13, reported as a separate, more compact option from the main B12-B13 lounge.

• Terminal C, before Gate C34 (Satellite Terminal): A Winston Smoking Lounge clearly signposted just before Gate C34, confirmed September 2023. There are also reports of a smoking cabin near Gate C27 and opposite Gate C32 near passport control.

• Arrivals (before baggage claim): A designated smoking area in the Arrivals section just before luggage pickup, confirmed by travelers. The Schengen arrivals smoking point is near carousel 5 (shown on the official map). The extra-Schengen arrivals smoking area is across from Gate A22 on the arrivals level.

Airline Lounges

The Aegean Airlines business lounge is non-smoking and has been for several years. If you are hoping to smoke in a premium lounge, that is not an option here. The Winston Lounges are free-to-use, open-access smoking rooms, not paid airline lounges.

Vaping Rules

No explicit vaping policy is posted by the airport. The safest assumption is that vaping falls under the same rules as smoking: only in designated areas. Confirm with airport staff if in doubt.

Transit and Layovers

If you are transiting through ATH and staying airside, you have solid options in all three concourses. You do not need to exit and re-enter security to find a smoking area.

Bottom Line

ATH is genuinely one of the better European airports for smokers, with free Winston Lounges airside in every concourse. Smoke before security if you can, but you will not be stuck hunting for a spot once you are through.