Charleroi, Belgium
Smoking policy at Charleroi, Brussels South Charleroi Airport (CRL)
Warnings & Caveats
Smoking anywhere other than designated zones is prohibited under Belgian law, with fines starting at €208 for a first offence. Vaping and e-cigarettes are subject to the same restrictions as tobacco under the 2016 Belgian Royal Decree. Transit passengers connecting via Terminal 2 may need to exit security to smoke, as no airside smoking is confirmed there.
Brussels South Charleroi Airport (CRL) is Ryanair's main Belgian base, and as a compact, single-terminal budget hub it has a straightforward smoking setup. The only airside smoking option is an outdoor terrace above the food court near gates 18-19 in Terminal 1, which is a genuine perk for a budget airport of this size. Landside, you can smoke outside the terminal entrance before going through security.
Before Security
Smoking is only permitted outdoors, directly outside the terminal building on the arrivals and departures forecourt. The terminal is compact, so the walk back out is short, but keep in mind you will need to re-queue through security if you step outside after check-in.
After Security
Terminal 1 has one confirmed airside smoking option:
Outdoor terrace above the food court, near gates 18-19: This is a proper open-air rooftop terrace with tables, chairs, and standing ashtrays. Traveler reports from 2021 through 2023 consistently confirm it is open and comfortable, with enough space to accommodate dozens of people at once. The smoking section is on the left side as you enter the terrace from the food court level. It offers views over the apron and is a genuinely pleasant spot by budget-airport standards.
There is also a historical mention of a smoking area between gates 22 and 23, reported as reopened in August 2021, though more recent updates focus on the gates 18-19 terrace as the primary spot.
Terminal 2
No confirmed airside smoking information is available for Terminal 2. If you are connecting through CRL on a flight departing from Terminal 2, you may need to exit the secure area and smoke landside before re-clearing security.
Vaping Rules
Belgian law, updated by the 2016 Royal Decree, applies the same indoor ban to e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products (such as IQOS) as it does to traditional cigarettes. Vaping is only permitted in the same designated outdoor zones as smoking.
Transit and Layovers
CRL is primarily a point-to-point budget airport with limited connecting traffic. If you do have a layover and need to smoke, the gates 18-19 terrace is your best bet airside. For Terminal 2 connections, plan for the possibility of having to exit and re-enter security.
Bottom Line
CRL is actually one of the better budget airports for airside smokers, thanks to the spacious rooftop terrace near gates 18-19. Smoke there after security rather than stepping outside and losing your place in the queue.
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