Copenhagen, Denmark
Smoking policy at Copenhagen, Copenhagen Airport (CPH)
Warnings & Caveats
Once you pass through passport control into the non-Schengen area, you cannot return to the Schengen airside smoking areas. E-cigarettes and vaping devices are subject to the same restrictions as regular cigarettes throughout the entire airport. Smoking areas may be temporarily closed or relocated due to ongoing renovation works; always check signage on arrival.
Copenhagen Airport (CPH) permits smoking only in strictly designated areas, both landside and airside. Smoking inside the terminal buildings is completely prohibited, and the airport actively enforces this policy. The situation airside has changed over the years due to ongoing renovations, so some older reports of specific locations may no longer be accurate.
Before Security
Landside, your only option is to step outside to the yellow smoking zones located between the entrances to Terminal 2 and Terminal 3. These are open-air spots on the pavement outside the check-in halls. There is no covered or enclosed smoking facility before security. Once you pass through security, you cannot return to these zones, so plan accordingly.
After Security
Airside options are more varied but still limited:
A-Gates outdoor smoking terrace: The airport's official page confirms an outdoor smoking area connected to the A-Gates area. Traveler reports from January 2024 describe this as a smoking terrace near the restaurants at the A-gates, accessible after security but before passport control.
C-Gates balcony (after passport control): The airport website mentions an outdoor smoking area at the beginning of the C-gates on a balcony, accessible after passport control. Older traveler reports also describe two enclosed smoking cabins near the C-gates, above the 7-Eleven store, reachable by escalator to the second floor.
D-Gates terrace: A traveler update from July 2021 reported a smoking terrace by the D-gates. An earlier report from November 2019 mentioned a smoking box in finger D, just after passport control, up the stairs near D101.
Non-Schengen area near Gate E135/E136: Official information previously listed an outdoor smoking terrace close to gate E135, and a 2022 traveler update noted a new outdoor smoking area near gate E136 in the non-Schengen zone.
Keep in mind that the airport has been undergoing significant renovations, and some of these locations may have shifted or closed. The A-gates terrace appears to be the most consistently reported and officially confirmed airside option as of early 2024.
Smoking Cabins (Enclosed)
Glass-walled enclosed smoking cabins have been present at CPH at various points, particularly near the C-gates and D-gates areas. Image evidence shows compact two-booth glass enclosures with ashtrays and ventilation. Their availability has fluctuated with renovation works, so check on arrival.
Vaping Rules
Copenhagen Airport applies exactly the same rules to e-cigarettes as to regular cigarettes. Vaping is only permitted in the designated smoking zones and areas. The airport's reasoning is that staff and fellow passengers cannot easily distinguish between vapor and smoke, so the same restrictions apply everywhere.
Transit and Layovers
If you are transiting through CPH and your connection keeps you airside, your smoking options depend on which gate area you are in. The A-gates terrace (before passport control) and the C-gates balcony (after passport control) are your most accessible options. Once you pass through passport control, you cannot go back, so use the A-gates terrace if you want to smoke before committing to the non-Schengen side.
Bottom Line
Smoking at CPH is possible both before and after security, but only in specific outdoor or semi-enclosed designated zones. The A-gates terrace is your most reliable airside bet; landside, step outside to the yellow zones between Terminal 2 and Terminal 3.
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