Edinburgh Airport (EDI)

Edinburgh Airport operates a strict no-smoking policy inside its terminal building. There are zero airside smoking areas once you pass through security, so your last chance to smoke or vape is outside the terminal before you enter. This applies to cigarettes, cigars, pipes, e-cigarettes, vapes, and heated tobacco products alike.

Before Security

Your only option at EDI is the designated outdoor smoking area located outside the main terminal building, near the main entrances. The areas are clearly marked with signage, so you should be able to spot them as you approach the terminal or step out from arrivals.

• Look for the signposted smoking zones near the terminal entrances on the landside forecourt.

• These areas are accessible to anyone before check-in or before passing through security.

• Vaping and heated tobacco devices (such as IQOS) are treated the same as cigarettes here: outdoor designated area only.

After Security

There are no smoking or vaping facilities anywhere in the airside departures area at Edinburgh. This has been confirmed by airport customer service and is consistent across every source reviewed. Once you clear security, you will not be able to smoke until you land at your destination.

There are no paid lounges at Edinburgh that offer a smoking terrace or smoking room either, so paying for lounge access will not solve the problem.

Transit and Layovers

If you have a connecting flight and absolutely need to smoke during a layover, the process is complicated. You would need to exit the secure zone, pass through UK immigration (meaning you formally enter the United Kingdom), collect any checked baggage if applicable, go outside the terminal to the designated smoking area, and then re-queue through security screening before heading to your next gate. This is time-consuming and carries a real risk of missing your connection. Unless you have a very long layover, it is not worth attempting.

Vaping Rules

Vaping and the use of heated tobacco products (such as IQOS or similar devices) are prohibited everywhere inside the terminal, both landside and airside. The airport does not distinguish between traditional cigarettes and smoke-free alternatives indoors. You may only use these devices in the outdoor designated smoking areas before security.

Bottom Line

Smoke outside before you enter the terminal, because once you are through security at Edinburgh, there is nowhere to go. Plan your last cigarette or vape accordingly, especially if you have a long flight ahead.