Funchal, Portugal
Smoking policy at Funchal, Cristiano Ronaldo International Airport (FNC)
Warnings & Caveats
Smoking is banned in all enclosed indoor areas of the terminal under Portuguese law, including e-cigarettes. Use only the designated outdoor areas landside and the open-air terrace airside. Weather on the terrace can be cool or windy; the area is fully exposed to the elements.
Funchal Madeira Airport (FNC), officially the Cristiano Ronaldo International Airport, is one of the more smoker-friendly airports in Portugal. The standout feature is a large open-air terrace after security, accessible to all departing passengers, where you can smoke while watching planes on the apron. This is relatively rare for a Portuguese airport and makes FNC a noticeably better experience for smokers than most of its counterparts.
Before Security
Landside smoking is permitted in designated outdoor areas outside the terminal building. These are open-air spots that anyone can use before check-in or after arriving. No indoor smoking rooms exist on the landside, in line with Portuguese law, which bans smoking in all enclosed public spaces.
Designated outdoor zones are located outside the terminal entrance.
Ashtrays and basic facilities are provided in these areas.
The areas are open-air, so weather (Madeira can be breezy and overcast) is a factor.
After Security
This is where FNC genuinely stands out. There is a large open-air terrace after security, confirmed by multiple traveler reports spanning 2017 through July 2025. A traveler departing on 19 July 2025 confirmed the balcony was still open and operational. The terrace overlooks the apron and offers views of arriving and departing aircraft, with the dramatic Madeiran hillside as a backdrop.
The terrace is reported to be open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
It is accessible to all passengers who have cleared security, with no lounge membership or extra fee required.
The area has seating and planters, giving it a more comfortable feel than a typical smoking pen.
Photos show a wide, paved outdoor walkway along the terminal's glass facade, with views directly onto the runway.
Vaping Rules
Portuguese law treats electronic cigarettes the same as traditional cigarettes in public indoor spaces. Vaping indoors is not permitted anywhere in the terminal. Use the same designated outdoor areas as for regular cigarettes.
Transit and Layovers
If you have a layover at FNC, the airside terrace is available to you without needing to exit and re-enter the terminal. This makes connecting through Madeira considerably more convenient for smokers than airports where the only option is to leave the secure zone.
Bottom Line
FNC is a genuinely good airport for smokers: a free, open-air terrace after security is available around the clock, and outdoor designated areas exist landside too. No paid lounge access is needed.
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