Heraklion, GreeceSmoking policy at Heraklion, Heraklion International Airport Nikos Kazantzakis (HER)
Warnings & Caveats
Smoking is not permitted anywhere inside the terminal building. Connecting passengers must exit the secure area, smoke outside, and re-clear security, which takes extra time during peak summer months. Greek law prohibits smoking within 10 metres of a child or pregnant woman.
Heraklion International Airport (HER) has a strict no-smoking policy inside the terminal building. The only place you can smoke is in designated outdoor areas outside the terminal, before security. There are zero smoking facilities airside, so once you pass through security you will not find anywhere to light up until you land at your destination.
Before Security
Smoking is permitted only in designated outdoor zones immediately outside the terminal building. No specific signposted smoking enclosures or shelters are described in available sources, so look for the marked areas near the main entrance or along the exterior of the departures forecourt. These outdoor spots are accessible to anyone before check-in or before passing through security.
Head outside the terminal building through the main entrance or exit doors.
Look for designated smoking zone markings on the pavement or signage near the forecourt.
The areas are open-air, so exposure to weather is likely.
After Security
There are no smoking areas after security at HER. Once you are airside, you cannot smoke anywhere in the terminal. This applies to the departures lounge, gate areas, and all other post-security zones.
The airport does have three lounges operating seasonally (May to October): the Sky Executive Lounge (1st floor Departures, access with a Business Class ticket or 50 euros per person), the Goldair Handling Lounge (1st floor Departures, Extra Schengen area), and the Filoxenia Lounge by Swissport (1st floor Departures, access with a Business Class ticket or 45 euros per person). However, none of these lounges are reported to have smoking facilities, and no sources indicate smoking is permitted inside any of them.
Transit and Layovers
If you have a connecting flight through HER, you will need to exit the secure area, go outside the terminal to smoke in the designated outdoor zones, and then pass through security again before your onward flight. Factor in extra time for this, especially during the busy summer season when security queues can be long.
Vaping Rules
No explicit vaping policy is published by Heraklion Airport. Given that smoking is banned inside the terminal entirely, the safest assumption is that vaping indoors is also not permitted. Treat vaping the same as smoking and use the outdoor designated areas.
Bottom Line
Smoke before you go through security, outside the terminal. Once airside, there is nowhere to smoke at HER, and no paid lounge offers a workaround.
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