Kraków, Poland
Smoking policy at Kraków, Kraków John Paul II International Airport (KRK)
Warnings & Caveats
The airside smoking booth near Gate 1 holds only 4 to 6 people and queues form during peak hours. The smoking area near gates 12 to 18 (past the second border security checkpoint) was removed in 2021 and has not been reinstated. Smoking anywhere outside designated areas inside the terminal is prohibited under Polish law.
KRK offers smokers a couple of options, but the airside situation is small and can get crowded fast. The most reliable spot after security is the enclosed smoking booth on Floor +1 of the Passenger Terminal, located near Gate 1. Landside, there are designated outdoor areas outside the terminal building before you enter the secure zone.
Before Security
Smoking is only permitted in designated areas outside the terminal building on the landside. There is no indoor smoking room before security in the main terminal. The official airport FAQ also confirms a designated smoking area in the generally accessible zone near the VIP Terminal entrance. Head outside through the main terminal exits to find these spots.
After Security
Airside, the main option is a small enclosed smoking booth (palarnia) on Floor +1, situated near Gate 1. This is a glass-walled cabin with automatic sliding doors, clearly signed as "Palarnia / Smoking Area" in both Polish and English. Capacity is very limited: reports from travelers describe it fitting roughly 4 to 6 people at a squeeze, so expect a wait during busy periods. Right next to the smoking booth is a separate IQOS tobacco heating zone, sponsored by Philip Morris, for users of heated tobacco products.
As of May 2026, a new outdoor smoking area has opened in the non-Schengen flights section, on the route toward the newer gates 19 to 24. It is an open-air spot with a small amount of overhead cover and a few bins. This is a welcome addition for passengers departing on non-Schengen routes.
Note that the smoking cabinet near Gate 18 (in the gates 12 to 18 area past the second border security checkpoint) was removed as of August 2021, so passengers in that zone have no dedicated airside smoking option.
Vaping Rules
The IQOS heated tobacco cabin sits directly adjacent to the main smoking booth near Gate 1. It is a separate unit, clearly branded, and intended specifically for IQOS and similar heated tobacco devices. Standard vaping rules at the airport are not explicitly published, but the presence of this dedicated IQOS zone suggests heated tobacco is treated separately from cigarette smoking. Use the IQOS cabin rather than vaping freely in the terminal.
Transit and Layovers
If you are transiting through KRK and need a smoke airside, the Gate 1 smoking booth is your primary option. The non-Schengen outdoor area near gates 19 to 24 is available if your onward flight departs from that section. There is no paid lounge at KRK that is publicly documented as offering a dedicated smoking facility, so you cannot buy your way into a better smoking option here.
Bottom Line
Smoke outside before you clear security if you can; airside, head to the small booth near Gate 1, but get there early as it fills up quickly with just 4 to 6 people maximum.
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