Lyon, France
Smoking policy at Lyon, Lyon Saint-Exupéry Airport (LYS)
Warnings & Caveats
Smoking is prohibited everywhere inside the terminal buildings except in the designated smoking room in Terminal 1 near Gate B02. The smoking area in Terminal 1 is marked "Interdit aux mineurs" (prohibited for minors). No smoking facility has been confirmed in Terminal 2 airside. Vaping is subject to the same restrictions as smoking.
Lyon Saint-Exupéry (LYS) is one of the rare French airports that actually offers an indoor smoking room after security, making it a notable exception to the near-universal airside smoking ban across France. That said, options are still limited, and Terminal 2 passengers have no dedicated facility at all.
Before Security
Outdoor designated smoking areas are available near the terminal entrances landside. These are clearly marked zones outside the building, in line with French law prohibiting smoking inside any enclosed public space. No indoor smoking is permitted before security.
Outdoor smoking zones are located near the entrances to the terminal buildings.
These areas are accessible to anyone, including meeters, greeters, and departing passengers who have not yet checked in.
After Security
This is where LYS genuinely stands out among French airports.
Terminal 1: There is an enclosed indoor smoking room located near Gate B02, on the left side as you approach the gate. The entrance is easy to miss: look for a small sign (roughly 10 x 10 cm) on the wall. Multiple traveler reports from 2018 through 2022 confirm this room is real and in use. Photos show a glass-walled enclosure with a standing ashtray, stainless steel railings, and ventilation overhead. The signage reads "Espace fumeurs / Interdit aux mineurs" (Smoking area / Prohibited for minors).
Terminal 2: No dedicated indoor or outdoor smoking area has been reported airside. If you are departing from Terminal 2, your best option is to smoke at the outdoor landside areas before going through security.
Vaping Rules
Vaping is treated the same as smoking at LYS. Use the designated smoking areas (the Terminal 1 room or the outdoor landside zones). Using e-cigarettes elsewhere inside the terminal is not permitted under French law.
Transit and Layovers
If you are transiting through Terminal 1 and need to smoke, the Gate B02 room is accessible airside without leaving the secure zone. Terminal 2 transit passengers have no equivalent facility, so plan accordingly before clearing security.
Bottom Line
Terminal 1 passengers have a genuine (if easy-to-miss) indoor smoking room near Gate B02 after security. Terminal 2 passengers should smoke outside before entering the terminal, as no airside option exists there.
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