Warsaw, Poland
Smoking policy at Warsaw, Warsaw Chopin Airport (WAW)
Warnings & Caveats
The smoking area near Gate 43 (Schengen zone) was confirmed closed as of May 2025 and is expected to be converted to a retail shop. Smoking is prohibited throughout the terminal building except in designated Palarnia rooms. Once airside, you cannot exit and re-enter without going through security screening again.
Warsaw Chopin Airport (WAW) does allow smoking, but the options are more restricted than they used to be. Airside smoking is possible in designated glass-cabin smoking rooms (called Palarnia) in both the Schengen and Non-Schengen zones, though at least one previously popular spot near Gate 43 was confirmed closed as of May 2025. Before security, you are limited to outdoor designated areas outside the terminal building.
Before Security
Landside, smoking is only permitted in designated outdoor areas outside the terminal. There are no indoor smoking rooms before the security checkpoint. Plan to smoke before you enter the building, as re-entry after security is not possible without going through screening again.
After Security
Once airside, the situation depends on which zone you are traveling in:
Schengen zone: Smoking rooms (Palarnia) have historically been located near Gate 23, Gate 33, and Gate 43. As of May 2025, the area near Gate 43 is confirmed closed and is expected to become a shop. The rooms near Gates 23 and 33 were still reported active as recently as 2022-2023. Each Schengen smoking room accommodates roughly 14 people.
Non-Schengen zone: There is a designated smoking lounge near Gate 1N. A previous lounge under Gates 7N/8N moved to between Gates 22N and 23N, and a separate report from 2023 confirmed a smoking area near Gate 1N. Capacity is also around 14 people.
The VIP terminal has a smaller smoking area accommodating approximately 7 people, but executive lounges in the main terminal are non-smoking.
IQOS and Vaping
There is a dedicated IQOS lounge near Gate 33 in the Schengen zone, which is separate from the standard smoking rooms. It is more spacious than the regular Palarnia cabins and includes sofas. This area is specifically for heated tobacco (IQOS) users. Vaping rules are not explicitly stated beyond this dedicated IQOS space, so treat vaping the same as smoking and use the designated areas.
Transit and Layovers
If you are transiting through WAW without leaving the secure zone, you can use the airside Palarnia rooms directly. Follow the signs for "Palarnia" or "Smoking Zone" once past security. The rooms are described as small glass cubicles and are clearly signposted throughout Terminal A.
Bottom Line
Smoking airside is still possible at WAW in dedicated glass cabins near Gates 23, 33, and 1N, but the Gate 43 spot closed in 2025, so verify current availability on arrival. Smoke outside before entering if you want the easiest option.
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