Tashkent Islam Karimov International Airport (TAS)

Tashkent International Airport (TAS) is one of the more smoker-friendly airports in Central Asia. Designated smoking areas exist both landside and airside, so you have options before and after clearing security. That said, the airside room requires a bit of navigation to find, and there is one critical practical warning: security will confiscate your lighter, so bring matches instead.

Before Security

Smoking landside is permitted in designated areas outside the terminal buildings. You will need to step outside before check-in or after arriving in the arrivals hall. No specific outdoor smoking zone coordinates are documented in traveler reports, but the general rule is to look for marked areas near the terminal entrances.

After Security

There is a confirmed airside smoking room in Terminal 2 (the international terminal). Multiple travelers have reported it as recently as November 2025, so it appears to be a stable fixture rather than a temporary setup.

• How to find it: After clearing security, ignore any smoking area signs pointing toward Gate B2. Instead, head toward Gate B12, go down the stairs, and turn left. The room is accessed through a small white door.

• An earlier 2019 report described it as marked with a large yellow "Smoking Place" sign, located about 30 meters to the right after the security checkpoint. The layout may have changed since then, so the 2025 directions (toward B12, down the stairs, left) are the most current guidance.

• The room in image index 1 shows a compact enclosed smoking area with a dedicated ventilated door marked with a smoking symbol, consistent with traveler descriptions.

Legal Framework

Uzbekistan's Law No. ZRU-844 prohibits smoking in indoor public places generally, but includes a specific exception for airports: designated smoking rooms are permitted within the airport in areas reserved for checked-in passengers. This is why the airside room is legal and officially sanctioned, not just tolerated.

Vaping

No specific vaping policy for TAS has been documented in any of the available sources. Uzbekistan's tobacco control law covers e-cigarettes as a separate category, but airport-specific vaping rules are not confirmed. Treat it as unknown and check with airport staff on arrival.

Transit and Layovers

Terminal 2 (international) and Terminal 3 (domestic) are separated by the runway, meaning a transfer between them requires exiting the airport entirely. If you are transiting between international and domestic flights, factor in that you will pass through security again, and plan your smoking break accordingly.

Bottom Line

You can smoke both before and after security at TAS. Head to Gate B12 airside, go down the stairs, and turn left to find the smoking room, and make sure you have matches rather than a lighter before you reach the security checkpoint.