Gran Canaria Airport (LPA)

Gran Canaria Airport (LPA) follows Spanish national smoking law, which bans smoking inside all terminal buildings. The only airside smoking option is a large outdoor rooftop terrace accessed via stairs or a lift opposite Gate C10, after you clear security and exit the duty-free shop. Landside, you can smoke outside the terminal building in designated areas before you enter. There are no indoor smoking rooms anywhere in the airport.

Before Security

Landside smoking is restricted to outdoor designated areas outside the terminal building. There are no specific indoor or covered smoking zones before security. If you need a cigarette before checking in or going through security, step outside the terminal entrance to the designated outdoor spots, which are clearly marked.

After Security

This is where LPA actually delivers for smokers. After clearing security, follow these steps to reach the main smoking terrace:

1. Exit the duty-free shop and turn left.

2. Walk toward the C12 departure gate area.

3. Look for a staircase (or lift) on your left, opposite Gate C10.

4. Head upstairs to the rooftop level.

5. The large smoking terrace is on the left, open-air, with glass balustrades and views of the runway.

The terrace is spacious, with standing ashtrays positioned along the perimeter. It is fully outdoors and exposed to the elements, though the Canary Islands climate means it is usually comfortable.

Note from a January 2022 traveler report: the section of the upper terrace that previously had runway views was converted into non-smoking seating for the Playa Padre cafe. The main smoking area remains accessible from the same staircase, but the runway-view section is now a no-smoking cafe terrace. A separate, smaller smoking area near the Playa Padre cafe bar was also reported as available on the same rooftop level.

Playa Padre Cafe Area

The Playa Padre cafe sits on the same rooftop level as the smoking terrace. As of late 2019 and early 2020 reports, the cafe area itself allowed smoking, and there is a flight information board visible from the seating. By January 2022, the runway-view terrace section had been designated non-smoking for cafe guests, so check current signage when you arrive. The cafe sells food and drinks, making it a practical spot to wait before boarding.

Vaping Rules

Electronic cigarettes and vaping devices are subject to the same restrictions as traditional cigarettes under Spanish law (Law 42/2010). Vaping indoors is not permitted anywhere in the terminal. Use the outdoor smoking terrace if you need to vape.

Transit and Layovers

If you are connecting through LPA and need to re-enter the Schengen area to smoke landside, be aware that re-entering security will require a full security re-screen. Given LPA's layout as a single-terminal airport, there is no easy exit-and-reenter option without losing your airside position.

Bottom Line

Head upstairs via the stairs or lift opposite Gate C10 after security for the main outdoor smoking terrace. Landside, step outside the terminal building before check-in.