Paris Charles de Gaulle is a big, sprawling airport, and one of the first things many travellers want to know after a long flight or before a connection is a simple one: where can you actually light up? This guide explains the smoking rules at CDG, exactly where the designated smoking areas are in each terminal — both before and after security — and how the rules apply to e-cigarettes and vaping, so you can plan around your departure terminal and a tight layover without a stressful search.
Can you smoke at Paris CDG airport?
Yes, but only in clearly marked designated smoking areas. By French law every terminal building at Charles de Gaulle is completely smoke-free indoors, so you cannot smoke at the gate, in a café, or anywhere in the concourse. What CDG does provide is a set of dedicated smoking spots — some are outdoor terraces, others are enclosed smoking booths — both landside (before security) and airside (after security). They are marked with orange smoking signs, and if you cannot find one, airport staff will point you to the nearest.
Smoking rules at Paris CDG in brief
France banned smoking in enclosed public spaces, including airports, under the Évin law and its follow-up decrees. In practice that means a few simple rules at CDG:
- No smoking anywhere indoors — terminals, gates, toilets, cafés, shops and walkways are all non-smoking.
- Smoke only in designated areas — look for the orange "smoking area" signs, whether that is an outdoor terrace or an enclosed booth.
- E-cigarettes count too — vaping is treated like smoking and is not allowed in the terminal outside the smoking areas.
- You can be fined — smoking outside a permitted spot is an offence, with a fixed penalty of around €68 that can rise if unpaid.
Where to smoke at CDG, terminal by terminal
Smoking facilities differ a lot between terminals, and the exact spots are moved or refurbished from time to time — so treat the list below as a guide and follow the orange signs on the day. Every terminal lets you smoke outside, before security; the difference is how well each one is served after security.
| Terminal | Before security (landside) | After security (airside) |
|---|---|---|
| Terminal 1 | Outside the terminal entrances | Yes — areas on the boutique/boarding levels; some premium lounges have smoking terraces |
| Terminal 2A / 2C | Outside, curbside | Yes — outdoor smoking terrace in the shared duty-free / boarding area |
| Terminal 2D | Outside, curbside | Yes — near the boarding gates |
| Terminal 2E / 2F | Outside, curbside | Yes — enclosed smoking booths on several levels plus boarding-level spots |
| Terminal 2G | Outside, curbside | Yes — near the business lounge area |
| Terminal 3 | Outside the entrance | Limited — smoke landside before security if none is convenient |
Terminal 1
Terminal 1 has smoking areas on its upper boutique and boarding levels, often close to the shops. Several premium lounges — including the Star Alliance lounge — have their own smoking terraces, so if you have lounge access through business class, status or a Priority Pass-style membership, that is usually the most comfortable option. Landside, smoke outside the main entrance before you check in.
Terminal 2 (halls 2A–2G)
Terminal 2 is the largest complex and the best served for smokers. The connected 2A and 2C halls share an outdoor smoking terrace in the common duty-free zone; 2D has spots near the gates; and 2E and 2F — the main long-haul halls — have enclosed smoking booths on more than one level as well as areas near the boarding gates. Terminal 2G, the smaller regional hall, has a smoking area near its lounge. Because 2E and 2F are where most intercontinental flights leave, they are the busiest and the ones worth locating early.
Terminal 3
Terminal 3 mainly handles low-cost and charter flights and is the most basic of the three. Airside smoking options are limited, so the safest plan is to smoke outside before you clear security. If you are flying from T3 and want a cigarette after screening, ask staff whether a designated spot is currently open.
Smoking before and after security
The key decision is whether to smoke landside or airside. Landside is always an option: step outside any terminal entrance, move away from the doors, and use the outdoor ashtrays. This works at every terminal, including Terminal 3. The catch is that once you go back inside you must clear security screening again, which costs time — so it is only sensible if you have not yet passed the checkpoint or you have hours to spare.
Once you are airside, stick to the designated areas inside the terminal. Leaving the secure zone to smoke and re-entering means queueing through security a second time, and at a busy airport like CDG that can easily eat 20–45 minutes. If your flight is boarding soon, use the nearest airside smoking area rather than risk the queue.
E-cigarettes and vaping at CDG
Vaping is treated exactly like smoking at Charles de Gaulle: it is not allowed anywhere inside the terminals, and you should use the same designated smoking areas if you want to vape. Never vape at the gate, in a toilet or onboard the aircraft — cabin rules are strict and vaping on a plane can bring serious penalties.
For packing, remember the aviation safety rules that apply to all electronics with lithium batteries: carry e-cigarettes, vape pens and spare batteries in your hand luggage, never in checked bags. Keep spare pods and e-liquids within the usual 100 ml liquid limit for the cabin.
Lighters, matches and heated tobacco
Security rules allow you to carry one lighter on your person through the checkpoint, but not in your hand baggage or checked luggage, and spare lighters or matches are restricted. Heated-tobacco devices such as IQOS follow the same rules as e-cigarettes — pack them in your hand luggage and only use them in the designated smoking areas. If in doubt about a specific device, check with your airline before you travel.
Frequently asked questions
Are there indoor smoking rooms at Charles de Gaulle airport?
Yes. As well as outdoor terraces, several parts of CDG — notably the 2E and 2F halls — have enclosed smoking booths airside. Some premium lounges in Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 also have their own smoking terraces for lounge guests.
Can you smoke after passport control and security at CDG?
Yes. Every terminal except Terminal 3 has designated smoking areas airside, after security and passport control, so you can smoke without leaving the secure zone. Follow the orange smoking signs or ask staff for the nearest one.
Is vaping allowed inside the CDG terminals?
No. Vaping is treated the same as smoking and is banned everywhere inside the terminals. You may only use an e-cigarette in a designated smoking area, and never onboard the aircraft.
Which CDG terminal has the most smoking areas?
Terminal 2 is the best served, especially the 2E and 2F long-haul halls, which have enclosed booths on several levels plus areas near the gates. Terminal 1 also has good options, while Terminal 3 is the most limited.
Can you leave the terminal to smoke and return through security?
You can, but you will have to clear security screening again on the way back in, which can take 20–45 minutes at peak times. Unless you have plenty of time before boarding, it is better to use an airside smoking area.
