Smoking and Vaping in Poland: Where It Is Banned and the Fines
Short answer: Smoking and e-cigarettes are banned in bars, workplaces, public transport, stops and playgrounds, under Article 5 of the act. Towns can add smoke-free zones.
Poland bans smoking in a long list of indoor and some outdoor places, and the ban covers e-cigarettes and heated tobacco as well as ordinary cigarettes. If you come from a country with different rules, the difference is mostly about where you stand when you light up. This guide sets out what the law lists, who can add more places, what the minimum age is and what the fines are according to a city guard's information page.
It is based on the consolidated text of the tobacco health-protection act of 9 November 1995, as announced by the Speaker of the Sejm on 10 March 2023 and published on the government legal portal eli.gov.pl, and on the information page of the Warsaw City Guard (Straż Miejska). The law has been amended since 2023, so check the current text before relying on a detail.
Where smoking is banned
Article 5 of the act bans smoking tobacco products, including novel tobacco products, and using electronic cigarettes in these places:
- on the grounds of treatment facilities and in rooms of other buildings where health services are provided
- on the grounds of schools and other education units, and social assistance units
- on the grounds of universities
- in rooms of workplaces
- in rooms of culture and leisure facilities open to the public
- in bars, restaurants and entertainment venues
- in public passenger transport and in buildings serving travellers
- at public transport stops
- in rooms of sports facilities
- in publicly accessible children's play areas
- in other rooms open to public use
Note the wording. For several items the law says "rooms", which means indoor space. For hospitals, schools and universities it says "grounds", which includes outdoor areas. Public transport stops and children's play areas are outdoor places named directly.
Local smoke-free zones
The same act lets a municipal council set, by resolution, other public places in the municipality as smoke-free zones, covering tobacco smoke, e-cigarette vapour and substances released by novel tobacco products. So the list above is a minimum. A park, beach or square may have its own rule, usually shown on a sign. Check signs and the municipal website if you are unsure.
Rooms in housing and hotels
The act says the owner or manager can exempt individual rooms in buildings used for housing from the ban. The text I read does not describe hotel rooms in more detail. If you are renting a short-stay flat or room, check the house rules.
Signs
The owner or manager of a building or vehicle with a smoking ban must display clear signs saying so. A missing sign is itself an offence on the part of the owner, not the customer.
Buying tobacco and vapes: age and packs
The act forbids supplying tobacco products, e-cigarettes or refill containers to anyone under 18. Shops must display a notice about this. It also forbids selling cigarettes in packs of fewer than 20 or loose without a pack.
Fines
The Warsaw City Guard page lists these penalties. The page does not carry a date and cites older versions of the act, so treat the amounts as a guide rather than a current tariff:
- Smoking in a banned place: a fine of up to 500 zloty in misdemeanour proceedings
- A seller supplying a minor: 500 zloty by ticket
- A venue owner not displaying the no-smoking notice: 150 zloty by ticket, and a fine of up to 2,000 zloty in court proceedings
* Photos: Zapiecek restaurant, Warsaw, Wikimedia Commons, CC0. Illustrative.
Frequently asked questions
Does the smoking ban in Poland cover vaping?
Yes. Article 5 of the act bans both smoking tobacco, including novel tobacco products, and using electronic cigarettes in the listed places.
Can I smoke at a bus stop?
No. Public transport stops are in the list of places where Article 5 bans smoking.
Can a city add more no-smoking areas?
Yes. The act lets a municipal council designate other public places in its area as smoke-free zones.
Do the sources say anything specific about foreigners?
No. The act and the Warsaw City Guard page apply to everyone in Poland and do not distinguish residents from visitors.
