Find your people in Istanbul.

"I want to thank Nate, the founder of Smileys, for creating such a wonderful community. About two years ago I attended my first Smileys activity on International Women's Day. What I saw was full of kindness and support. Even though it was my first time meeting most of the people there, I felt like I was among sisters rather than strangers. Since then, I realized that Smileys is not just a group for activities — but a place that brings kind people together and creates real friendships and beautiful memories."

"I joined Smileys two weeks after moving to Istanbul with zero contacts. By the end of my first month I had dinner plans four nights a week. I genuinely don't know what my life here would look like without it."

"I first heard about Smileys at a language exchange event, where I shared my idea of starting a photography group. Someone mentioned Smileys and suggested I create my group there — that's how I became part of this community. I'm a street photographer, and Smileys has given me the chance to share my passion with people from different cultures. What I find particularly inspiring is how foreigners view Istanbul with fresh eyes. Through them, I've discovered details in the city I had never noticed before. Smileys has been more than just a platform for socialising — it's allowed me to meet people from various cultural backgrounds and engage in creative activities I truly enjoy. It's a refreshing alternative to the usual meetups, where conversations can feel drawn out over drinks in a bar. What keeps me anchored here is the mutual respect and strong sense of equality that everyone embodies. It's a rare quality that makes this community truly special."