Find your people in Ankara.
Ankara is the capital everyone underrates: a citadel and museum quarter, Kızılay's late-night student streets, embassy-row dining in Çankaya, opera and symphony seasons, and lakes and Ottoman towns an hour out. Smileys Ankara brings internationals and locals together to explore it side by side.
Free to join · Applications reviewed by hand within 24–48 hours · Pay only for events you attend
Founding stage
3 clubs forming, and the first event is still to be set — the founding members shape everything here.
Join now and you're founding member #2.
Get to know Ankara
Neighborhoods, where to go, things to do, coworking, nightlife and the local tips that take newcomers months to work out.
Your first weeks in Ankara
Anıtkabir, done properly
The republic's founder under a limestone colonnade on a hill over the city — the one place in Ankara that every Turk visits, and the reason to walk slowly.
The citadel, the copper lanes and the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations
Hittites in a fifteenth-century bedesten, coppersmiths on the hill below, and the whole city from a Byzantine wall — Ankara's oldest corner in one afternoon.
Ulus: the first parliament, the Roman baths and Hacı Bayram
Where the republic was declared, where Augustus carved his own obituary, and where Ankara still comes to pray — all within ten minutes' walk.
Events are coming soon
Be one of the first to help build Smileys Ankara — the first dinners, walks and meetups start with the first members.
Find your people
Every interest covered — join as many as you like.
Coffee & Conversation
Casual coffee meetups for newcomers and locals to connect across Ankara.
Social Ankara
The signature Smileys gathering in Ankara — the easiest way to meet people, whether you arrived last week or grew up here.
New in Ankara
A warm landing for people who just moved to Ankara — tips, friends, and first hangouts.
Meet your hosts
The members who run Ankara’s clubs and lead the city. Hosts who keep the calendar alive become City Leads.
Nate
Explore by neighborhood
The areas Smileys covers in Ankara — see who's around and what's starting.
Visiting Ankara?
Announce your trip and the community knows you’re coming before you land.
Stories from Smileys
From across Smileys — the first stories from here are still to be written.
Love Without Borders: When Two Cultures Fall in Love
What happens when two people from different cultures fall in love? Discover the attraction, surprises, and realities of international relationships.
Beyond the Office: Six Cities Changing How Digital Nomads Live and Work
From Lisbon to Chiang Mai, location-independent professionals are redefining where they call home. But the future of remote work is about more than affordable living and reliable Wi-Fi.
Türkiye, Quo Vadis? Democracy, Corruption, and the Question of Power
From the Halk TV takeover to the investment fund crisis, Türkiye faces growing questions about government pressure, corruption, justice, and accountability.
Life happens offline
Real stories from Smileys members in our other cities.
"Two years ago I attended my first Smileys activity on International Women’s Day. Even though it was my first time meeting most of the people there, I felt like I was among sisters rather than strangers. Smileys isn’t just a group for activities — it’s a place that brings kind people together and creates real friendships and beautiful memories."
Sara K.
Member since 2023
"I'm not naturally a social person. Big parties and networking events drain me. Smileys was different from day one — smaller groups, real conversations, no pressure. It's the first community I've ever actually stayed in."
David K.
Software engineer
"I met my business partner at a Smileys dinner. Six months later we won our first project together. Some of the best professional decisions I've made started as a conversation at one of these events."
Nadia R.
Architect
Ready to find your people?
Join Smileys and start building your social life in Ankara. 1 new member joined this week.