Find your people in Izmir.
İzmir does life by the water — Kordon sunsets, long kahvaltı mornings and an easygoing Aegean rhythm. Smileys İzmir brings internationals and locals together to enjoy 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 #8.
Get to know Izmir
Neighborhoods, where to go, things to do, coworking, nightlife and the local tips that take newcomers months to work out.
Your first weeks in Izmir
Sunset on the Kordon
Grass, sea, tea and the whole city facing west — Izmir's living room at golden hour.
Take the ferry across the bay
Public transport that doubles as the best cheap boat ride in the city.
Get lost in Kemeraltı
Centuries-old bazaar streets that are still a real working market — end with coffee in a caravanserai courtyard.
Events are coming soon
Be one of the first to help build Smileys Izmir — the first dinners, walks and meetups start with the first members.
Find your people
Every interest covered — join as many as you like.
Social Izmir
The signature Smileys gathering in Izmir — the easiest way to meet people, whether you arrived last week or grew up here.
Coffee & Conversation
Casual coffee meetups for newcomers and locals to connect across Izmir.
New in Izmir
A warm landing for people who just moved to Izmir — tips, friends, and first hangouts.
Meet your hosts
The members who run Izmir’s clubs and lead the city. Hosts who keep the calendar alive become City Leads.
Nate
Syavash
Serhan
Explore by neighborhood
The areas Smileys covers in Izmir — see who's around and what's starting.
Visiting Izmir?
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.
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.
Why I Created Smileys Community: A Personal Story From New York to Istanbul
Only an expat truly understands what it means to be far from home when life takes an unexpected turn. The loneliness, the distance from family, and the importance of having people you can count on when you need them most.
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 Izmir. 2 new members joined this week.