Remote work in İzmir
Work remotely. Belong locally.
Smileys brings practical arrival help and an offline community together — so within a few days you know where to work, where to live, what to set up, and who to spend time with.
Local time in İzmir is UTC+3 (Europe/Istanbul)
A 9-to-5 back home, in İzmir time:
- London 12:00–20:00
- Berlin 11:00–19:00
- New York 17:00–01:00
- San Francisco 20:00–04:00
Your first 72 hours
Five things to sort out, in roughly this order. Each links to the page that answers it.
Get connected
Sort out a SIM or eSIM on day one, and home internet if you are staying a while.
Read the SIM and internet guideChoose a neighborhood
Where you stay decides your commute, your cafés and who is around in the evening.
Compare neighborhoodsFind somewhere to work
Once you are in, ask members where they work from — there is no workspace list here yet.
Sort money and transport
Getting in from the airport, how to pay, how to get a local account if you need one, and the card that gets you on transit.
Read the money guide Read the transport guideJoin a first event
Pick something marked first-timer friendly, or a coworking session, and show up.
See upcoming events
Work and meet people
Coworking sessions and newcomer events in İzmir start with the first members who run them.
Nothing coworking or newcomer-specific is scheduled right now. See everything on in İzmir.
Worth reading
Working remotely — finding the work, the routines, the trade-offs and what nobody mentions.
Can the Digital Nomad Dream Survive the AI Revolution?
AI can make working from anywhere easier. But what happens when it changes the work paying for your life abroad? A look at the evidence, personal stakes and practical choices.
Read
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.
Read
Working European Hours in Istanbul? Your Evening Plans Change on 25 October
Clocks go back in the UK and EU on 25 October, but Türkiye stays on UTC+3. What it does to a London, Berlin, or New York schedule worked from Türkiye and why your mornings just got more useful.
Read
How to Find Your First Remote Job Without Remote Experience
“Previous remote experience preferred” doesn’t have to rule you out. How to pick the right roles, show what you can already do, check the details, and explain it in an interview.
Read
Why Digital Nomad Life Is More Than Just Working From Anywhere
Your office could be in Istanbul today, Lisbon next month, and somewhere by the beach after that. Sounds pretty good, right? Welcome to digital nomad life.
Read
The practical side
From the Smileys Handbook.
SIM, eSIM and home internet
- Getting a SIM Card and Home Internet in Türkiye
Last reviewed 17 October 2026 · Links official sources
Banking and money
- Opening a Turkish bank account as a foreigner
Last reviewed 17 October 2026 · Links official sources
- 20-Year Tax Exemption in Turkey: Who Really Qualifies
Last reviewed 2 November 2026 · Links official sources
Getting around
- İzmirim Kart: The Only Ticket That Matters
Last reviewed 23 October 2026 · Links official sources
Visas and residence
- Working Remotely from Türkiye: Digital Nomad Visa, Work Permissions, Tax & Social Security
Last reviewed 13 October 2026 · Links official sources
- Entering Türkiye: Visa-Free Stays, e-Visas and the 90/180 Rule
Last reviewed 23 October 2026 · Links official sources
Health and insurance
- Health Insurance for Your Residence Permit: What Is Accepted in Türkiye
Last reviewed 23 October 2026 · Links official sources
Land with people, not just a laptop.
Joining is free. You only pay for events you choose, and the price is shown before you RSVP.