A new city can feel crowded — and still lonely.
A curated real-life social ecosystem for globally minded people.
Thousands of people arrive here every month looking for connection, friendship, and a circle they actually belong to. But most platforms feel random, transactional, or exhausting.
Smileys was built to change that.
- Vetted members across all cities
- 1,600+
- events since our first in 2023
- 1,000+
- Active clubs across all cities
- 150+
- total WhatsApp reach
- 4,000+
Not just another group.
There are plenty of WhatsApp chats, Meetup pages, and nightlife groups. Here's why people choose Smileys instead.
Curated membership
Every person is personally reviewed before they join. The result is a network you can actually trust.
Real-life first
We're not a chat group or a feed. We're built around shared experiences that create lasting bonds.
Interest-based circles
Sailing. Jazz. Language exchange. Hiking. Business. Whatever you're into, there's a club for it.
Weekly rhythm
Something every week, year-round. Consistent enough to build real habits — and real friendships.
International & local
Expats, nomads, locals, travelers — one network. The mix is what makes it interesting.
Protected culture
No drama, no spam, no bad actors. We actively maintain the atmosphere so everyone feels safe.
A week inside Smileys
This isn't a one-time event you forget by Monday. It's a rhythm that slowly becomes part of your life.
Movie Night
A carefully picked film, good company, and conversations that continue long after the credits roll.
French Meetup
Practice your French, meet fellow language lovers, or start from zero — bonne ambiance garantie.
Let's Get Social
The signature midweek gathering. New faces, familiar faces, spontaneous conversations, and the kind of evenings that never feel forced.
Turkish Language & Culture
Learn the language, understand the culture, and experience the city through locals and fellow learners.
Game Night & Club Night
Board games, social games, laughter, and late-night energy. Friday nights belong to Smileys.
Photowalk & Picnic
Discover hidden corners of the city, capture moments together, then slow down with a relaxed picnic outdoors.
Brunch, Meditation, Hiking & Sailing
Slow mornings, long brunch tables, trails in nature, breathwork sessions, island hikes, or a day out on the sea. The perfect reset before a new week begins.
Events vary by week. New experiences added regularly.
More than events.
A real social ecosystem.
The events are just the entry point. What actually happens is something deeper — people find their circle, build a life in a new city, collaborate, travel together, and stay in touch long after the event ends.
- →Finding your people in a new city
- →Building friendships that last beyond one meeting
- →Discovering the city's hidden sides with locals
- →Feeling like you actually belong somewhere
- →Creating a social life that grows with you
Adventure & outdoors
Food & dining
Arts & culture
Professional network
Water & sailing
Learning & growth
Your next obsession is already here.
Interest-based circles for every personality. Join one. Join five. Build your Smileys world.
In their own words.
Real members. No scripts. No incentives to say nice things.
"
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 a street photographer, and Smileys has given me the chance to share my passion with people from different cultures. What I find inspiring is how foreigners view Istanbul with fresh eyes — through them, I’ve discovered details in the city I had never noticed before. What keeps me anchored here is the mutual respect and strong sense of equality that everyone embodies."
Hakan T.
Street photographer & club host
"
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."
Emma L.
Relocated from Paris
"
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
"
I've used Meetup, Internations, Facebook groups — none of them come close. The people here actually show up, actually engage, and actually remember your name the next time. That's rare."
Tom W.
Digital nomad
"
As someone who grew up in Istanbul, I thought I already had my circle. Smileys showed me a side of my own city I had never seen — through the eyes of people discovering it for the first time. Now my closest friends are from six different countries."
Ayşe M.
Local member
"
I came for a sailing trip with strangers. I left with three people I'd genuinely call friends. That's the Smileys effect — it creates the conditions for real connection and then gets out of the way."
Marco F.
Entrepreneur
"
The French Meetup was the first event I attended. I showed up alone, nervous, not even sure my French was good enough. An hour in I forgot I was nervous. That's what a good community does — it makes showing up feel safe."
Priya S.
UX designer
"
Three months in Istanbul on a remote year. Smileys turned what could have been a lonely stretch into one of the best periods of my life. I extended my stay twice because of the people I met here."
Chris B.
Remote worker from Berlin
"
The photowalk changed my relationship with Istanbul completely. I'd walked those streets a hundred times and never really seen them. Sharing that experience with people who are genuinely curious — that's what made it special."
Leila H.
Photographer
"
I was skeptical at first. I'd been burned by other 'community' groups that turned out to be just WhatsApp noise. Smileys is different. There's a real culture here — of showing up, being present, and actually caring about the people around you."
James T.
Finance, moved from London
Who's in the room?
Smileys attracts a specific kind of person — curious, open, and genuinely interested in more than surface-level interaction.
How it works.
Simple. Human. Intentional.
Apply
Fill out a short application. We review every profile personally to keep the quality high.
Get approved
Once approved, you get full access — events, clubs, members, and everything in between.
Show up
Attend an event. Join a club. Meet someone. Your circle starts with a single yes.
What does it cost?
No membership fee. No surprises.
Free to apply
Applying and getting approved costs nothing — no membership fee, ever.
Most events are free
The majority of our events have no cost at all. Just RSVP and show up.
Paid events, upfront
When an event has a cost — venue, food, an activity — the price is shown clearly before you RSVP, usually ₺250–1,200.
Clubs are always free
Every interest-based club is free to join. No exceptions.
Some hosts also offer a discounted member price on paid events — one more reason approval is worth it.
What we believe.
Real friendships still matter.
Circles should feel intentional — not accidental.
A city becomes yours when you have people in it.
The best experiences are shared ones.
Screened community
Every application is personally reviewed. No random strangers.
Active, trusted hosts
Events are run by experienced hosts who know how to create connection.
Real profiles
No anonymous accounts. Everyone shows up as themselves.
The feeling you're looking for
😊 Ready to feel at home?
Not another endless group chat.
Not another networking event you forget tomorrow.
A place to actually belong.