Most visitors to İzmir treat Bornova as "the place where I sleep". In fact the district is worth a full day on its own. The energy of a large student population, Levantine mansions from the 19th century, a park shaded by century-old plane trees and an open-air shopping centre all sit within a short radius. The route below starts on foot from MyMahall Hotel, ends back at your room in the evening and requires no car.
Why this order matters
Sequence is not arbitrary in Bornova, because the district runs on three different clocks. The bazaar and its family-run restaurants are busiest in the morning and at lunch and begin shutting in the late afternoon. The mansions are used as public institutions, so their gardens are accessible during office hours and most are closed at the weekend. Forum Bornova, by contrast, is at its liveliest in the evening. Build the day in this order and nothing you arrive at will be shut — visitors who do it in reverse usually end up looking at the mansions from the pavement.
Morning: the Bornova bazaar and breakfast
Begin a few minutes from the hotel in the Bornova bazaar. This is not a tourist bazaar; it is the neighbourhood's own high street, where greengrocers, nut sellers, bakeries and small restaurants sit side by side. For breakfast, skip the mall chains and use a bakery inside the bazaar — the sesame bread ring that İzmir calls gevrek comes out fresh early and is simply not the same item by mid-afternoon. If the weekly street market happens to be set up at the far end, add fifteen minutes: seeing the Aegean's seasonal produce laid out is an outing in itself.
Late morning: the Levantine mansions
A few streets from the bazaar, Bornova's least-known face begins. In the 18th and 19th centuries the European merchant families who ran İzmir's trade — the Whittalls, Girauds and Patersons among them — built their summer residences here. Most of those buildings now belong to Ege University and other public institutions; walking in the grounds is generally possible, while going inside depends on the institution's permission. Santa Maria Church and the Big House (the Whittall Mansion) are the best-known stops on the route. For the detailed walking line, see our guide to the Levantine mansions.
Lunch and Büyük Park
Have lunch in one of the bazaar's family-run restaurants: you order from whatever is in the counter trays, there is no menu, and because this is a student district the prices are measured compared with central İzmir. Afterwards walk to Bornova Büyük Park. Shaded by century-old plane trees, it is the district's meeting point — and in summer, spending the hottest hours here is Bornova's most practical local tactic, because the district sits away from the bay and runs a few degrees warmer than the shoreline.
Afternoon: Forum Bornova
Forum Bornova, 1.7 km from the hotel, was built as an open-air marketplace rather than an enclosed mall, so you browse it by walking between streets. Rain can therefore spoil the plan; if the sky is grey, choose Point Bornova 3.3 km away instead, which is fully enclosed. Our Forum Bornova guide has the details.
Evening: go into town, or don't
The city centre is roughly 6 km from the hotel. The Bornova metro line connects directly to Alsancak and Konak, so dinner on the Kordon and a ride back is entirely feasible. You do not have to do it every night, though. Bornova has an evening of its own and, being a student district, it stays open late. Spending your first night in the district and saving the city for the next day is a practical way to take the edge off travel fatigue.
Where to stay
If this entire route stays within walking and short-ride distance, the reason is location. Staying in Bornova removes the traffic and parking problem that visitors based in the centre face every evening. Take a look at our rooms or reach us through the contact page; for reservations call (0232) 461 95 95.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can Bornova be seen in one day?
Yes. The bazaar, the Levantine mansions, Büyük Park and Forum Bornova are all close together, and the whole route stays within walking and short-ride distance. Adding the city centre makes for a long day, so it is more comfortable to leave the centre for a separate day.
Can you go inside the Levantine mansions?
Most of them are used by Ege University and public institutions. Walking in the grounds is generally possible, while access to the interiors depends on the institution's permission — which is why you should visit during office hours.
Do I need a car to explore Bornova?
No. The bazaar and the park area are walkable from the hotel, Forum Bornova is 1.7 km away and the city centre is on the metro line. Guests arriving by car can leave the vehicle in our free car park.
When is the best time of year to visit Bornova?
Spring and autumn are the most comfortable. In summer the district sits away from the bay and runs warmer than the shoreline, so it helps to spend the midday hours in the shade of Büyük Park or somewhere indoors.