One of İzmir's best-loved shopping destinations, Forum Bornova was built as an open-air marketplace rather than an enclosed mall. Shops line street frontages, with palm-lined walkways and squares between them, so shopping becomes a genuine stroll instead of a tour of corridors. It sits only 1.7 km from MyMahall Hotel.
What the open-air layout actually means
Knowing this changes how you plan. On a sunny day the open layout makes the centre far more pleasant than a conventional mall; on a rainy or windy one you get wet moving between shops. Summer middays bring the same problem from the other direction — shade is limited, so it pays to push the visit towards the evening. When the sky is grey, Point Bornova 3.3 km away is the enclosed alternative, and visiting both in one day is perfectly possible.
When to go
Bornova is a university district, so the centre's rhythm follows the academic calendar. Weekday lunchtimes are the quietest; weekend afternoons and evenings get noticeably busier, and the start of term and the end of exam periods add to the crowd. If you are planning the cinema or a sit-down meal on a weekend evening, booking ahead saves waiting.
Stores, cinema and visiting with children
Large national and international brand stores, electronics retailers, cinema screens and children's play areas are all here. For guests travelling with children the open-air layout has a concrete advantage: children walk in traffic-free squares rather than corridors, and daylight makes the day less tiring for everyone. Getting around with a pushchair is easy too, as most of the walkways are level.
Eating — inside and outside the centre
There is a wide choice, from cafés with outdoor seating to restaurant chains. You do not have to eat dinner at the centre, though: the family-run restaurants of the Bornova bazaar are closer to the hotel and represent local cooking far better than a chain menu. For İzmir's own specialities, see our İzmir food guide.
Getting there, and the parking tactic
For guests arriving by car the easiest approach is to leave the vehicle in our free car park and make the short trip to the centre. That way you avoid the weekend queue for the centre's own parking, and after shopping you settle straight into your room rather than carrying bags around the city. If you want to fold the rest of the district into your day, our one-day Bornova route is ready to follow.
For visitors from out of town: why shop in Bornova?
Most people who come to İzmir to shop stay in the centre and then sit in traffic every day to get out here. Staying in Bornova inverts that equation: the shopping centre is already next door, getting back to your room in the evening takes minutes, and the metro line is there whenever you do want to go into town. Bornova also sits between Ege University and Yaşar University, so the bazaar is unusually well stocked for student needs — stationery, electronics, home textiles — which is why families arriving for university registration can often finish their whole list in a single day.
Wet-day and hot-day alternatives
If the weather turns, you have three options: move to the enclosed Point Bornova 3.3 km away, spend the time in Forum Bornova's indoor sections and the cinema, or turn the day into a Bornova bazaar day instead. In summer the opposite strategy works: spend the midday heat at the hotel or in the shade and go to the centre in the early evening, when it is both cooler and livelier.
Where to stay
What shoppers lose most in İzmir is travel time: staying in the centre and coming out to Bornova means traffic every day. Our rooms are 1.7 km from this centre; for reservations and information call (0232) 461 95 95 or use our contact page.
Frequently Asked Questions
How far is Forum Bornova from the hotel?
1.7 km — a few minutes by car. Guests can leave their vehicle in our free car park and make the short trip from there.
Is Forum Bornova an enclosed shopping mall?
No, it was built as an open-air marketplace. That makes it very pleasant on sunny days, but you get wet moving between shops when it rains. Point Bornova, 3.3 km away, is the enclosed alternative.
What is the quietest time to visit?
Weekday lunchtimes. Weekend afternoons and evenings are noticeably busier, and the start of the university term adds to the crowd.
Is it suitable for families with children?
Yes. There are children's play areas, and the open-air layout means children move around traffic-free squares in daylight. Pushchairs are easy to manage as most walkways are level.