Kalkan is a picturesque harbour town on Turkey’s Turquoise Coast, known for its whitewashed houses, bougainvillea-draped balconies and sweeping sea views. Built into the hillside, the town cascades down towards a charming marina filled with gulets and fishing boats, creating a postcard-perfect setting. Despite its growing popularity, Kalkan has retained an intimate, boutique feel. The old town is a maze of cobbled streets lined with independent shops, rooftop restaurants and relaxed cocktail bars, many of which boast panoramic views over the Mediterranean. Dining is a particular highlight here, with an impressive concentration of high-quality restaurants serving everything from traditional Turkish meze to refined international cuisine.
The area is also ideally positioned for exploring some of Turkey’s most beautiful beaches and ancient sites. Just a short drive away is the famous Kaputaş Beach, a stunning ribbon of sand at the foot of a dramatic gorge, as well as the expansive Patara Beach, known for its dunes and as a nesting site for loggerhead turtles. History lovers can easily visit the nearby Lycian ruins of Xanthos, Letoon and Tlos, while boat trips from Kalkan harbour offer the chance to discover hidden coves and swim in crystal-clear waters.
Kışla, located just around the bay from Kalkan’s main harbour, offers a slightly more tranquil and residential atmosphere. This exclusive peninsula area is known for its luxury villas, stylish beach clubs and uninterrupted sea views, particularly at sunset. While it feels more peaceful and private, Kışla is only a few minutes by water taxi or a short drive from the heart of Kalkan, making it easy to enjoy the town’s restaurants and nightlife before retreating to a quieter setting. With its clear waters, easy sea access platforms and relaxed beach club scene, Kışla is ideal for those seeking a laid-back coastal escape with a touch of understated glamour.
The Region
Kalkan has become a boutique resort, with cobbled streets and converted Greek houses, which belonged to the Greek merchants before the exchange of population in the 1920’s. Once quiet fishing harbour, these days you are more likely to see traditional wooden gulets taking tourists to soak up rays on the sparkling turquoise Mediterranean. A boat trip is a must-do, from the boat you can snorkel and usually a delicious lunch is prepared on board. Keen walkers should check out the Lycian way for designated walking paths in the area.
You cannot come to this area without spending some time exploring the many Lycian sights, such as Xanthos, Patara, Myra or the sunken city of Kekova.
Patara is said to be where democracy started (they excavated a stone voting block) and is also said to be the birthplace of St Nicholas, who became bishop at nearby Myra. The ruins here include an ancient theatre, city walls, government building, and agora. The lighthouse on the site is said to be the earliest of its kind. Visit Patara in the late afternoon and finish the trip with a drink on the sandy beach watching the amazing sunset.
The Saklikent Gorge is a great place to visit, especially if you want to cool off in the fresh waters whilst walking up the gorge. For the more energetic there are rafts and rings to ride the flowing waters. Further down you can enjoy a day canoeing toward the beach.
Islamlar sits 8 km above Kalkan. Once the place Kalkan folk went to cool off at one of the trout farms built to make use of the mountain’s springs. Today Islamlar houses many a villa, enjoyed by Istanbul Turks who prefer a holiday in slightly cooler and cleaner air. Here the locals grow grapes and pomegranates, but you’ll mainly see the men sat gossiping next to the local teahouse. The trout farms remain a place to come for a wonderful fresh meal, or a breakfast consisting of fresh local fare. The rocket will be the freshest and most tasty you’ve ever had; and the fresh chips cooked in olive oil take some beating.
By night both Kalkan and Kas come alive. Kas has more of a bohemian feel, people ambling through the cobbled streets, passing the ancient tomb in the street, haggling for textiles, carpets and other goodies, maybe stopping for the traditional Turkish ‘maras’ ice cream, a tulip-shaped glass of tea or a wonderful kebab in the shadow of the mosque. Most of the villas in Kas are just out of town on the Cukurbag Peninsula. A reasonable (5km) taxi or Dolmus (local bus) ride into town. Be sure to try the Piyaz, a white bean salad with tahini sauce.
Travelling along the coast towards Kalkan you pass the modern marina, the children’s beach park (run by the local hotel school) and halfway to Kalkan the stunning Kaputas Beach, cut in a gorge with all different shades of turquoise in the sea.
Kalkan is a more sophisticated resort, with the villas built onto the mountainside. Evening are spent enjoying the rooftop restaurants, perched on the top of the old ‘konak’ houses. Then wandering to a seaside bar for a cocktail, after shopping for glass lanterns, Iznik pottery, handbags or pestemel towels. Do visit the ‘pastane’, local patisseries which do the most delicious morning pastries and you must try the ‘Gozleme’ pancakes at the Thursday market.
Other things to do in the area include scuba diving as the visibility is excellent, paragliding, horseriding on Patara Beach or kayaking around the sunken ruins at Kekova.
