Kalkan Travel Guide - Places to Visit

Kalkan, formerly known as Kalamaki, is a typical Mediterranean fishing town in the Kas district of Antalya, a small but beautiful town stretching into the blue of the Mediterranean Sea, where history, sea and nature are intertwined, with its architectural structure and urban texture intact, white-painted old houses, narrow clean streets, colorful flowers hanging from every window and every door.

Kalkan attracts attention with its proximity to the historical Lycian cities, clean sea, narrow streets and integration with nature and has become a favorite of foreigners. Many British tourists buy villas in Kalkan and settle here or spend their summers here entirely.

Kalkan offers holiday opportunities with luxury establishments as well as various historical sites and beaches to please your eyes. The town, adorned with small charming bars, fish restaurants on the pier, stalls selling handmade crafts, shops, clean guesthouses, and hotels, is preferred by those who want to have a peaceful holiday away from the hustle and bustle, and those seeking a different atmosphere.

Kalkan nights are also colorful. The sounds of live music leak out from small bars. Most of the tables are already outside anyway. Conversations that start with drinks extend into the late hours of the night. You won't get bored in Kalkan throughout the day. It's not very suitable to swim in the sea in Kalkan itself. But there are beaches in the surrounding area that you can reach by minibus. You can choose Kaputaş Beach on the road to Kaş and the famous Patara beaches on the Fethiye side. Boats departing from the marina organize day trips to the surrounding areas. With these tours, you can visit Kaputaş, Patara, Kaş, and the Kekova island area.

Kalkan itself hasn't received much greenery. It's bare. But it's not a problem. Because it only takes 15-20 minutes to reach the greenery and ice-cold springs of the Taurus Mountains from Kalkan. You can reach the plateaus by your own car, taxi, or by joining tours organized by travel agencies. The most well-known one is Bezirgan Plateau. And there's also the village of İslamlar. The Bezirgan Plateau attracts a lot of interest during the summer months from those who are tired of the heat by the seaside. The temperature in Bezirgan is 4-5 degrees lower than the seaside. The constant breeze provides coolness and prevents mosquitoes from settling. To reach the Bezirgan Plateau, you exit from the Elmalı junction at the entrance of Kalkan. It takes about 15 km from this junction to reach the plateau. The road is asphalted and wide. The altitude of the plateau from the sea is approximately 500 meters. The view of the plateau houses scattered on a vast plain is very impressive. The village square next to the mosque is always crowded in the summer months. Under an old tree known as the village's "guest tree," pavilions are set up for guests to rest and have refreshments. There are also such pavilions under the plane trees around the village. There are small wooden houses with steep sheet metal roofs at the border of the village. The two-story houses with adjoining wooden stairs are used for storing wheat. Horse or donkey tours to the plateau have become popular in recent years. With prior notice to a travel agency or to those engaged in guesthouse business in the village, tours of this kind can be arranged for groups. The duration of the Bezirgan Plateau Tour with horse riding varies depending on the destination, and a menu consisting of tarhana soup, gözleme (Turkish pastry), bulgur pilaf, yogurt, and fruit is offered to the participants. Lamb can be slaughtered and roasted for those who want.

Places to Visit in Kalkan 

You can visit Patara Beach and Ancient City. Patara Beach, located near the Patara Ancient City, is one of the largest and most beautiful beaches in this area. It is the longest beach in Turkey, with a length of 18 km. The depth of the sand reaches 200-300 meters in some places. The sand is fine and the sea is shallow. If you come across them, be sure to observe and take photos of the loggerhead turtles breeding on the beach.
You can visit Kaputaş Beach, which is 10 minutes away from Kalkan. To reach the beach, you have to pass through many steps. Due to the water that flows underground from the canyon and seeps through the sands on the shore, the water of the beach is generally cool and turquoise.
You can visit Saklıkent Canyon, which is the longest canyon in Turkey with a length of 17 kilometers. The canyon was formed after a collapse that occurred about 200 thousand years ago. It's a natural wonder that must be seen. You have to pass through ice-cold water when entering the canyon. Crossing the water without it reaching your knees is a great skill, but the rest is amazing.
You should visit the Ancient City of Xanthos. You should see the remains that have survived from the city, which has experienced many earthquakes and fires throughout history. You should visit the Sunken City known as Kekova. If possible, you can dive.
You can visit the Ancient City of Antiphellos in Kaş and the Ancient City of Myra. You can see the Ancient Cities of Tlos and Letoon. You can see the Blue Cave located between Kaş and Kalkan.
You can visit the villages of Bezirgan and İslamlar. You can spend a day wandering around these villages and taking photos. You can enjoy swimming in the azure waters by joining boat tours.

What to Do in Kalkan

 When you come to Kalkan, you can explore the streets in the center of Kalkan and by the harbor, or you can explore by bike. You can take plenty of photos.
You can set out on day boat tours to explore the azure waters, and enjoy the sea and sun.
You can enjoy the sun and the sea on Kalkan's blue-flagged beaches. Those who love underwater can dive. You can do water sports such as jet skiing, ringo, and water skiing. You can do rafting and paragliding.
You can see the Sunken City of Kekova and dive. You can visit the villages of İslamlar and Bezirgan. You can go to Patara and Kaputaş beaches and enjoy the sea there. You can witness the emergence of loggerhead turtles.
You can visit the Ancient Cities of Letoon, Tlos, Antiphellos, and Xanthos. You can go to the magnificent Saklıkent Canyon.
You can enjoy fish by the sea in the evening, and then continue your night in entertainment venues in Kalkan. You can stroll through the bazaar in the center of Kalkan and shop.

Where to Eat in Kalkan

There's a very nice restaurant and bar called Gironda. It has an interesting atmosphere reminiscent of colonial times. Their food at Patlıcan by the beach can also be tried.

The dominance of Mediterranean cuisine prevails in Kalkan. The dishes are generally similar to Mediterranean cuisine. Seafood, meat and salads, and olive oil dishes are prominent.
In the center, by the marina, and by the sea, you can eat almost any dish in many restaurants and eateries. You can taste various grilled meat and chicken products, kebabs, pide (Turkish flatbread), lahmacun (Turkish pizza), and lamb tandır (oven-baked lamb), as well as many different flavors.
But we think you should definitely have a nice fish meal by the sea in fish restaurants. You can try olive oil appetizers accompanied by seafood and fresh seasonal fish. Especially, trying the zucchini blossoms stuffed with olive oil, which you can taste in many places in the Aegean and Mediterranean, wouldn't be bad at all. You can try bonito, grey mullet, grouper, and sea bream.

Akdeniz Restaurant - Kalkan: Perhaps the most delicious restaurant in Kalkan, which stands out with its proximity to Patara and Kaputaş beaches and its crystal-clear sea, preferred mainly by British tourists, is Akdeniz Restaurant. Located just down the steep ramp you'll descend on the main road toward the waterfront, right beside the taxi stand, this family-run establishment is like a hidden gem with its unassuming demeanor. Almost everything here is tailored to the guests' requests. For example, if you ask the owner, "Did you fry this, but is there a grilled version?" They'll immediately place a plate of grilled food in front of you! At Akdeniz Restaurant, you can eat fish, calamari, and various seafood, as well as try their homemade appetizers and the restaurant's specialty, the cloud-like light "Pavlova Cake".

What to Buy in Kalkan

 You can buy many souvenirs, ornaments, jewelry, and special ceramic figurines at the stalls, shops, and stores located in the center of Kalkan. You can find textile products, clothes, and local ceramics.
You can find colorful soaps, handicrafts, fabrics, and handicraft products in the bazaar. You can buy fresh fruits and vegetables, dried or fresh herbs, and fresh seasonal fish at the neighborhood market held on Thursdays.

How to Get to Kalkan Kalkan is located 210 km from Antalya, 80 km from Fethiye, and 25 km from Kaş. You can reach Kalkan from other towns by minibus or buses, or you can fly to the nearest Dalaman Airport or Antalya Airport. 

• The distance between Ankara and Kalkan is 650 kilometers and takes about 9 hours by car. 

• The distance between Antalya and Kalkan is 190 kilometers and takes about 3 hours by car.

 • The distance between Istanbul and Kalkan is 820 kilometers and takes about 12 hours by car. 

• The distance between Izmir and Kalkan is 410 kilometers and takes about 6 hours by car. 

• The distance between Muğla and Kalkan is 190 kilometers and takes about 3 hours by car.