About Kalkan

This beautiful and sophisticated bougainvillea-covered harbour town is set in a breathtaking landscape in the very heart of the old Lycian region.

The ancient sites of Xanthos, Letoon, Pinara, Tlos and Patara are all close by, with Kekova, Demre, Myra, Phaselis, Olympos and Aspendos slightly further afield, but all easily accessible.

Strict conservation laws have ensured that the heart of the old village retains an authentic ambience that attracts (according to the Sunday Times) the sort of visitor who might also be enchanted by, say, Tuscany or the Dordogne. The result is a discerning mix of predominantly British guests together with Istanbul Turks attracted by Kalkan’s reputation within Turkey.

Winding cobbled streets, colourful shops and excellent harbour-side or roof terrace restaurants and bars are combined with stunning views – whether you are looking up to the dramatic mountains behind the town, or down across the harbour to the broad sweep of the Mediterranean – a view of which we guarantee you will never tire!

The many roof terraces are a highlight of the evenings, a time when Kalkan is at her significant best. You can dine by candlelight to the strains of jazz or classical music whilst admiring the stunning views across the tiled rooftops to the harbour and out to sea.

Kalkan has grown over the past few years, albeit with predominantly private villas being authorised outside the periphery of the old village. Kalkan’s many official ‘Green Areas’ are carefully preserved and we are genuinely optimistic that Kalkan will retain its special charm and ambience for many years to come.

With so much of interest in the surrounding regions and the town itself, Kalkan is a destination that encourages guests to return time and time again. Whether your interests are historical, cultural, epicurean or you just wish to relax, Kalkan is sure to satisfy.

Kalkan has managed to retain that most elusive of mixtures – an authentic ambience with the relative sophistication that makes it an unusual, picturesque and uniquely welcoming destination.

Dining in Kalkan

The standard of dining in Kalkan is a wonderful surprise. With restaurant ownership shared between locals and Turks from Istanbul, a wider variation of Mediterranean cuisine is offered than perhaps might be expected from a town of this size. Certainly, the range and style of cuisine on offer exceeds what is generally available throughout coastal Turkey and the many excellent restaurants contribute to Kalkan’s special atmosphere.

Kalkan is renowned in Turkey for its numerous roof-top terrace restaurants and bars which offer wonderful views of the town, sea and stars. Alternatively, you may prefer one of the many fine harbourside restaurants, where you can watch the fishermen return with the day’s catch in the evening. Or you might choose to sit cross-legged on kilims or floor cushions and be served Turkish traditional dishes, or indulge in a seafood in one of the smart waterfront restaurants. There are even little backstreet restaurants so low-key most foreign visitors never notice them – just the place to enjoy delicious and genuine local cooking.

Beaches & Beach Clubs

There are lots of opportunities for swimming in this region. The pebble beach in Kalkan has been carefully and attractively extended and is an enjoyable base for swimming and sunbathing, but one of the joys of staying in this area is exploring the local coastline. There are stunning beaches and beach clubs in the immediate vicinity, with Patara Beach an obvious example.

Several beach clubs complete the swimming options available in Kalkan. Accessible by water taxi, taxi or on foot, these clubs are much more than simply platforms cut into the cliff side – they provide a peaceful and stunning place in which to relax by the water’s edge listening to the sounds of the sea and, occasionally, gentle background music.

The swimming at the beach clubs is fabulous, with access steps leading directly from the rocks into the crystal clear waters of the bay, some parts of which are freshened by several natural underground springs. Most of the clubs also provide water sports.

Patara Beach - the longest beach in the mediterranean
Patara lies to the west of Kalkan and with the new road is now a thirty-minute journey by local dolmuş or easily accessible by car or taxi in just 15-minutes. Patara is a stunning and undeveloped 18-kilometre stretch of soft golden sand, where the evocative ruins of a once-fine city protrude from the sand dunes. Patara is so outstanding that it’s regularly featured as one of the Mediterranean’s most beautiful and undiscovered beaches.
Kaputaş Beach
The dramatic Kaputaş beach is a ten-minute dolmuş or taxi ride from Kalkan. It is a beautiful sandy beach found at the foot of a ravine down many, many steps!
Mahal Beach Club
The most elegant of these beach clubs is the Mahal which is available to Exclusive Escapes guests on an entirely complimentary basis. To get to it, you need to take the water taxi from the harbour for the short ten-minute journey across the bay which runs on an ‘as and when’ basis all day long. The Mahal Beach Club provides a wonderfully peaceful place in which to relax. It overlooks the sea, which is freshened by underground springs to leave the water superbly clear, with very little salt. Mahal provides umbrellas, sun beds, a massage centre, a bar and a restaurant. Some water sports – including dinghy sailing – are also available.  Discover more »

Bays Around Kalkan

In the entrance of the wide Kalkan Cove there are the islands of Yilan and Siҫan which form the Islands of Ҫatal and are accessible by hiring a Motor Boat. Yilan Island drops into the sea with great steep rocks, while Siҫan is more suitable for anchoring and swimming.

Palm Beach Club

Located close to the harbour, around the bay. This contemporary beach club, with its friendly service is a welcome addition to the Kalkan scene. 

Kalamar Beach Club

Located in the Bay of Kalamar ten-minutes by road from The Kalkan Regency. There’s an entrance fee to the beach club – the price includes a sun bed, umbrella, showers, free pedaloes and canoes and also complimentary transfers back to your property. Some water sports are available at an extra cost.

Indigo Beach Club

This is located in the harbour, on the opposite side of the harbour wall. It’s a modern beach club with sunbeds, umbrellas and restaurant facilities. There’s an entrance fee.