Discover kalkan
kalkan old town
Described by Tapestry Holidays as the most picturesque harbour in the Mediterranean, Kalkan is situated on Turkeys spectacular Turquoise coast, nestled in a beautiful bay at the foot of the Taurus Mountains.
One of the highlights of Kalkan is its Old Town, which is a maze of cobbled streets winding down to the beautiful harbour, its chic harbour side restaurants and bars. With plenty of gullets and boats of all sizes lining the harbour, it really lives up to its name and makes this romantic harbour town a truly relaxing place to visit.
restaurants & bars
As you walk down through the old town you will be amazed at all the old Greek and Turkish buildings covered with bougainvillea. Mainly occupied by small shops, it is here, amongst the old buildings that you will find the entrances to various roof top restaurants. It is a magical feeling and amazing sight when dining in a rooftop restaurant, as you see lots of other restaurants lit up and seemingly floating in the air as they tumble down the hill towards the harbour.
Although the Harbour side and Rooftop restaurants are the most popular, there are a wide range of restaurants, cafes and bars to suit all tastes throughout the town. All told there are over 100 to choose from which keeps the quality, the standard of food and service very high at reasonable prices. You will be hard pushed to find a better selection of fine restaurants in such a small place as this. It is quite rightly referred to as the gourmet capital of Turkey.
Blue Flag Beach
Kalkan has a man made pebble beach, but is better known for its beach clubs and proximity to the famous beaches of Patara and Kaputas cove. The beach clubs consist of rock bathing platforms with café/restaurants, some of which are reached by a 5 minute water taxi ride across the bay. Kalkan boasts a Blue Flag award for the cleanliness of the waters that surround it, making Kalkan and ideal place for all forms of water sports.
In only a 20 minute drive you can find the stunning Patara beach with its long sandy beach and beach café. You can sit back and enjoy the view of the sailing boats passing by on the sparkling seawater.
local history
Surrounding Kalkan are many historical and geographical sites. Pinara, Patara, Xanthos, Thlos and Myra cover ancient settlements from the Byzantine, Roman and Lycian periods. The river gorge at Saklikent and famous beach at Ölü Deniz are all less than an hour away.
Anyone looking for a friendly harbour town with spectacular scenery and terrific climate cannot help but love it. The beauty of the location, the friendliness of the local people, the cuisine and overall ambience of Kalkan attracts visitors back time and time again.
Kalamar bay
The Kalamar Bay area provides the peace and tranquility required for a really relaxing holiday. Set just a short distance from all that the village has to offer I think it really is the best location in Kalkan. There are a few restaurants in the area which are great for lunch or an evening meal if you want to stay local.
Down in the bay there is the Kalamar Beach Club with a wide range of watersports and a lovely restaurant which is open for lunch and in the evenings. You will need to pay to use the sunbeds but the bonus is that they will give you a lift back to the villa if you need one.
Just further along is the Kulube Hotel which has free sunbeds as well as a beautiful little restaurant which is set just above the water. This is a really special place for a nice long lunch with the sound of the sea lapping against the rocks just below.
All in all we feel that if you are going to stay in Kalkan the Kalamar area is place to be.