Kalkan is a place to fall in love with ...
Full of character, Kalkan is a delightful fishing village on the south west Turkish coast with winding cobbled streets and alleyways.
The historic town of Kalkan is an enchanting place and one of the most beautiful locations along Turkey's gorgeous Lycian Coast. With the absence of mass tourism, Kalkan remains a charming and unspoiled haven of lush nature, brilliant blue crystal-clear sea, historic architecture, ancient history and warm traditional Turkish hospitality. Kalkan is the best kept secret – nestling as she does in the foothills of the rugged Taurus Mauntains. Kalkan is a picturesque harbour town, more sophisticated than the usual resort town, she appeals to travelers looking for more than a "sun and sea" holiday.
According to the Sunday Times, Kalkan attracts the kind of visitor who would also enjoy Tuscany or the Dordogne. The Guardian likens the town to "the Italian Riviera minus the poseurs." Because of its great charm, Kalkan has a growing number of perennial visitors who say the town is the only holiday destination they would choose to visit repeatedly. There is simply no other town quite like Kalkan along Turkey's coast.
The town overlooks a beautiful bay in which islands seem to magically float upon the shimmering sea. Narrow streets twist down to the harbour, lined with old whitewashed villas with shuttered windows situated alongside small local specialty shops and restaurants in historic buildings. Overhead hang original carved Ottoman Greek timber balconies garlanded with thick masses of brilliantly coloured bougainvillea cascading to the streets below.
The people of Kalkan warmly welcome you, and you may at first be surprised by the universal friendliness within the town. This, along with warm Turkish hospitality is the basis of life here and the people of Kalkan sincerely enjoy getting to know their guests. So don't hesitate to accept one of the many tulip-shaped glasses of çay (tea) you will be offered while you amble along Kalkan's winding streets.
During the day, people relax by their pools, on the local pebble beach, or at one of the nearby beach clubs. At night, the village comes alive as both visitors and local people join Kalkan nightlife, shopping, eating and having a drink in one of the bars.
Kalkan is situated in the heart of Lycia and therefore the surrounding areas offer lots of possibilities to take in some local history and culture; Patara’s spectacular sandy beach, the much photographed Kaputas beach, Saklikent gorge, the sunken city of Kekova, and ancient historical sites such as Xanthos, Letoon, Tlos, Myra and Kayakoy.
The nearby towns of Kas and Fethiye are within an easy drive and are well worth a visit for their own individual characteristics.
Kalkan and all its enchantments will quietly seduce you into living on Turkish time, unhurried and peaceful, enjoying all that the region has to offer.
