Kalkan is a beautiful, picturesque village on the Turquoise Coast in the south western region of Antalya Turkey. Still untouched by mass tourism, Kalkan has retained it’s charm and is more sophisticated than the usual resort town. Unlike many other resorts along the Turkish coast, Kalkan’s main economy is tourism, ensuring that it’s beautiful cobbly streets and historic architecture is carefully preserved. When arriving into Kalkan for the first time, everyone is blown away as they come round the final bend and see the glittering turquoise waters in the bay below them. The historic Old Town, once a Greek village called Kalamaki, is a delightful maze of winding streets filled with cascading bougainvillea, beautiful townhouses with traditional wooden balconies hanging over the streets below. All streets lead down to the picturesque harbour where the traditional wooden gulets jostle for space next to the local fishing boats.
Kalkan is renowned within Turkey for it’s restaurant scene- it’s hard to keep track but it is believed there are over 100 restaurants in Kalkan! The rooftop restaurants of the village are famous and a unique experience- enjoy delicious cuisine whilst dining under the stars on a balmy summer’s evening. Kalkan’s restaurants cater for everyone- from tradition Lokantas serving traditional home cooking, to Kebab restaurants serving melt in the mouth spit roasted Doner kebabs or high end a la carte restaurants serving an enticing variety of Turkish and international cuisine. In addition there are several family run cafes tucked down pretty side streets, fish restaurants offering freshly caught fish & seafood plus a couple of ‘Meyhanes’- the place to go for authentic Turkish food, music and dancing!
Fancy a tipple after dinner? Kalkan’s has a number of sophisticated bars and lounges. Sit at one of the street side bars and watch the world pass by you or head down to the sea front and enjoy a cocktail at one of the harbour front bars. After something a little bit livelier? Several of Kalkan’s bars offer live music throughout the week and for the very young of heart there are a couple of small ‘nightclubs’ where you dance away into the small hours.
For the shopaholics amongst us, Kalkan is a paradise. The old streets are bursting with jewellery galleries, artisan leather shops, clothing boutiques and gift shops overflowing with traditional Turkish ceramics. The Thursday market is also full of “designer” bags and clothes. Make sure you leave enough room in your suitcase at the end of your holiday!
Whilst it’s perfectly possible and very tempting to spend every day of your holiday lazing by the pool or at the beach, the countryside surrounding Kalkan offers a multitude of activities.
A must when on holiday in Kalkan. Set sail on an authentic wooden sailing boat and spend the day stopping off at coves, beaches and secluded bays. Enjoy a fantastic lunch cooked by the Chef and his skipper, snorkel amongst the rocks and just chill our completely on the comfy on deck sunbeds.
A trip to Kalkan wouldn’t be complete without a day spend at one of the beach clubs which are nestled into the coastline along Kalkan’s bay. Enjoy waiter service at your sun lounger, swim in the beautifully clear waters and perhaps even indulge in some of the many water sports that are on offer!
Set in what is known as the Lycian region, Kalkan has a plethora on ancient archaeological sites right on it’s door steps. An area with a rich and diverse history; Lycian, Greek and Roman ruins are only a short drive away. Visit the world’s oldest lighthouse at Patara, walk in the footsteps of Alexander the Great at Xanthos or take in the magnificent rock tombs and amphitheatre at Myra.
A breathtaking natural gorge approximately a 45 minute drive from Kalkan. Only discovered in recent times, Saklikent Gorge is the perfect place to escape the boiling summer temperatures. Walk through a gushing river and then enjoy clambering through the gorge itself, taking in the jaw dropping natural cliffs. After a energetic gorge walk, enjoy a traditional lunch at one of Saklikent’s many restaurants- most of which are built on platforms hanging over the river’s edge. A fantastic day out for families, river rafting and tubing can also easily be arranged at Saklikent.
Combine the best of worlds by enjoying a boat trip and history tour in one go! Kekova is an ancient city which was submerged by an earthquake in the 4th century AD. See the well preserved ruins from a glass bottomed boat then enjoy a swim and snorkel in the surrounding waters. After a lunch on board, scramble up to the majestic castle at the top of Simena- a picturesque Turkish hamlet only reachable by boat.
These are just a few of the activities available in and around Kalkan. We will be more than happy to provide further information on day trips available and even book them for you in advance of your holiday.
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