Kalkan Holidays

Turkey's stunning Turquoise Coast 

Kalkan is a historic small town set against an enchanting mountain background with stunning turquoise water along Turkey's gorgeous Lycian Coast.

Kalkan remains fascinating and has become a tourist attraction. Because of its lush green nature, turquoise blue sea, ancient history, whitewashed houses surrounded by bougainvillaea and warm traditional Turkish hospitality.

The pretty town centre also known as Kalkan old town. You will be amazed with whitewashed Ottoman-Greek houses, charming little boutiques and handcrafted shops. Also, rooftop restaurants where you can eat delicious seafood offers stunning views of Kalkan bay. In this place, you want to be on every vacation.

Kalkan holidays are also enticing, with Harbourside bars and restaurants serving many kinds of delicious food and seafood with excellent service.

The main beach is at the Kalkan harbour. This little shoreline with crystal blue water has everything you need, beach bars, shops, cafes. There are also other beach options in Kalkan.

Patara is one of the few beaches in the world that caretta caretta still visiting and laying its eggs. That's why Patara beach is a protected area and announced National Park. Also, the ancient city of Patara is very close to the beach. It is half an hour drive away from Kalkan.

Kaputas beach is located in the Kaputas canyon between the Kas and Kalkan. Kaputas is a protected area. Kaputas beach is genuinely unparalleled with the turquoise water flowing from the canyon, golden sands and beautiful mountain background. It is a 10-minute drive away from Kalkan. 

Where is Kalkan

Kalkan is a small town on the famous Lycian coast of the Mediterranean. Fethiye is 1 hour and 20 minutes away from Dalaman airport. It is located in the west of Antalya.

Flights to Kalkan

There is no airport in Kalkan, but the nearest airport is Dalaman airport. The distance between Dalaman airport and departure is approximately 1 hour and 20 minutes. 

Kalkan Turkey with General Features

Kalkan, located between Antalya and Fethiye, where the Lycian Civilization lived 3000 years ago, also has significant historical and must-see places.

Kalkan is the pearl of Turkey and the Mediterranean, with the majestic Taurus Mountains in the background and the famous Lycian coast and turquoise blue sea on the front. With its tiny fishing boats, seaside restaurants, pretty harbour, whitewashed old Greek Ottoman houses, the narrow streets of the old town of Kalkan, it is a local and foreign tourist attraction.

Kalkan, which used to be a very important coastal trade port, has now become an important tourism centre. The attractive narrow streets of Kalkan, handmade boutiques, old Greek-Ottoman houses, rooftop restaurants, pretty cafes, magnificent views, and fresh seafood attract people.

There are complimentary service boats in Kalkan harbour for you to reach the surrounding beaches by boat. You will also see traditional wooden Gullets in Kalkan's port to explore beaches, hidden bays and islands nearby. In addition, water sports, professional diving and fishing are carried out in Kalkan and Kas.

Things to do in Kalkan 

Kalkan Historical Places

Antiphellos Ancient City

The ancient city of Antiphellos is located in the Kas region. The distance between Kalkan and Kas is 15-20 minutes by car.

On the eastern and northern mountains of the ancient city, there are rock tombs with Lycian inscriptions made in ionic style. The King's Tomb, which belongs to the 4th century BC, located in Kaş long bazaar, is the most magnificent mausoleum known.

One of the significant structures in the region from the 1st century BC is the ancient theatre of Kaş.

The ancient theatre with a capacity of 4000 has a beautiful sea view.

In the northeast of the ancient theatre, a house-type rock tomb from the 4th century BC is known as Akdam.

Patara Ancient City, Lycia

Patara is located near the Gelemiş village on the southwestern coast of Turkey. The distance between Patara and Kalkan is 25 minutes by car. Kalkan Patara is an ancient Lycian harbour city dating from the 8th century BC. It is said that Patarus, the son of Apollo, founded the city. 

Patara, the only entrance to the Xhantos valley, where the Xhantos river flowed in ancient times, had become a major harbour city and trade centre.

The ancient city of Patara was captured by Alexander the Great in 333 BC but later occupied by Antigonus and then Demetrius. In 196 BC, Antiochus III took Patara from Egyptian Ptolemies.

Patara gained freedom together with other Lycian cities in 167 BC. In 88 BC, Patara was captured by Brutus and Cassius against Mark Antony. 

Finally, Patara was given to the province of Pamphylia by the Roman Empire in 47 AD. Patara, Xanthos, Olympos, Pinara, Tlos and Myra was the leading cities in the Lycia.

Patara was a critical city either during the Roman period and the Byzantine period. The Roman period was a prominent trading port where grains were stored and shipped.

 Also, St Nicholas has lived in the ancient city Myra ( Demre ), and it said that he was born in Patara.

The ancient Patara mainly was abandoned in the war between the Turks and the Byzantines. After the 16th century, ships could not approach Patara, filled with blowing sand and lost its importance as a Port.

With its rich and powerful ancient past, Patara is one of the must-see places on Turkey's Lycian coast.

Besides its ancient history, you will get lost among the dunes in Patara beach, which is among the top-10 beaches in Europe. 

Saklikent Gorge 

Saklikent (Hidden City) Gorge is the longest and deepest gorge in Turkey. It is  20-30 minutes from Kalkan. 

It was opened to the public in 1996 and became a national park. 

Saklikent gorge can be visited all year round. 

But it may not be possible to walk in November and March because the water is too high. The valley becomes walkable in April as most of the snow in the Taurus Mountains melts and reduces the water passing through the Xanthos river.

If you prefer to walk, you should choose suitable shoes because the stones underwater will be very slippery.

Entrance is charged at an affordable price per person.

Saklikent Gorge is unbelievably beautiful. Fethiye is unique with its wild nature, cliffs, narrow passages, exquisite clean water flowing from the Taurus Mountains.

Saklıkent Gorge is an incredible visual gateway for families, couples and everyone. But do not forget that there are rocks that you have to climb and walk.

When you complete the passage, you will see cute boutiques and souvenir shops lined up by the river. There are also cafes. You can relax under the trees or cool your feet in the river's freshwater. 

Blue Cave Kalkan

The Blue Cave, which is very close to Kaputas, is 6 km from the centre of Kalkan. The name of the Blue Cave is since the rays of the sun reflecting on the bottom of the sea reveal a bright phosphorescence appearance there. The length of the cave is about 50 meters, and the width of the cave is about 40 meters. Only reachable by boat. This magnificent place, a breathtaking sight, is among the must-see places.

Guvercinlikli Cave Kalkan

Guvercinlikli cave is only reachable by sea from the Kalkan or Kas. This cave, which is slightly smaller than the blue cave, has nests of wild pigeons. It was formed naturally in this place and is among the must-see places.

Inbas Cave Kalkan

Located within the borders of Kalkan, Inbas Cave is approximately 100 meters from Guvencinlikli Sea Cave. The cave is reachable by the sea. It is among the must-see places in Kalkan. 

Babadag Mountain

Located 68 km from Kalkan, Babadag has a unique view. It will be an incredible experience for paragliding enthusiasts.

The Ancient City of Myra

The ancient city of Myra in Demre, about 60 km from Kalkan, the Lycian rock tombs, the Roman theatre, the Santa Claus church from the Byzantine period are among the places to be visited with its many hidden beauties.

Xanthos Ancient City

The ancient city of Xanthos, located between Kas and Antalya, is 21 km from Kalkan. The town's history, which was founded by the Lycian union, dates back to the 8th century BC. It is among the must-see places.

The ancient city of Letoon

The ancient city of Letoon is 24 km from Kalkan. The old town, located in the Seydikemer district of Mugla, is on the UNESCO world heritage list.

Kalkan Beaches

In addition to Kalkan's beach, Kaputaş Beach, Patara Beach, and Blue Lagoon Beach are among the places to be visited.
Kaputaş beach, the canyon mouth between Kalkan and Kaş, is located on the coastal road and is very popular. Thanks to the spring water coming from the bottom, it has stunning turquoise colour and sea.
Patara beach has the largest golden beach in Turkey and the third-largest in Europe. It is among the must-see places along with the ancient city.
Ölüdeniz Fethiye (Blue Lagoon Beach) has one of Turkey's most beautiful nature scenes. It is among the must-see places with its incredible beach and sea.

Kalkan Weather

Kalkan is located in the south of Turkey on the Mediterranean Sea and is surrounded by The Taurus Mountains rising to 1500 meters. Kalkan experiences the typical seasonal conditions of the southernMediterranean. The summers are hot and slightly rainy, and the winters are mild.

In the Kalkan summer months, there are Meltemi winds, which often creates a cooling effect in the heat of the summer. These winds, which are mostly dry and hot, come from Africa.