Kalkan is a picturesque seaside town in southwestern Turkey, located between Kaş and Fethiye, in the province of Antalya. It is famous for its white houses with blue shutters, narrow cobblestone streets lined with bougainvillea, and stunning views of the sea and mountains.
It is called the Turkish Santorini for its special atmosphere, tranquility and magnificent sunsets over the bay.

📍 Geography and climate

• Location: western part of Antalya province, on the coast of Kalkan Bay

• Nearest cities: Kaş (25 km), Fethiye (80 km), Antalya (210 km)

• Climate: typical Mediterraneanclimate

  • Summer: hot and dry (+30-35°C)

  • Winter: mild and rainy (+12-18°C)

• Special feature: the town is situated on hills terraced down to the sea - almost every house has a view of the bay.

🏛 History

Kalkan has ancient roots and was founded in ancient times as a port for the Lycian city of Xanthos.
Later, Greeks who called the city Kalamaki settled here and it was an important trading hub on the route from Rhodes to Antalya.
After the population exchange in the 1920s, the Greek families left Kalkan, but the town has retained their architectural heritage and the atmosphere of an old seaside village.

🏖 Kalkan's beaches

Although the town itself sits on a cliff, there are several stunning beaches and coves nearby, famous for their clear waters.

🌊 Popular beaches:

• Kaputaş Beach is one of the most beautiful beaches in Turkey.
  A narrow canyon leading to golden sand and azure sea. 180 steps down and you are in paradise.
  Often gets in the top of the world beaches according to National Geographic.

• Patara Beach - 18 km of sand, ancient dunes and archaeological ruins nearby.
  Here you can see caretta caretta turtles, which nest in July.

• Kalkan Public Beach - clean pebble beach near the town center with a blue flag, ideal for short swims and snorkeling.

• Kalamar Beach Club - a popular spot for diving and water activities, with sun loungers and restaurants by the sea.

🏨 Atmosphere and relaxation

Kalkan is a city for connoisseurs of coziness, silence and taste.
There are no big all-inclusive hotels here - instead there are boutique hotels, apartments, villas and family-run guesthouses.

• Snow-white facades with stone staircases

• Flowery terraces with sea views

• Small pools and quiet

• Rooftop restaurants with panoramic views of the bay

Kalkan is ideal for:

• Romantic vacation

• Secluded vacation

• Photo shoots and weddings

• Long term stay by the sea

🍽 Cuisine and Gastronomy

Kalkan is famous for its Mediterranean cuisine and sea view restaurants.
You can find everything from traditional Turkish taverns to sophisticated gastronomic establishments.

Recommended dishes:

• Meze - dozens of appetizers based on yogurt, olive oil and herbs

• Fresh fish (dorada, sea bass, octopus, squid)

• Lamb and seafood kebabs

• Homemade wines from local wineries Kekova and Urla

• Sweets: baklava, lukum, goat milk ice cream

🧭 What to see and do

• Kalkan's Old Town - narrow streets, white houses, stone staircases, stores and the scent of jasmine.

• Kalkan Marina - walks, boating, coastal excursions.

• Drive to Kash and Mace Island (Greek Kastellorizo) - scenic route along the sea.

• Ancient city of Xanthos (Xanthos) - the capital of Lycia, listed as a UNESCO site.

• Saklıkent Canyon - a picturesque canyon for walking and swimming in the mountain water.

• Cappadocian Night in the Islamlar Mountains - a village 10km from Kalkan, famous for its trout restaurants and valley views.

🎭 Atmosphere and lifestyle.

Kalkan attracts Europeans and Turkish intellectuals - it's not a noisy resort, but a place where aesthetics, tranquility and a taste for life are felt.

• In the evening, the city is filled with music and the scent of the sea.

• At night, the lights of the bay and the sails of yachts twinkle.

• The streets are imbued with the spirit of the Mediterranean - white stone, flowers, seagulls, cafes.

🏡 Real estate and life

Kalkan is actively developing as a place for permanent residence and investment.
Villas with panoramic views, penthouses, boutique complexes are being built here, but at the same time the town retains its coziness.

• Popular among foreigners (British, Germans, Scandinavians)

• Prices are moderate compared to Bodrum or Fethiye

• Safe and well maintained town

• Excellent internet, schools and infrastructure

🚗 How to get there

• ✈️ Nearest airports:

  • Dalaman (120 km)

  • Antalya (210 km)

• 🚌 Buses from Fethiye, Antalya and Kaş

• 🚗 Picturesque highway D400 along the sea

• 🚤 Yachts and boats along the coastline

✅ Why go to Kalkan

✔ One of the most romantic resorts in Turkey
✔ White houses and old Mediterranean atmosphere
✔ Turquoise sea, clean beaches and yachts
✔ High vacation culture and privacy
✔ Ideal for couples, families and beauty lovers
✔ Gourmet cuisine, aesthetics and views of eternal sunsets

📌 Conclusion

Kalkan is Turkey without the noise, without the crowds and without the hustle and bustle, but with soul, style and inspiration.
Everything here is soaked in sun, salt and love for the sea.
It is a place where time flows slowly, where every evening turns into a postcard and the sea is like a mirror reflecting dreams.