Kalkan
Kalkan is a small harbour in Lycia on the Mediterranean coast of Turkey, with a population of 3926 in 2022. It's well-developed for tourism but hasn't attracted a mass market, so it remains unspoilt.
Get in
The village is on the coast highway D400, which wends and winds from Marmaris and Fethiye to Kalkan and runs on east to Antalya and far beyond.
By plane
Dalaman Airport (DLM IATA) is the closest, with seasonal package flights from Europe and the UK. It's 125 km west of Kalkan, and the drive might take 90 min to 2 hours via D400 (toll tunnel). You could take the airport bus as far as Fethiye then change to the regular bus (below) or taxi.
By bus
Buses from Istanbul run six times a day and take 15 hours via Gebze, Bursa, Izmir, Muğla, Akyaka, Dalaman, Göcek and Fethiye. The section from Izmir takes 7 hours.
Bus lines on these routes are Pamukkale and Flixbus. To get further east along this coast to Finike and Antalya, look for a dolmuş.
🌍 Otobüs Terminali the bus station is north end of the village just off D400. You'll probably need a taxi to reach your accommodation.
By boat
Kalkan is popular with yachts and other leisure craft. It's not a Port of Entry into Turkey, so if you sail from the Greek islands you need to clear immigration and customs in Fethiye to the west or Kaş or Finike to the east.
Get around
You can get around the village on foot, but you'll soon exhaust its delights and want to explore further out. So you need car hire, simplest done at the airport as that takes care of your transfer to Kalkan.
See
- 🌍 Yat Limani is the marina in village centre, crowded with yats, gulets and other pleasure craft. The "lighthouse" is a simple harbour light at the end of the breakwater.
- Koca Mustafa Mosque east side of the marina was originally Greek Orthodox, built in 1855. In 1934 it was converted into a mosque and the minaret added.
Do
- Beaches are narrow and shingle. The main public beach is southeast of the marina. Kaputaş to the south and Patara west have sandy beaches.
- Scuba diving: Kalkan Diving Centre is by Lures Hotel. It offers courses and outings for experienced divers.
- Boat trips potter along the coast. There's a dozen operators around the harbour.
- Lycian Way is a long-distance hiking trail from Fethiye to Antalya. The local section is accessed at Bezirgan 3 km inland - this village is on a rare stretch of level ground, an infilled lake, so it stands in a quiltwork of fields and little grain stores. From the west you come through İslamlar to Akbel then 10 km to Bezirgan. Continue to Sarıbelen (7 km) in a similar valley then 13 km to Gökçeören, and so on east.
Buy
- Small stores are strung along Şehitler Cd east side of the village, and open daily 08:00 till late.
Eat
Dozens of restaurants line the streets leading up from the marina.
Drink
- Cafes serve alcohol and bars serve food, so there isn't an obvious difference.
Sleep
- Pansiyons everywhere, the cluster near the marina (eg Turk Evi, below) are the most central.
- Villas for self-catering: lots, but mostly a long walk or taxi ride from the restaurants and harbour.
- 🌍 Lures Hotel, Karanfil Sk, ☏ +90 242 606 1144. On the beach, new in 2023 with spacious rooms, good but not glowing reviews. B&B double 4000 TL.
- 🌍 True Blue Boutique Hotel Kalkan, Begonvil Sk 25, ☏ +90 507 564 1775, info@truebluehotel.com.tr. Great reviews for comfort and service at this elegant hotel west edge of town. B&B double 3000 TL.
- 🌍 Payava Hotel, Cumhuriyet Cd 80, ☏ +90 555 090 3683. Another in the Tru Blue franchise with similar great reviews. B&B double 3500 TL.
- 🌍 Likya Residence Hotel, Sümbül Sk 1, ☏ +90 543 617 5968. Smart place near the waterfront. B&B double 5000 TL.
- Likya Pavilion is their branch nearby on the waterfront.
- 🌍 Pirat Hotel, Iskele Sk, ☏ +90 242 844 3178. Good value small hotel by the marina. B&B double 2000 TL.
- 🌍 Old Town Hotel, Süleyman Yılmaz Cd 23, ☏ +90 242 844 3038. Charming little hotel with only five rooms by the market. B&B double 4000 TL.
- 🌍 Turk Evi, Şehitler Cd 48, ☏ +90 242 844 3129. Pleasant pansiyon a short walk from the marina. B&B double 3000 TL.
- 🌍 Villa Mahal, off Zeytinlik Sk, ☏ +90 242 844 3268. Small hotel perched on the hillside south edge of town, a stiff slope to the waterfront restaurant and beach club. B&B double 5000 TL.
Connect
Kalkan and the coast road have 4G from all Turkish carriers. As of April 2024, 5G has not rolled out in Turkey.
Go next
- Patara 20 km west has an ancient city and a good beach.
- Kınık 30 km north has the ruins of Xanthos and Letoon.
- Saklikent Gorge is a further 20 km north.
- Kaş is a larger port to the east, with ferries to the Greek island of Kastellorizo.
- Demre has the ruins of ancient Myra and ferries to the island of Kekova.
| Routes through Kalkan |
| Marmaris ← Patara ← | W E | → Kaş → Antalya |
| Fethiye ← Patara ← Akbel ← | W E | → Phellos → Kaş → Antalya |