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Kalkan is located on the
Mediterranean coast of Turkey 1.5 hours east of Dalaman airport.
Once a Greek fishing village, the old town hugs the shoreline
of a small, pristine half-moon bay. The new residential areas
of this seaside village dot the surrounding foothills of
the Taurus mountains. With a winter population of only about 2,800 inhabitants (including
about 50 foreign retired families), from April to October Kalkan attracts
many international visitors seeking sun, sea, relax and
romantic dining in the quaint atmosphere of the town
with its many rooftop and portside restaurants.
Most often described as a charming and romantic haven, Kalkan is off
the beaten track of the discos, noise and chaos that characterize
many seaside towns like Bodrum and Marmaris in summer.
Kalkan's historic center retains much of its former character and offers many small boutiques selling everything from carpets to gold and silver jewelry, leather goods to ceramics. Here there are also many cafes, grocers and other shops to supply your needs.
Swimming in Kalkan is either from one of the several beach clubs around Kalkan Bay, or on the pebbly town beach, or most enjoyable -- from a gulet. At 5 kilometers from Kalkan is Kaputas beach, a gorgeous fine sand beach set at the foot of a spectacular mountain gorge. Or if you prefer something gentler, Patara Beach offers you 18km of fine sand inside an archeological excavation site. With no hotels or commercial establishments to spoil the beauty, Patara beach is only a 20' drive from Kalkan by dolmus (minivan) or car. This beach is one of the lovliest in Turkey and is not at all crowded.
