About Kalkan

A picturesque Mediterranean resort and fishing town on the beautiful Turquoise Lycian Coast of Turkey, Kalkan has not been touched by mass tourism and is a more sophisticated destination than the usual resort town. According to the Sunday Times, Kalkan attracts the kind of visitor who would also enjoy Tuscany or the Dordogne.  The Guardian likens the town to "the Italian Riviera minus the poseurs" and the Independent listed it among the best tourist destinations for 2007, “especially for those seeking a romantic destination”.

Because of its great charm, Kalkan has a growing number of perennial visitors who say the town is the only holiday destination they would choose to visit repeatedly.  There is simply no other town quite like Kalkan along Turkey's coast. 

Kalkan is built around around a historic harbour sheltered at the foot of the Taurus Mountains.  Narrow streets twist down to the harbour, lined with old whitewashed villas with shuttered windows situated alongside small local specialty shops and restaurants in historic buildings.  Overhead hang original carved Ottoman Greek timber balconies garlanded with thick masses of brilliantly coloured bougainvillea cascading to the streets below. It is a very special place with a unique atmosphere.

Besides the famous "Kalkan Style" historic architecture, the many excellent restaurants of Kalkan contribute to the special atmosphere within Kalkan.  Good dining has always been the way of life in Kalkan and continues today.  In fact, Kalkan is said to have the highest number of restaurants and bars per inhabitant or square meter on the Turkish coast.

Additionally, Kalkan is especially renowned for its numerous roof terrace restaurants and bars which offer a wonderful view of the town, sea and stars.  It's also nice to sit at one of the many fine harbour-side restaurants and watch the pleasure boats and fishermen leave early in the morning as you eat your breakfast, or see the fishing boats return with the day's catch in the evening.