Kalkan

Overview

Kalkan is a small harbor town on a bay of the Lycian coast, west of Kaş in Antalya province. It is a well-kept, small town. Today it is a neighborhood of Kaş, so Kaş Municipality runs its town beach and a local market. For the wider coast, from Kekova to Xanthos, see Kaş. For the town of Kaş itself, see Kaş.

The old town above Kalkan harbor

The old town rises on the slope above the bay. Kalkan's architecture and street pattern have changed little. Its small center of white-washed houses looks over the bay. Shutters cover their windows, while bright flowers fill the balconies. Across the bay, on the pine slope of the far shore, Villa Mahal has white rooms stepping down to the sea.

On foot, steep, narrow streets lead down to the sea, and bougainvillea hangs from the balconies. Restaurants sit on terraces, so diners can watch the sun set over the water.

Quick facts

• Good for: a harbor town of white-washed houses, Blue Voyage gulet stops, beach days and dives, the coast road to Patara
• Best combined with: Kaputaş Beach, Patara and Xanthos

Seeing Kalkan with Us

Would you like to arrive in Kalkan by gulet, or see it on our Kaş and Kalkan tour? Arriving by gulet or by road changes the plan, so let us know which you prefer and when. Our blue cruise service and driver service are good places to start.

If you would rather reach Kalkan on foot, our Lycian Way trek ends here after five walking days from Ovacık.

History

The town's older name is Kalamaki. Ottoman Greeks lived here when it was still a fishing village. Since the 1980s, the town has grown steadily more popular, and holiday villages now cover the southern hillside.

Things to See & Do

Kalkan harbor on the Blue Voyage

Blue Voyage gulet charters run along nine coasts, from Bodrum to Antalya. Kalkan is one of them, alongside Kaş, Fethiye and Göcek. The cruise takes its name from writers such as Halikarnas Balıkçısı and Azra Erhat. In town, the yacht harbor meets the needs of the boats that call. Restaurants and shops fill the small center around it.

Beaches, coves and dives near Kalkan

The town beach (Kalkan Halk Plajı) lies close to the harbor. Kaş Municipality runs the beach facility there. Boats can reach the Güvercinlik sea cave, which takes its name from the many pigeons living inside. Below the water, dive points include the Sakarya wreck, Heybeli Island and the Madalyon reef. For water sports, you can try jet skiing, water skiing, wakeboarding and towed rides such as banana boats.

Kaputaş, Patara and Xanthos nearby

East toward Kaş, the coast road soon reaches Kaputaş Beach. To the west, Patara lies at the village of Gelemiş, on the way to Fethiye. Near Kınık stands Xanthos, and buses between Kaş and Fethiye serve the site. Walkers have another choice, because coast and forest sections of the Lycian Way run between Patara and Kalkan. A third line climbs from Kalkan to Bezirgan and then on toward ancient Phellos.

Local Life

Kaş Municipality set up a local-products market in Kalkan. There, makers from the district sell Barak kilims, tarhana from Gömbe, Margaz grapes, İslamlar tahini and olive-oil soap from Kaş. Women producers bring home-made food as well. Check the current market days with Kaş Municipality before you go. A regular neighborhood market runs here too.

How to Visit

Updated: October 25, 2026.

Reaching Kalkan on the D400 coast road

Kalkan lies on the D400, the coast road that links it with Kaş. From the west, the road reaches this coast by way of Fethiye. Drivers from Antalya, however, follow the shore through Finike and Demre. Dolmuş (a shared minibus on a set route) minibuses run between Kalkan and Patara. For airports and long-distance buses, see the planning section of our Kaş guide.

Arriving in Kalkan by gulet or day boat

Blue Voyage gulets can call at Kalkan, because the yacht harbor serves visiting boats. Guests then step ashore in the town itself. For group charters, guests choose their own ports of departure and arrival. Sample routes, for example, run from Bodrum to Fethiye and from Göcek to Antalya. Nearby Kaş is a main stop and starting point of the Blue Voyage. Day boats from Kalkan and Kaş then explore the coves and beaches close by.