The port is relatively young, dating from the 19th century. The small town is now a tourist haven though not greatly commercialised and very quiet during the day when most visitors head out to the beaches.
Kalkan: View over the bay
Just east of the harbour is a pebbled beach but a 10 minute taxi ride takes you to sandy Kaputas Beach, at the foot of a striking gorge. There’s also a dive centre in town if you fancy trying some scuba diving, and water skiing, banana boat rides and similar entertainment is often on offer at the beaches.
In town, explore the winding alleys and streets stretching up the hillside where you’ll find a good variety of souvenirs, interspersed with plenty of cafe’s and bars where you can get your breath back!
Kalkan claims to have more restaurants per inhabitant than anywhere else in Turkey and there are places to suit every budget, many with great views over the harbour. Some have live music too, though don’t worry – this isn’t the clubbing capital of the area and noise isn’t a problem.
For those wanting to explore further afield, there are several travel agents in town and car hire is available, as well as organised trips. Kalkan is a good base for visiting the Saklikent Gorge, (it’s actually a little closer than if you visit from Fethiye). The Gorge is one of the deepest gorges in the world where the cool atmosphere and dramatic scenery offer some great walks. You can also dine on fresh trout at the restaurant there.
The national park at Patara is about 15km away and includes a 12km long sandy beach and dunes, as well as some Lycian ruins. There’s a small admission fee but it’s not expensive.
Kalkan harbour itself is nothing special – a bit too much concrete for my liking – but with so much to in town and nearby you won’t be spending much time there.