Things to Do in Kalkan
Living in Kalkan for 40 years and hosting thousands of guests, the True Blue family has prepared this guide for you. Beaches, bays, boat trips, restaurants and historical places worth seeing in and around Kalkan — compiled on a single page for easy reading.
Last updated:
About Kalkan
Kalkan is an elegant and authentic coastal town, where those seeking a peaceful atmosphere consciously stay away from the noise of mass tourism.
This unique identity of Kalkan aligns with new-generation travel trends that focus on elements like sustainability, cultural depth, and peaceful accommodation.
Accordingly, Kalkan has become a center of attraction for travelers who aim to explore off-the-beaten-path routes and immerse themselves in the local cultural and gastronomic fabric.
52 places to see around Kalkan
Kalamar Beach Club
The closest swimming spot to the hotel. Entry to the sea is from a rocky platform. There is a restaurant looking over the bay, a trampoline for children, a watersports area and a PADI diving school. Entry: ₺400–₺500.
Yalı Beach Club
Our partner beach club, with a wooden pier, comfortable sun loungers and a restaurant — a place to settle in for the whole day. Children are welcome. Water skiing, sailing and paddle boarding are available if you want a more active day.
Kaputaş Beach
A canyon-mouth beach on the road from Kalkan to Kaş. Underground water filtering through the sand keeps it cool and turquoise. The descent is worth it. Cafe, sunbeds, sunshades and changing rooms on site. Entry: ₺50.
Patara Beach
At 18 km long and 1,500 m wide, the longest beach in Turkey. Sandy and shallow, but windy most of the year — not recommended on windy days. It is a Caretta caretta nesting ground, so between May and October it is open only from 08:00 to 18:00. Reachable by car or minibus. Beach entrance: €15.
Fırnaz Bay
A small, sheltered cove between Kalkan and Kaş, reached by a narrow road down through the pines. Clear water, a handful of sunbeds and a simple beach cafe. Quieter than Kaputaş even in August — worth it if you want a swim without the crowds.
Zest Beach
Has a saltwater pool alongside the sea. True Blue guests receive a restaurant discount. Entry: ₺650.
Denizim Beach Club
Known for its harbour views and unhurried atmosphere. Sunbathing platforms, a shallow area suitable for children, table tennis, billiards and a water trampoline. Entry fee applies.
Indigo Beach Club
Two floors: a restaurant and bar with a view upstairs, a sun terrace with sea access below. A good place to watch the boats come back in at sunset. Entry fee applies.
Mahal Beach Club
One of the quietest clubs on the coast, with a serious kitchen. Dinner is served from 19:30. Entry fee applies; private gazebos can be reserved.
Kulübe Beach Club
A quieter platform just along the shore from the hotel, with its own restaurant. The easiest swim if you do not want to walk far.
Lures Beach Club
Next along from Kulübe, with a pool, a restaurant and watersports. Busier and better suited to a full day out of the room.
Çakıl Beach Club
One of our partner clubs, on the road out towards Kaş. Deep clear water off a platform, and a kitchen worth staying for at lunch.
Kalkan Public Beach
A Blue Flag beach right in town, good for snorkelling, with a municipal cafeteria above it. Sunbeds and umbrellas can be rented for a small fee. The busiest beach on this list.
Kalkan Old Town
The steep lanes above the harbour, lined with 19th-century Ottoman-Greek stone houses, bougainvillea and rooftop terraces. Most of the town’s restaurants, boutiques and jewellers are here. Best explored on foot in the late afternoon, when the heat drops and the light turns.
Kalkan Harbour
The heart of Kalkan. Boat trips leave from here in the morning and return at sunset. In the evening the quayside restaurants and bars fill up — a slow, sociable place rather than a nightlife strip.
Thursday Market
The weekly open-air market: local produce, cheeses, olives, spices, textiles and household goods. Mornings are best. A good place to buy fruit for the week and to see the town at its most everyday.
Kalkan Culture House
In the heart of the old town, with changing exhibitions by local and contemporary artists. A quiet half hour between the harbour and dinner.
Yıldız Boat
Full-day boat trip along the bays around Kalkan, with swimming stops and lunch on board. Price: £50 per person.
Kalamaki Travel
Daily boat tours of the surrounding coves and islands. Price: £50 per person.
Siesta
Boat trips around the bay with swimming stops. Price: £50 per person.
Kekova Sunken City
A protected area of submerged Lycian ruins, reachable only by boat. The awkward access has kept it intact. Üçağız takes its name — “three mouths” — from the three channels out to open sea visible from its harbour.
Patara Ancient City
One of the most rewarding sites in the region, still being excavated. Inside the national park you will find a monumental gate, a large theatre, the recently restored world’s first parliament building, a lighthouse and Roman baths. Entry fee applies.
Xanthos
The capital of Lycia, dating to the 4th century BC. The tomb of King Payava of Xanthos — after whom our sister hotel is named — is now displayed in the British Museum.
Letoon
The religious centre of the Lycians, with temples to Leto and her children Artemis and Apollo.
Tlos
One of the most striking Lycian cities. The acropolis, castle, rock tombs and Roman stadium survive, along with a three-storey bath house south of the stadium. Hittite records refer to Tlos as a “country”.
Arycanda
Built across five terraces on a mountain slope. It holds the largest bath complex in Lycia, two necropolises, a stadium and a theatre.
Myra
Once as important as Ephesus. A large Roman amphitheatre and Lycian rock tombs cut into the cliff face. St Nicholas Basilica is a few kilometres away.
St Nicholas Church
The resting place of St Nicholas — Santa Claus — and a site of real spiritual significance. Byzantine architecture and well-preserved frescoes.
Sidyma
Discovered by J. A. Schönborn in 1842 while he was hurrying to catch a ship to Rhodes. Silver coins from the 1st century BC stamped “SI” confirm it was a member of the Lycian League.
Saklıkent Canyon
One of the deepest canyons in the world at 300 m. Rafting and ziplining in the cold water, ATV and jeep safaris nearby, and restaurants built out over the spring water.
Gizlikent Waterfall
A narrow, green canyon reached by steps down through the trees. Wade about 20 m into the water to reach the falls.
Butterfly Valley
Enclosed by steep cliffs and home to more than 80 butterfly species, notably the Jersey Tiger. There is no road in; boats leave from Ölüdeniz. You can swim and spend the day on the beach.
The Lycian Way
Turkey’s best-known long-distance trail, running from Fethiye to Antalya along the route of the ancient Lycian civilisation. It links turquoise bays, mountain views, ancient cities, rock tombs and empty beaches. Spring and autumn are the seasons to walk it.
Patara Sand Dunes
Fine sand and a wide horizon; the sunset is the reason to come. On a clear evening you can make out the silhouette of Rhodes. Combine it with the beach and the ancient city.
Scuba Diving
A PADI centre running programmes for beginners and certified divers. Kaş and Kalkan are among the best-known dive sites in the country.
Paragliding
One of the world’s best-known paragliding sites. Conditions have to be right, so check before setting out.
Horse Riding
Riding across Patara at sunset, with the dunes and the sea behind you.
Meis Island (Kastellorizo)
One of the smallest and most easterly Greek islands: neoclassical houses in colour, the Blue Cave, the Church of Saints Constantine and Helena, an Ottoman mosque and a castle. A quiet harbour and long views.
İslamlar Village
A mountain village known for its watermills and trout restaurants, set among walnut and pomegranate trees. Noticeably cooler than the coast in high summer, which is exactly why people go up for lunch.
Bezirgan Plateau
A high plateau village behind Kalkan, reached by a winding road through the pines. Wooden grain stores, old stone houses and open fields. The Lycian Way passes through it, and the walk down towards Kalkan is one of the best half-days in the area.
Kayaköy
Abandoned after the 1923 population exchange. Hundreds of Greek-style houses and churches still stand — a preserved ghost village with an unusual atmosphere.
Museum of Lycian Civilisations
Artefacts, tombs and inscriptions setting out Lycian culture, in a well-restored building. Worth an hour if you are visiting the ancient cities.
Lycian Grape Harvest
Join the harvest at Likya Wines, tour the vineyards and winery, then sit down to a tasting dinner at the vineyard house. Elmalı is also known for its Ottoman-era timber houses.
Tangala Cheeses
A small artisanal dairy making cheeses drawn from European, Caucasian and Middle Eastern traditions. Open buffet cheese tastings by reservation.
Kaş
The neighbouring town, larger and livelier than Kalkan. Walk Uzun Çarşı for silver and craft shops, then take the sunset from the ancient Antiphellos theatre.
Kaş Friday Market
A proper regional bazaar every Friday: seasonal produce, handmade goods and textiles. Go early, and take a basket rather than a bag.
Fethiye
Wander the Paspatur bazaar in the old town, then the open market for vegetables, seasonal fruit and the day’s catch. The nearest city, and a full day out.
Elmalı
An inland town of well-preserved Ottoman architecture — the Bakırcılar bazaar, old hammams and a museum of regional finds. Layers of Lycian, Seljuk and Ottoman history, away from the coast.
One-to-One Visual Arts Education
Expert-led workshops covering everything from classical oil painting to modern marker techniques. Suitable whether you are picking up a brush for the first time or returning to it after years.
Professional Nail Care
An expert nail technician offering gel extensions, nail art and long-lasting gel polish — meticulous work, in town.
Private Swimming Lessons
A certified SSI swimming instructor based in Kaş and Kalkan, giving individual and small-group lessons for all ages — from infants to adults.
Eating in Kalkan
Kalkan has an unusually good restaurant scene for a town its size, much of it on rooftop terraces looking over the harbour. Among the places we send guests: House Kitchen & Bar, Kalamare, Ata Kebab Meze, Hünkar Ocakbaşı, Mabeyn Ocakbaşı, Leon Cafe, Aqua Bistro, The Lime, Sade Terrace, Salonika 1881, Coast, Mey & Meze and Akın Restoran. True Blue guests can also order in and eat on their own balcony — ask reception for the list.
Where to stay in Kalkan
True Blue Boutique Hotel sits between Kalamar Bay, Kaputaş and Patara, a few minutes from the old town. We have 34 units across suites, residences and two villas, and we have been hosting guests here for 40 years. Suites · Residences · Villa · Contact us
Where to eat in Kalkan
True Blue guests can order from the numbers below and eat on their own balcony. Tap a name for photos, location and reviews.
- Payava Cafe 0555 090 36 83
- House Kitchen & Bar 0555 710 55 51
- Kalamare Kalkan 0541 844 15 64
- Ata Kebab Meze 0530 396 83 33
- Sandwich Kalkan 0533 664 48 07
- Hünkar Ocakbaşı 0532 582 31 44
- Mabeyn Ocakbaşı 0242 844 32 42
- Leon Cafe 0543 509 50 70
- Ziizi Pizza 0242 844 10 11
- Cafe Vita Kalkan
- Aqua Bistro
- The Brothers Cafe Restaurant
- Nur Pastanesi
- The Lime Restaurant
- Sade Terrace Restaurant
- Salonika 1881 Meyhanesi
- Coast Restaurant
- Mey & Meze Kalkan
- Akın Restoran
True Blue Boutique Hotel Kalkan
We have been in Kalkan for 40 years. We are not just operators; we are your hosts. This is our home. For years, we have been welcoming our guests with the motto: “Make them feel at home.”
As the True Blue Boutique Hotel family, we hosted guests from 60 different countries in 2026.
Ten different accommodation types across suites, residences and private villas — one of them is surely right for you.
Suites
The suites include a living room with a sofa bed, suitable for families with one child. Worth seeing: the rooftop rooms with sea views and the romantic rooms with private terraces.
Residences
The garden terrace studio and the stone house studio suit 2 adults and 1 child. Three different two-bedroom residences host 4–5 guests in total.
Villa
Hotel comfort with 200 m² of space, a jacuzzi, stone walls and four bedrooms. Our terraced villas host large families and groups for stays of five days or more.
