Holidays to Kalkan
Sun worshippers, mountain climbers, feverish foodies and history hunters find common ground on holidays to Kalkan. It’s just a four-hour flight to this Turkish delight.
Always be beachin’
Can you top up your tan with views of the Med on a trip to Kalkan? Oh yes, you Kal-CAN. The main stretch of sand, Kalkan Beach, is all bright white pebbles, parasol shades and heavenly hues out to the horizon. This is called the Turquoise Coast for a reason!
Alternatively, get your adrenaline pumping by hitting the waves on a paddle, body or wake board. There are also parasailing and jet-skis opportunities for a little extra thrust.
It’s only natural
The bays aren’t the only beauties on the Kalkan coast. Swap your swimmers for your walking boots to take on Saklikent Gorge. This 300m (984ft) deep cut through the Turkish tundra is bursting with cracking flora, fauna and waterfalls.
Take your pick of trails on the Lycian Way – a 540km (335 miles) route along Turkey’s south coast – while you’re here too. It’s got something for dubious day trippers and intrepid intermediates as well as expert excursions for the mountaineering mad.
Taste Turkey from the rooftops
Turkey’s festival of fantastic food will ignite your taste buds wherever you dine. Baklava on the bus. Pilav rice on the plane. Stuffed dolma by a food stall. It’s always delicious. But there’s nothing quite like chowing it down on a rooftop terrace while gazing out over the Med.
Dine on traditional Turkish fare and sip delectable cocktails with a spectacular panorama at Lal. Or slam down seafood with a sea view at Nova, which opens into the early hours. Alternatively, settle in for sunset and spaghetti on the terrace at Kalamaki.
The bazaar way to shop
Pack an extra bag for your bargains and get ready to haggle like a hero. Of course, you need a mountain of fresh dates and a kilo of saffron – you’re on your jollies! Hone your haggling at Kalkan Thursday Market, where you’ll find clothes, food and spices, then show off at Sunday’s traditional Akbel market, where vendors sell fresh fish, beautiful cheeses, and fresh fruit and veg.
Want to bring something bigger back to Blighty? Swerve down those oh-so-quaint cobbled side streets for carpet bazaars, antique merchants and a whole lot of leather goods.
Sneak Peek
Best for... A Turkish delightful bargain beach break 🏝️
Go... The ancient city of Patara to see old-school Turkey 🇹🇷
You have to... Treat yourself to Turkish meze at a rooftop restaurant 🥓
Kalkan holiday deals
Kalamar Hotel
4.2
Very Good
- 14 May 2026
- 7 nights
- Half board
- From Bournemouth
Prices from
Samira Resort Hotel & Aparts & Villas
4.6
Excellent
- 28 Sept 2026
- 14 nights
- Bed & breakfast
- From Luton
Prices from
True Blue Boutique Hotel Kalkan
4.8
Excellent
- 29 May 2026
- 7 nights
- Room only
- From Bristol
Prices from
Soothe Hotel
4.6
Excellent
- 10 Aug 2026
- 7 nights
- Bed & breakfast
- From Exeter
Prices from
Details
Currency
Turkish Lira
Language
Turkish
Time difference
GMT +2
Cost of a beer
₺70
3-course meal
₺375
Flight time
4 hrs
Explore the bays by boat
Kalkan Beach has everything you need for a top day on the sand. We’re talking loungers, cafés, bars and plenty of space to sizzle in the sun. Or, pull up a pew in Denizim Beach Club at the end of the bay. May as well sipple a tipple while you’re there. If you’re looking for an incredible swimming spot, head for Firnaz Bay, which boasts crystal-clear waters and an idyllic verdant backdrop. Top tip: look out for sea turtles on the journey over.
Turkey’s ancient time machine
Coming to Kalkan for culture? Patara may only be 30 minutes down the road but it’s 2,000 years back in time. As with any historic ruin worth its salt, this ancient Lycian city is centred around an enormous amphitheatre. You can also get all Mary Beard at the Arch of Modestus necropolis, the Harbour baths and the Byzantine basilica. And if you’re holding out for a Nero, you won’t be disappointed. The Emperor’s lighthouse is right here too.
GOAT days out with the fam
Nothing tires out tots, tweens and teens like a day on the water. Book a boat trip around the bays to jump, dive and bomb into the Med until the sun goes down. Strap on snorkels to greet grouper fish beneath the waves and count the arms on an octopus. If your clan prefers four-legged friends, hop on horseback in Patara. Ride your trusty steeds from the ancient city through the sand tracks to the shallows of the Mediterranean.
When to go to Kalkan
Fly in between June and September if you want the beaches at their best. Temperatures in the early to mid-30s are ideal for sizzling by the shore.
For a cheap holiday to Kalkan, the off-season between November and March is your best bet. It might not be the brightest of beach weather, but with temps between mid-teens and early 20Cs, you’re unlikely to catch a chill.
Bargain breaks with body bronzing potential are up for grabs in May and October. Less competition for a spot on the sand and temperatures in the mid-20s? That’s the Tur-key to happiness!
