Kalkan is a charming small harbour town on the south west Turkish Mediterranean coast. Like a number of coastal settlements in this area Kalkan was once a Greek fishing village. With it's backdrop of the Taurus Mountains and its wonderful bay and islands Kalkan is a very attractive holiday location. The town developed as a tourist resort after it was discovered by British yachtsmen in the 1960s. Today it has become a sophisticated, up-market resort where mainly British holiday makers go for a relaxing holiday away from it all.
Kalkan has a perfectly good small pebble beach with lovely clear water, adjacent to the harbour, with an area exclusively for swimmers. You can hire sun-beds and parasols for a small charge and there are also toilets, showers and changing facilities. Centrally located it is also close to the many harbour-side restaurants and bars.
The old part of Kalkan, called the 'Old Quarter' has a lovely Greek ambiance with its old white-washed stone houses with small shuttered windows, rampant bougainvillea and timber balconies. The Old Quarter has retained its historic charm and strict preservation codes protect its listed buildings.
Rumoured to have more than a hundred restaurants, Kalkan's harbour-side and roof-top terrace establishments are very popular and and renowned for their quality cooking and presentation, fresh food and warm friendly atmosphere. For many, the highlight of any evening is a trip to town to dine out at one of the excellent restaurants.
In addition to the many restaurants, the Old Quarter's narrow paved streets are lined with a number of quirky bars and boutiques. Shoppers can browse the various small eclectic establishments which sell clothes, jewellery and crafts, antiques and Turkish carpets, all of which remain open well into the late evening.
Kalkan has a popular weekly market every Thursday. There are a wide selection of goods on sale including jewellery and ceramics, fake designer clothing, footwear, household wares and the various tourist souvenirs. Leather goods are excellent value. It is perfectly acceptable to haggle, and you can expect to be able to reduce the first price quoted by about a third.
You can also buy fresh fruit and vegetables, herbs and spices and honeys, and Turkish delight at the market. Whilst you are there why not try sampling gozleme, freshly cooked by the local Turkish women. It is a kind of pancake filled with different kinds of sweet or savoury ingredients.
