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Kalkan curls snuggly around
a
historic harbour sheltered at the foot of the towering
Taurus Mountains. (Read more about the geography
of the region at our Lycia website
here) The town overlooks a beautiful bay in which
islands seem to magically float upon the shimmering sea.
Narrow streets twist down to the harbour, lined with old whitewashed
villas with shuttered windows situated alongside small
local specialty shops and restaurants in historic
buildings. Overhead
hang original carved Ottoman Greek timber balconies
garlanded with thick masses of brilliantly coloured bougainvillea
cascading to the streets below. It is a very special
place with a unique atmosphere.
Why is Kalkan so special?
Not only is Kalkan beautiful, but unlike
other Turkish coastal resort towns Kalkan's main economy is tourism and
therefore its citizens put much pride and effort into the town's historic
preservation. Because of this, Kalkan has retained the texture of its
history by protecting its distinctive
Ottoman Greek architecture (it was once an Ottoman Greek and Turkish
fishing village). Very strict building codes keep the town small and
architecturally blended with the historic heart of the town known as "Old
Kalkan".
Besides
the famous "Kalkan Style" historic
architecture, the many excellent
restaurants of Kalkan contribute to the special atmosphere within Kalkan. Good dining has always been the way of life in Kalkan and continues today.
In fact, Kalkan is said to have the highest number of restaurants and bars per
inhabitant or square meter on the Turkish coast (over 100 of them!). Additionally, Kalkan is
especially renowned in Turkey for its numerous roof terrace restaurants and
bars which offer a wonderful view of the town, sea and stars. It's also
nice to
sit at one of the many fine harbour-side restaurants and watch the pleasure
boats and fishermen
leave early in the morning as you eat your breakfast, or see the fishing boats return with the
day's catch in the evening.
There is lots to do during
the day and nightlife is fun, but laid-back. You won't
find noisy, wild nightlife here, like in some other
coastal resorts.
Kalkan has many
fine
qualities, but without a doubt,
it is the people of Kalkan who make the town extra
special.
The people of Kalkan warmly welcome you, and you may at
first be surprised by the universal friendliness within the town. This,
along with warm Turkish hospitality is the
basis of life here and the people of Kalkan sincerely enjoy getting to know
their guests. So don't hesitate to accept one of the many tulip-shaped
glasses of çay (tea) you will be offered while you amble along Kalkan's winding
streets. You won't be hassled while you are a guest of Kalkan - the town
is hassle-free and is proud to be so. You will find a mixed population here,
consisting of locals, some Istanbul Turks and Turks from other cities who have
made Kalkan their home and own small businesses, as well as
a small number of
well-educated foreigners who have settled in the town.
So, "Hoş
Geldiniz!"
- we extend a warm welcome to you from Kalkan and look forward to meeting you
soon...
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A small peaceful Mediterranean
resort and fishing town on the beautiful Turquoise Coast of Turkey, Kalkan
has not been touched by mass tourism. More sophisticated than the
usual resort town, Kalkan appeals to travelers looking for more than a
"sun and sea" holiday. According to the Sunday Times,
Kalkan attracts the kind of visitor who would also enjoy
Tuscany or the Dordogne. The Guardian
likens the town to "the Italian Riviera minus the
poseurs."
