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| Review by member Wexler from London
Kalkan is a small charming safe resort, with good restaurants and within easy reach of less touristy Turkey.
Review by member Hayter from Chelsfield
8
KALKAN
A lively up-market pretty hillside resort with stunning views across its harbour with a mountenous backdrop. It is probably more a place for adults than very young children. It has superb roof top restaurants with excellent food - some of which can appear to be pricey but when taking the spectacular surroundings and generally excellent service into account, it would cost double for a comparable setting in the UK. Turkish food is very good quality and although I have been a fan of Greece for decades, on average, I have to admit that the quality is far superior in Turkey. Restaurants that spring to mind are The Korsan Restaurants of which there are 3, one is a Fish Terrace and probably the most expensive, another Korsan one is directly opposite the Fish Terrace and although not a rooftop one is excellent value for money and they have an excellent manager, who ensures great service. There is a third on the harbour. The Paparazzi is great too, a rooftop restaurant with very good food, which wont break the bank- they can teach you how to fold napkins in the shape of a flower. Check our their posters outside their restaurant and youll see what I mean. There are many other equally good restaurants - too many to mention and the wines in Turkey are excellent too. Kalkan is probably also not the place for very young adults looking for a disco and club scene but it would make for a great honeymoon and it does have lots of bars staying open till very late. The nearest sandy beach is Patara beach, a 15 min car ride away. They have shuttles from Kalkan to Patara leaving from the centre of Kalkan.
A word of warning. Kalkan is very hilly and you will not be able to wear high heels unless you fancy breaking your neck. Many of the roads to the villas are unmade, very steep and unlit and so a torch is essential. The narrow uneven, partly cobbled streets in the center are very steep and can be slippery. If you are in any way infirm, this is not the place for you. If you have young children, you will struggle with a buggy and you will need to keep an eye on the children. That said, taxis are cheap and we always came back at night by taxi. Supermarkets will deliver to your villa if you ask and give the driver a small tip.
All in all, Kalkan is a fantastic place if you are ok on your feet and are happy to spend a little more on your holiday than you would if you went to say Benidorm or Majorca. The weather is 99% guaranteed and you will come back with the tan you are hoping for. In terms of the villas and apartments, you are spoilt for choice and almost all are of a very high standard compared with those you may come across in Spain. Kalkan has a feel of luxury about it and if you check out the reviews, you will have difficulty in finding many negative ones.
Booking with one of the villa renters is a much cheaper option than taking a package tour. All the apartments and villas are vetted and you usually get what it says on the tin.
ENJOY KALKAN
Review by Steve Thorogood from London
We had a wonderful time in Kalkan, weather was still hot in September, people were very welcome, kind and genuine and we will definitely going back!
Review by Jan Morris from Retford
My view of kalkan and the surrounding area is one of amazing scenery and wonderful friendly people. The town by day is a quiet and peaceful place, you can while away the hours in one of the beautiful coves or out on your own personal boat or relax in one of the numerous cafe-bars. At night the place comes alive with the myriad of restaurants and shops, from small family owned places to magnificent terraces overlooking the bay where you can sample the delicious turkish cusine under the stars.
Review by Sally Ellis from Cardiff
Hope it remains as unspoilt by mass tourism as it was this year
Review by Jacqueline Bettinson from Cardiff
Kalkan town is a upmarket resort with plenty of wonderful restaurants to dine in. The scenery is beautiful and the resort caters for those who want to be energetic or relaxed in equal measures. A truly wonderful place and well worth a visit.
Review by KIM KAZEE from BIRMINGHAM
Kalkan has to be one of the best locations we have visited, the bay is abolutely beautiful and the town has a lovely atmosphere both in the day and at night and the choice of food is outstanding, as is the quality. The locals are exceptionally friendly and polite. One place we will definitely be returning to!
Review by Valerie Baker from London
Kalkan is definitely not for anyone with mobility problems,it is a steep fairly rough walk to the harbour but worth it once you are there. I would recommend hiring a boat for the day, its one of best days I have spent on a holiday. The choice of restaurants is enormous and you can find something to suit all pockets
Review by Tracey Cadden from Leicester
Kalkan has an upmarket feel to it without the high prices, some may think it needs a bit of TLC but that is part of it's charm, especially the friendly people.
Review by SEAN BRIDGE from LICHFIELD
Kalkan is a beautiful place to visit. The scenary is beautiful. The people of Kalkan are very welcoming and polite. We have visited other areas of Turkey and the restaurants pester you to visit, at Kalkan they politely ask you to view their menu. The food is wonderful and eating your meals on a rooftop restaurant, watching the sun set over the harbour is a sight to behold.
Review by Howard Austin from Sutton
Kalkan harbour has retained the charm of narrow streets, interesting shops and fantastic restaurants - either on the harbour front or on rooftops with stunning views. Most of the commercial development has spread away from the centre, but this does mean there are hills to negotiate. Most places are within 20 minutes walk, but there are also lost of taxis and some destinations will pick you up and drop you home.
There is a ban on building over the summer months so it is also quiet. There are interesting excursions nearby with boat trips from the harbour, an hourly and cheap bus service to Kas via Kaputa beach and the Lycian remains at Patara and Xanthos as well as Saklient Gorge worth a visit.
There is a weekly market on Thursdays with cheap fake clothing but also vegetables and herbs. - so there is plenty to do if you want more than sunbathing.
There is a stony beach at Kalkan, sandy beaches are further afield at Kaputas (6km) and Patara (16km), so pool and sun lounger is the easier option.
The restaurants are all keen for you to look at their menus and offer good quality at reasonable prices with some fantatsic views but you are not unpleasantly hassled and "no or "not yet" is respected. The night life is mainly restaurant based with no big clubs.
Overall a great relaxing destination with something for everbody
Review by Alesya Alekseeva from Epping
Review by Susan Ibbotson from Loughborough
A Paradies to relax and recharge your batteries after working all year. Scenery was breathtaking, weather amazing, people friendly - just loved it and will definately be returning
Review by Sandra Watson from Croydon
Review by Karen Nesbitt-Farren from Easton
Kalkan has something to offer for everyone, it is a beautiful place in a wonderful country. The people are amazingly friendly and go out of their way to make you feel welcome. Kalkan is unspoilt and charming and the shopping and food are fabulous! Having been back many times, I would definitely recommend Kalkan to anyone!
Review by Sarah & Antony Bedner from Bristol
Review by marian argac from gouvieux
Kalkan is a very pleasant small seaside town, well-suited to visitors who want a relaxing holiday. There are plenty of very attractive bars and restaurants but it wouldn't suit the Ibiza crowd! There is a small beach for swimming but better ones can be reached easily by dolmus or taxi. Boat cruises to the islands and other bays are a perfect way to spend a day or two and a visit to the Gorge of Saklikent is a must. There are plenty of historical sites nearby where you can wander unsupervised through the ruins and enjoy the peace and atmosphere. Turkish people are famous for their hospitality and friendliness and there is an absolute absence of aggressivity or pushiness. You feel completely safe.
Those with mobility problems might find the town too hilly.
It is hot during the day, of course, but not oppressive as there is often a refreshing breeze and most places are air-conditioned.
Last but not least, Turkish food is wonderful, fresh and varied.
For those who don't know Turkey, Kalkan would be a good introduction. Those who do generally don't need persuading!
Review by visitor
Kalkan is a great resort. So peaceful, yet full of life. The people are so friendly and helpful. I would recommend Kalkan as a destination for everyone.
Review by John Jefferies from Rochford
Kalkan has a very friendly and safe feel. However the only drawback is the topography. It is extremely steep throughout, never the less this can be simply overcome by using a taxi to return home from town at a reasonable cost
Review by Linda Waller from Twickenham, UK
It was fantastic to be in Kalkan off season. Everyone was very friendly and the place was lovely. Highly recommended and we'll definitely be back!
Review by Andy McKnight from Chorley
Review by member Marsh from Chorley
This is a beautiful location, an excellent taste of Turkey, very relaxing and and very good value for money. There was honestly nothin i could have complained about.
Review by member Dobson from UK
Kalkan is a pretty unspoilt small village in the South Coast. The locals are very friendly and nothing is too much trouble for them. Very family orientated with amazing views and good places to visit. Great boat trips and restaurants with a few small music bars. Kalkan is an upmarket place without the botoms and boobs crowds. Felt very safe and not intimidating at all. Locals mostly speak English with some German and French. Easy to get around by mostly walking and airconditioned small Buses for further trips. Plenty of Taxis. Good shopping with local markets and supermarkets with many European items.
Review by Anthonia Chalmers from London
Kalkan is unique in my experience in that the majority of premises in the main part of the town are restaurants. Turkish cuisine was a revelation - very tasty and 'healthy' with it. In October, Kalkan was also a comfortable place for couples in their more senior years - the majority of people walking about and eating in the restaurants were mature; teenage discos and children were absent. Perhaps the rough roads around the area should stay so those who have discovered Kalkan can keep it to themselves.
Review by Michael Beer from Bad Honnef Germany
Kalkan is a nice little town with a fantastic choice of restaurants and friendly people. It is more expensive than other parts of turkey, but you really get good value for money in most of the restaurants.
The beaches around Kalkan espeacially Patara beach and the old places to visit are marvellous.
Review by Adeola Akande from London
Kalkan is no longer a sleepy fishing town, but an explosion of contemporary developments. A hint of its former charm remains in the affable and friendly nature of the Turkish that live and work there. The success of Kalkan is its ability to accomodate an English clientele.
Expect to pay regular prices, for everyday products and services. Bargaining (from our experience) was not particulary welcomed!
Review by julie brooks-walker from bury
We have visited Kalkan on many occasions and now feels like our 'second home'. We now have many turkish friends there who we now regard as 'family'. Kalkan is such a beautiful little town, with the most wonderful roof-top restaurants, quaint little shops & lovely marina. I wouldn't really recommend Kalkan for the infirm as there are many hills to consider when walking to/from town depending on where you are staying. Kalkan remains our number one holiday destination..!
Review by George Macdonald from Ayr
The town is relaxed and picturesque. It is one of those places where you feel comfortable immediately on arrival and it is hard to leave when the holiday is over.
Review by Maria, Phil and Rachel Dimmock from Brackley
From the moment we entered Turkey it was clear that we were going to be made more than welcome. There is a lot to be learned from their immigration process and baggage handling and within 20 minutes of leaving the plane, we were in the pre-arranged taxi on our way to Kalkan. Every turkish person we met, without exception, wanted to ensure that we had everything we needed and took the time to talk to us. It was very refreshing to see so many contented and happy faces; people who valued that we were supporting their small, local economy and they were determined that we would get value for money and experience as much of what Kalkan and its environs had to offer as possible. The shops were varied and every night we seemed to find another quaint alleyway we hadn't explored before. The choice of restaurants was truly amazing, with wonderful gourmet food and very clean bathroom facilities. Whilst every restauranteur was keen to have our business, he was more than happy if we commented that we were trying another one of the wonderful restaurants that night and wished us a pleasant meal and asked for a chance to have our business the next evening. The taxi drivers were extremely accommodating and happy to be our guide on longer trips at fixed prices. Our driver was always where he said he'd be and at the right time and we were happy to tip him well for the excellent service he provided. I suppose that really sums up the whole experience of Kalkan. Everything you experience is so positive and it makes you feel positive too. You feel as though you want to give rather than take and that is a very special legacy and one which I feel is quite unique to the turkish people. I only hope I can have the opportunity to return there again some day.
Review by Peter Gambling from Dronfield
Kalkan is very friendly and, when we visited in late August, it was not spoilt by an excess of tourists. It was busy but not overcrowded. The facilities were good and the people very helpful and friendly. The restaurants, especially those near to the harbour, were excellent serving a variety of dishes. The seafood was fresh and definately worth trying.
Review by Lorraine Harvey from Seaford
Kalkan just blew us away. It truly is stunning. Restaurants abound and without exception, every single one we ate in was fantastic. We were spoilt for choice. The harbour and town at night is just magical. This was our first visit to Turkey and Kalkan is, without doubt a jewel in the Mediterranean crown. Long may it last. A perfect family holiday.
Review by jenny priest from cambridge
Full of shops and restaurants so a vast choice. Very relaxed and friendly atmosphere in the evening full of people eating on the rooftops. The harbour and old town is a lovely place to just walk around .
Review by Robin Collins from Ipswich
Beautiful haven that hasnt been invaded by karoke bars or fast food outlets. Please may that continue!!
Review by Domnita Rugina from Bucuresti
Kalkan is a very friendly small town, you can enjoy good food at Belgins Corner (turkish traditional)and Ali Baba. If you want to go to a stylish restaurant&coffee go to Daphne. The place is nice and the stuff is incredibly friendly.
Also the silver shop with local jewels is nice and it is almost impossible to not find something you want to buy.
Negotiate everywhere because you can get for sure a better price.
Go to Patara beach and Kaputas, there are amazing and also visit Kas is a little bit more expensive than Kalkan but it has some wonderful views and caffees and restaurants. Between Kas and Patara beach are 40 km and between Kalkan and Patara are 12 km.
Review by Gail Sheldon from Ashby de la Zouch
Kalkan - a good destination for people wanting to visit Turkey and stay somewhere with character and with a good range of quality restaurants and shops. Be warned- it is very steep so no use taking your kitten heels!
Review by janice lowther from Buckden Huntingdonshire
kalkan is a beautiful town with a lovely harbour and has an amazing choice of excellent restaurants around the harbour albeit with prices more on a par with England. Lots of steps and steep hills so not suitable for the infirm or disabled but full of character and bustle with lots and lots of good quality shops. Very friendly and polite people
Review by Jonathan Robb from London
Kalkan is a fantastic find in Turkey, suited to couples, families and freinds looking for fantastic weather, excellent restaurants, as much or as little culture as you want, gorgeous beaches and a view of authentic Turkish life. You benefit from the currency exchange rate for amazing value, high quality meals on terraces against a backdrop of the bay and town lit up as evening falls. It's not yet spoilt by too many bars and disco's and the locals are genuinely friendly. It's in a great position along the coast from where you can visit ancient ruins, sunken cities, miles of unspoilt beaches, mountain gorges and old mountain villages plus the nearby town of Kas offers quaint shopping streets, excellent restaurants and chilled out bars. Head to Kalkan for those unmistable holiday experiences of the heat that hits you as you walk off the plane, the sound of cricket by night and stunning scenery through mountains and forests to bays and beaches.
Review by member F from .
A beutiful and relatively unspoilt (if expanding) coastal town, with a stunning mountain backdrop. Historic sites abound in the surrounding area, and there some beautiful sandy beaches nearby. A long transfer from the nearest airport, Dalaman, has probably slowed development of Kalkan as a tourist destination, the result being that most visitors are those prepared to travel further to get away from the crowds. Visitors mainly British and Turkish holidaying from the cities. Very friendly and welcoming atmosphere, great food, and relatively quiet nightlife. Turkey gets very hot, so be prepared to spend the middle of the day out of the sun. The town is picturesquely set on a hillside overlooking a bay, so lots of walking up and down steep winding alleyways around the town, then ducking into a shop or cafe for a cool drink and some air-conditioning. Then dinner in one of the roof-top terrace restaurants - there are many - watching the sun set over the bay and mountains.
Review by George Lewis from St Ives
We read up a bit about Kalkan before we went but the reality far exceeded what we expected. This is a great place for couples to go to get away from everything. The locals are friendly in the way they attract business without being pushy. It was nice to know that beneath the calm surface is a busy side to Kalkan that ensures that the good aspects of it are protected. There are restrictions on how much land can be developed based on proximity to the sea and restrictions on how much land foreign investors can buy. Coming from a part of the UK that has suffered a bit from overdevelopment, this was a really pleasant surprise.
We found there was a real range of places to eat, both in terms of cuisine and price. We preferred the rooftop restaurants in town for the views.
East to get around as welland would recommend using the Dolmus to Kas or Patara for cheap days out.
We'll definitely be back.
Review by Ian Reynolds from Croydon
Great little town in Turkey, where the locals are very friendly. Everyone is so willing to help and make your visit enjoyable.
Its a very relaxed way of life, which in turn helps you unwind. Lots of tours and excursions on offer, and some lovely restaurants to try.
Review by Sue Hunter from Brockenhurst
Kalakn is a small, friendly town. They are just building a large road through the town and out to the west which is like a scar on the hillside, but the Eastern approach remains picturesque, winding along the coast from Antalya. There are a lot of new villas being built, each seemingly with their own small swimming pool, but when we went, in June, many were unoccupied and the resort was just gearing up for the summer. This meant that all the facilities were open, but not too busy - a good time to go! Kalkan has many lovely restaurants and bars, plenty of small shops and a weekly market, which is fun. We went on a boat trip for a day which was very enjoyable, but we did little apart from mooring in several small harbours around the bay, having a swim/snorkel and eating lunch and afternoon tea on board. Some boats apparently did more than this - visiting caves and going further afield, so it's worth checking and making sure you get what you want from the trip.
Review by stephen oswald from teddington
The best bits of Spain, Italy or Greece 30 years ago! Relaxed and trusting people in a safe and beautiful part of the world that still offers great food, sunshine and fantastic value for your British £.
Review by Samantha Pennington from London
I'd really not recommend Kalkan to anyone, simply because i don't want anyone discovering it and spoiling it for me!! Seriously, Kalkan is a lovely place to visit if you want a chilled out holiday. Not to be recommended if you don't like walking up and down steep hills, but if that is no obstacle then the town is great to wander around with plenty of handbag shops (don't forget to ask for their best price and walk away if they won't budge), bars and restaurants to chose from (the seafood is always good, as is "Fainting Priest"). The waiters are friendly but definitely not as pushy as those in bigger resorts. Definitely try Doy Doy for a decent priced meal with some of the best service we discovered. Also good is Aubergine (more expensive than most) and Ali Baba's.
All in all, i'll be going back.
Review by Terry Booth from Dorset
Kalkan is now my favourite destination for a holiday. It has everything desirable in a place for a truly spectacular experience and is not yet spoilt by over -development and tourist tat. The people are warm and friendly, the food fresh and delicious,the scenery amazing and the turquoise sea a balm to the eyes.
There is plenty of scope to just chill out and watch the world go by from tiny authentic bars to sophisticated roof-top terraces.You can sail in a Gulet,enjoy all manner of watersports(including some of the best diving in the world)or just swim in the crystal clear sea.Whatever you do you will certainly fall in love with this place like I have and want to go back as soon as you can......The Sirens are calling as I write!
Review by member Mason from Washington Tyn and Wea
I would definatey go back there. There is so much choice when it comes to eating. People are friendly. Weather fantastic. Chic!
Review by Sandra Topping from Newcastle-under-Lyme
Kalkan is a very beautiful part of Turkey - It is very family oriented, especially families with teenagers - there is plenty to do in the day, beach clubs are a fantastic idea. The Jeep Safari is a must. The evenings are fantastic, and an evening cruise gives you the chance to swim in the middle of the night, and to watch the stars.
The local taxis are very friendly and helpful. The bars and restaurants are absoluteley fantastic. Omar's Kithcen especially.
Review by terry davies from ascot
If you are looking to get away from everything......this is it. Its peaceful, beautiful and the staff were very helpful! Just across the bay the nightlife and restaurants are superb. You have the best of both worlds at your finger tips. It was my first visit to Turkey and they made me feel welcome.
Review by Lynn Groves from Leigh
Kalkan is a gem of a place that sparkles at night and glows during the day. Friendly and helpful locals are always willing to help out with ANYTHING, wihch is a rarity in our modern, bustling lives back home. The pace may be slower in Kalkan but that doesnt matter when you need to relax and regenerate...and this is just the place to do that!
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