COSMOPOLITAN

Kalkan is a small Mediterranean town on the Southern coast of Turkey, which comes alive with the tourism, during the summer months, and pretty much hibernates in the winter. Famous for its whitewashed houses and colourful bougainvillea, Kalkan is a stone’s throw away from historical landmarks like Tlos, Xanthos, Patara and the sunken city of Kekova –all of which are remnants of the ancient Lycian peoples who once inhabited the area. Nearby beaches are the famous Patara and understated Kaputaş beach. 

1923 was a significant date for Kalkan, which was effected by the ‘exchange of populations’ after the Greco-Turkish war. This involved a swap between the two countries of ethnic Turks residing in Greece and ethnic Greeks residing in Turkey. The majority of Kalkan’s inhabitants before then were Greeks. During the exchange they immigrated to Attica, eventually to found the town of Kalamaki.

Previously a fishing town, Kalkan is still the only safe harbour between Fethiye and Kaş. Said harbour once made this place the primary seaport for the area up until the 70s. This was when the Fethiye road was constructed, leading to Kalkan’s gradual decline. Things changed of course when tourists happened upon the place, and it’s been booming ever since. Well ok, not exactly booming. We wouldn’t love it as much as we do if it was too booming.

Listed among the best tourist destinations of 2007, by The Independent, the majority of visitors to Kalkan are from the UK. And with over 2,000 Europeans living in the area, English is widely spoken.