Where Antalya is my favourite coastal city of Turkey, Kaş is my favourite seaside city. Or should I say town? As it is much smaller than Antalya. I have seen quite a bit of Turkey by now, and Kaş and Kalkan are definitely the prettiest beach towns and seaside spots in Turkey. Well, in my opinion anyway.
Although I think I liked Marmaris as well, back in 2019.
I have fallen in love with this local small town Kaş and this area on my last trip here. Read: Diving in Kaş. These are the prettiest beach towns in Turkey for sure. It was my holiday after my 2600km bicycle trip across Europe. I couldn’t have picked a better spot to relax. Whether it is from a bicycle trip or from a week of ruins. I am back in pretty Kaş.!
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Kaş – the local beach town
Not much has changed in Kaş. Thankfully. After the scenic bus ride from Antalya along the coastline, it didn’t take me long to settle into one of the waterfront hotels. Soon, I was able to rediscover my favourite restaurants and head straight for a swim.
I had planned to spend a week here, more than enough time to explore Kaş and Kalkan, two of Turkey’s prettiest beach towns. With crystal-clear water, fantastic food and spectacular coastal views, it’s the perfect place to slow down, write a few blog posts and simply enjoy the Mediterranean lifestyle. After all, what more do you need?
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When you know the water is cold but you still jump in…
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To add a little adventure to my stay, I hired a scooter and rode the 28 km to Kalkan, the charming town west of Kaş that I hadn’t properly explored before.
The coastal road between Kaş and Kalkan is incredibly scenic, with plenty of opportunities to stop at hidden coves and admire the turquoise Mediterranean. One of the highlights, and arguably one of Turkey’s prettiest beaches, is Kaputaş Beach. Nestled between dramatic cliffs, it’s easy to see why it’s so famous. The water, however, was still quite refreshing in May!
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Patara Beach
I also visited Patara Beach, partly because it’s included with the entry ticket to the ancient city of Patara. Unfortunately, it looked nothing like the stunning photos I’d seen beforehand.
Although Patara Beach stretches for miles, the sea was quite rough that day, and the darker sand didn’t have the same appeal as the white sandy beaches you find in places like Phuket. As I also wasn’t keen on sitting in the midday sun, I decided to leave and head back to Kaputaş Beach instead. For me, it was by far the better choice. There was beautiful turquoise water, dramatic cliffs and, best of all, no sand sticking to everything!
It is certainly a long list of the prettiest beach towns in Turkey and I love it!
Read more details here.
Kalkan – the tourist coastal town
Just like my favourite Kaş, Kalkan was surprisingly very cute and gorgeous. I hadn’t expected it to be quite so charming. Every restaurant, café and bar seemed even prettier than the last. There were colourful flowers, bougainvillea and beautifully decorated terraces around every corner. As a result, it’s easy to see why Kaş and Kalkan are considered two of Turkey’s prettiest beach towns. Although be prepared for plenty of hills!
That said, as beautiful as Kalkan was, it felt a little too commercial for my taste. Restaurant owners eagerly invited me inside as I walked through the streets. This made it clear the town caters heavily to tourists. It was still early in the season, though, so I can only imagine how lively it becomes during the summer months.
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So, between Kaş and Kalkan? Which one do I prefer? Although I can see myself coming back to Kalkan, if I feel ‘fancy’ or want to do some shopping, I prefer the casual and local feel of Kaş. It seems more relaxed and that is certainly more me.
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Besides the ancient city Patara and the beach (read the history of Patara here) I also visited the ancient site Xenthos. After all this is Turkey, the country for ancient history. But it was more a quick stop to take some photos and tick it off the list.
Last time I was here I went east, to Kekova and the sunken city, which was also amazing. Remember? Read: Diving in Kaş and kayaking in Kekova.
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And so…
I had a great week in Kaş and Kalkan. And it won’t be the last time here. I will be back. What did I do all day you wonder? Well, between enjoying a swim in the amazing clear and turquoise waters, there is, of course, my daily walk to the Amphitheater. After all, it is part of Kaş like the Hadrian’s Gate is part of Antalya.
And so, I am off to Istanbul next. I wonder how I will handle a metropolis of 15 Mill. people after my quiet time at some of the prettiest beach towns of Turkey?
(post 175)
