Where to Find The Best Beaches in Kalkan
Not everyone who visits Kalkan wants to dive straight into the deep. While the town is best known for its elegant beach clubs and bougainvillaea-draped bathing platforms — tiered into the cliffs in Amalfi-like fashion — there’s another side to this coastline. One that’s softer, sandier, and gentler underfoot.
If you’re travelling with children who want to build sandcastles, or simply paddle at the edge. There are quintessential beaches nearby with gently shelving shallows.
Start with the small white-pebble beach beside the harbour — perfect for a sunset saunter or a refreshing paddle. Just ten minutes away lies Kaputas, a picture-postcard bay where a dramatic staircase leads to a cinematic crescent of pale sand, pebbles, and cobalt water. Head a little further and you’ll reach Patara — one of the longest beaches on the Mediterranean. Undeveloped, wild, and golden, it’s ideal for families and nature lovers alike, with pine-fringed-backed dunes and shallow surf where loggerhead turtles return each summer to nest.
And if you’re craving something a little more off-grid? There’s Fırnaz Bay, accessible only by boat, where lazy days are spent swimming off gulets and drifting between secret coves.
From gentle family-friendly strands to hidden wild arcs of shoreline, Kalkan is the gateway to some of the most beautiful beaches on the Turquoise Coast. Read on for our insider guide to the very best — and start planning your next salt-splashed adventure.
Beaches in and around Kalkan
Kalkan Public Beach
Just a few steps from the harbour and within easy walking distance of Kalkan Old Town, Kalkan Public Beach is a popular and accessible spot for locals and visitors alike. This Blue Flag-awarded beach features a wide arc of white pebbles and crystal-clear, gently shelving waters — ideal for paddling, swimming, and snorkelling close to shore without being out of your depth.
Well-suited to families and casual beachgoers, the beach offers sunbeds and parasols for hire at a reasonable rate. Facilities include toilets and changing rooms, and some of Kalkan’s best-loved cafés and restaurants are right on the doorstep — including Fener Café & Bistro, Aure, and SeaPort, all perfect for a post-swim lunch or early evening drink as the yachts drift into harbour.
Guests staying at Korsan Minik will find this beach right on their doorstep — it’s an ideal morning swim spot or a place to linger and soak up the views. Occasionally, even loggerhead turtles are spotted in the shallows here, adding a special touch to this peaceful local gem.
Whether you’re in search of a central beach to stroll to after breakfast or a calm place to unwind after exploring the Old Town, Kalkan Public Beach is a charming and convenient choice for every type of traveller.
Kaputas Beach
Just a 10–15 minute drive from Kalkan, Kaputaş Beach is one of the Turquoise Coast’s most photographed spots. Tucked between dramatic limestone cliffs, this golden-sand cove is accessed via around 200 steps from the road above.
Its turquoise waters are ideal for swimming, and the scenic setting draws both day-trippers and passing gulets. Sunbeds and parasols are available to hire, and there are toilets, changing rooms, and a casual beach café for snacks and drinks.
There’s no formal car park, only free roadside parking — which fills up quickly in July and August, when the beach becomes particularly popular with the local Turkish crowd. Arrive early or consider a dolmuş or taxi from Kalkan.
A must-visit for those after iconic coastal scenery, Kaputas Beach offers a striking contrast to Kalkan’s beach clubs — and a true barefoot-in-the-sand experience.
Patara Beach
Just 15–20 minutes from Kalkan, Patara Beach stretches for an impressive 18 kilometres — one of the longest and most unspoiled beaches on the Turquoise Coast. This vast sweep of golden sand forms part of a protected national park and is one of the Mediterranean’s key nesting sites for endangered loggerhead turtles (Caretta caretta). The beach is closed after sunset from May to October to safeguard the turtles during nesting season.
Beyond the beach, Patara, is also steeped in ancient Lycian history. Behind the dunes, you’ll find ruins from the ancient city of Patara, once a thriving port and birthplace of Saint Nicholas. Roman baths, a triumphal arch, and an impressive amphitheatre rise hauntingly from the sands — a paradise for historians and wanderers alike.
There’s a small entrance fee or the option to purchase a Beach Card (Plaj Kart) for multiple visits. Facilities include sunbeds, parasols, toilets, and a rustic café at the end of the boardwalk, where simple lunches and cold drinks are served in relaxed style.
Ideal for families, walkers, nature lovers, and anyone craving space and serenity, Patara is where history, nature, and beach life meet.
Local Tip: On the return to Kalkan, take the scenic old road through Yeşilköy and up to the mountain village of Islamlar. Enjoy a traditional Turkish supper with sweeping sunset views — a perfect way to round off your Patara day.
Firnaz Bay (Accessible by boat only)
This beautiful cove is only accessible by boat — often included in gulet cruises departing from Kalkan harbour. Surrounded by steep, rugged hills, Firnaz Bay is a natural swimming pool with impossibly clear, calm water and a feeling of total seclusion. It’s a must for anyone looking to experience the coast from the sea.
Day Trips to Beaches Near Kas
Akcagerme Beach
A small, council-run beach 3km from Kaş, Akcagerme is a sheltered option ideal for calmer swims. With its café, changing rooms, and family-friendly vibe, it’s a favourite with Turkish holidaymakers. No-frills, but reliable.
Buyuk Cakil (Big Pebble Beach), Kas
Livelier and more local than Kalkan, Big Pebble Beach offers a friendly, no-frills beach experience about 25 minutes’ drive from Kalkan. Lined with casual, family-run eateries offering Turkish classics, cold beers (efes), and daybeds linked to their restaurants, this is a great option if you’re after a touch of boho authentic charm. Pebble underfoot, yes — but the atmosphere is welcoming and the scenery bautiful.
Kucuk Cakil (Little Pebble Beach), Kas
Closer to the centre of Kas, Little Pebble Beach is a narrow slip of stones lapped by clear waters — perfect for a quick dip, less so for a full day out. It’s backed by several buzzy beach cafés and remains popular with locals in peak season.
Limanagzi Beach (near Kas)
A peaceful, scenic spot near Kas, Limanagzi is only reachable by boat from Kas harbour. Small pebble beaches front a handful of laid-back beach clubs, with excellent snorkelling and rustic, seafood-led menus. A gentle, bohemian vibe makes this a favourite for repeat visitors in search of slow beach days.
Final Thoughts: Which Beach is Right for You?
Whether it’s the wild, sandy sweep of Patara, the cinematic curve of Kaputas, or the low-key charm of Kas’s pebbled bays, Kalkan is perfectly placed for beach lovers of every stripe. From hidden coves only reachable by boat to gently shelving sands ideal for families, the coastline here is more diverse than you might think.
And of course, if you’re drawn to stylish beach clubs carved into the cliffs, Kalkan delivers there too.
Curious about what else this characterful town has to offer?
Read our full guide to Kalkan →