Most of Antalya's coast is built around resort belts — Lara, Belek, Side, Alanya. Kaş and Kalkan are the exception: two harbor towns near the western end of the region that trade all-inclusive amenities for diving, boat trips, and a genuinely different pace.
Kaş: Diving, Boat Trips, and a Free Sunset View
Kaş is widely considered Turkey's unofficial diving capital, with more than 20 sites within half an hour of the harbor, including intact WWII wrecks. Above the town, a free Hellenistic theater has arguably the best sunset view on this stretch of coast, and a 20-minute ferry connects to the Greek island of Kastellorizo just offshore. Day boats from the harbor run out to the sunken ruins of Kekova and the ancient village of Kaleköy.
Kalkan: Boutique Hotels and Serious Dining
Kalkan has built its reputation on food as much as scenery — cosmopolitan restaurants line the harbor front and climb the whitewashed old town's cobbled back streets. It's a smaller, more polished town than Kaş, generally associated with boutique hotels and private villas rather than large resorts, and boat charters from the old customs house run the same coastline as Kaş's, typically with lunch served on board.
Which One Should You Pick?
If diving or a livelier, slightly less polished harbor town matters more, Kaş is the better fit. If boutique accommodation and a serious restaurant scene are the priority, Kalkan edges it out. Both are close enough to each other, and to Patara's beach and ruins, that visiting one doesn't rule out a day trip to the other.
Good to Know
- Transfer time: both are a genuine trip from Antalya Airport — expect around 3 hours, best done as a private transfer rather than public transport
- Boating season: May to October, busiest in July and August
- Combine with: Patara, Turkey's longest beach and an ancient Lycian capital, roughly midway between the two
