Turkey’s Turquoise Coast is crying out to be enjoyed with a cocktail and Kalkan’s bio of 14 beach clubs is hard to beat. It’s only a small Mediterranean harbour but when the water’s that blue, it’s hard to believe there wouldn’t be any boujie spots to soak it all in. Families and couples love this Dalaman pick right now and the town’s kept itself off the main tourism radar to stay unspoiled and serene. So, we’re letting you in on a bit of a Kalkan secret… it’s perfect for a gals’ getaway and a trip with your mates, too.
If you’re looking for a bit of a treat-yourself stay and somewhere you can beach bar crawl to your heart’s content, Kalkan could be where it’s at – it’s been likened to the Italian Riviera for its stylish seaside scenes. We’ve narrowed down a list of the best beach clubs here that are open for everyone to visit…
Indigo Beach Club
Indigo Beach Club is super close to the Old Town – you can walk there just past the harbour wall. There’s an upper terrace with a restaurant and the lower terrace has direct access to the sea with sunloungers and parasols. Anyone can come and chill here but there is an entrance fee. You can also book watersports, like banana boats and jet-skis – or just watch through your sunglasses for some mid-afternoon entertainment.
Cakil Beach Club
This one’s just past Indigo for your second beach club hop of the holiday. Again, it’s only a short walk from the Old Town and has loads of watersports on offer. Try water-skiing, parasailing and scuba diving and there’s a big deck full of sunloungers and umbrellas you can hire to flop on after. There’s a ladder directly down into the clear sea and a restaurant and bar with the perfect waterside view of the harbour, too. Or, get your food delivered straight to your lounger because why not?
Yali Beach Club
Yali is on the west side of the bay, so head down to the harbour and take the small road running in front of the Pirat Hotel – it’s about a 10-minute walk. It’s open seven days a week and runs live jazz evenings on a few nights, which you have to reserve a slot for. There’s a bar and restaurant, direct sea access and plenty of space to sunbathe. This one’s a fave with adults and couples.
Palm Beach Club
Palm Beach is just across from the harbour and a more family-friendly beach club. It might seem further away but that’s part of the perk – you catch a water taxi over there and they’ll take you back when you’re ready to head home, too. There are spaces for sunbathing, plush sunloungers, a garden area for a cooler feel and shower facilities. Plus, there are activities like table tennis, and everyone loves the in-water trampoline. They also do tabs here, so there’s no rush to settle up. Pop your sunlounger fee on there and opt into their weekly barbecue evenings. They do fresh fish and meat dishes while the sun sets over the mountains, thanks to their ideal west-facing spot.
Zest Beach Club
Zest is on the east side of the bay between Palm Beach and Patara and it’s one of the area’s largest beach clubs. You’ve got the classic seaside sunbathing platforms and steps into the sea, but also a seawater pool. There are lots of different levels to divide the place up, all with perfect views of the water, and a restaurant in the middle of it all. You could drive here, or just get the water taxi from the lighthouse café to level up the experience.
Denzim Beach Club
Denzim Beach Club is in Komurluk near Zest, so these two pair nicely together. You’ve also got a small beach area here with shallower waters to just paddle, compared to the platform ladders. There’s a list of watersports and activities to check out, including table tennis, and as the sun sets over Kalkan harbour, there’s a heart-shaped frame to capture the perfect moment.
Patara Beach Club
Patara is another big one on this stretch and is also serviced by a water taxi – but you have to pay to use the facilities. It’s connected to the Patara Prince Hotel or Club Patara but is open to non-guests for a daily fee. You do get two seawater swimming pools for your money here, though – one is adults only – and a seafront restaurant.
Ready to treat yourself to the ultimate break? Check out our picks that are just beach.
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Author: Lily Owen
Last updated: 25/06/2024
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