With much of the surrounding land still undeveloped and with many nearby remains of ancient civilizations, Kalkan is the ideal resort for those who want calm and relaxation, enjoying the natural beauty of the cleanest seashores and of rough mountains covered with pine forests, and also for those who want to explore the remains of the ancient Lycian cities in the neighborhood.

Kalkan was an important harbour town until the 1970s as the only seaport for the environs. It declined after construction of Fethiye road but revived after the emergence of the tourism industry in the region. Although part of the Antalya province administratively, Kalkan is connected more closely to Fethiye economically and for transportation.

Kalkan is located at 230 kilometers (143 miles) west of Antalya or 25 km (16 miles) to Kas. Nearest airport is at Dalaman to the west, 120 km (75 miles) which takes about 2 hours by car. You can enjoy a daily island excursion in a gullet (wooden hulled local boats), a moonlight dinner cruise, or go by minivan to the nearby villages such as Patara, Kas, and Bezirgan. Patara beach is a 12 km long, unspoiled white sand beach located at a distance of 15 km from Kalkan. There is another beautiful small sandy beach, Kaputas beach, at 5 km east of Kalkan. Unfortunately, there are no sandy beaches in Kalkan.

Every morning boats busily take tourists to one of the nearby beaches or small bays. As the sun sets it is Kalkan style to meet on the roof terraces for a drink before dinner and enjoy the comings and goings of the yachts, the business of the marina and the panoramic view of the Mediterranean.

British newspaper The Independent listed Kalkan among the best tourist destinations for 2007. The paper recommended Kalkan especially for those seeking a romantic vacation and who do not want to travel far from their home country in Europe, and defined the town as a destination of choice.