Day Trips from Kalkan by Car Kaputaş Beach A stunning turquoise cove wedged between two cliffs, accessed by 187 steps from the road. Arrive before 10am in summer to claim a spot. No shade, no facilities beyond a small café at road level. The water colour is extraordinary — genuinely Instagram-worthy without filters. Patara Beach + Ancient City Turkey's longest uninterrupted beach at 18 km, backed by sand dunes and the ruins of the ancient Lycian city of Patara. The beach closes at sunset to protect loggerhead turtle nesting sites. Entry €15 covers both beach and ruins. The ancient parliament building, triumphal arch and lighthouse ruins are worth exploring before or after the beach. İslamlar Village A mountain village above Kalkan famous for its trout restaurants set alongside a cold stream. Temperatures run 10°C cooler than the coast — a genuine relief in August. Several restaurants serve fresh trout, gözleme and village breakfast. The drive up passes through pine forests with views back to the coast. Xanthos (UNESCO World Heritage) 20–25 km / 20 min The capital of the ancient Lycian League and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The hilltop ruins include a Roman theatre, Lycian pillar tombs, and the famous Nereid Monument base (the monument itself is in the British Museum). Entry about €3. Often quiet even in peak season. Letoon (UNESCO World Heritage) The religious sanctuary of the Lycian League, paired with Xanthos as a joint UNESCO site. Three temples dedicated to Leto, Apollo and Artemis sit in a marshy, atmospheric setting. Entry about €3. Best combined with Xanthos in a single half-day trip. Saklıkent Gorge 30–50 km / 45 min A 300-metre deep gorge carved by the Eşen River. The first section is a boardwalk over the river; beyond that, you wade upstream through cold meltwater. Bring water shoes or rent them at the entrance. Riverside trout restaurants at the gorge entrance are a good lunch stop. Kekova + Simena (Sunken City) Via Kaş / Üçağız, about 2 hours The sunken ruins of an ancient Lycian city visible through clear water, best seen from a boat. Drive to Üçağız village (or go via Kaş) and take a boat tour. The hilltop castle at Simena (Kaleköy) offers panoramic views. A full-day trip. Myra + Demre Spectacular Lycian rock-cut tombs carved into a cliff face, plus the Church of St Nicholas (the original Santa Claus). The rock tombs are the most photogenic ancient site on this coast. Combine with Kekova for a full-day east-coast trip. Fethiye + Ölüdeniz Fethiye offers a harbourfront fish market, Lycian rock tombs, and the ghost village of Kayaköy. Ölüdeniz has the famous Blue Lagoon and is Turkey's premier paragliding launch point from Babadağ mountain. A full day trip or consider an overnight. A bohemian harbour town with better shopping, diving operators, and a livelier restaurant scene than Kalkan. The Lycian rock tomb overlooking the harbour is free to visit. Kaş is also the departure point for boat trips to Kekova and the sunken city of Simena. The D400 drive between Kalkan and Kaş is scenic and straightforward. Travelers basing themselves in Kalkan often compare nearby Kaş routes and pickup options; this Kas and Kalkan car rental guide covers local delivery, Dalaman airport pickup, and coastal driving context for the D400. Day Trips from Kalkan by Car Kalkan's location on the D400 coastal highway makes it an ideal base for exploring the Lycian Coast by car. Here are the best day trips, ordered by distance.