Nestled along the coastline of Turkiye’s Antalya region are two gem towns, Kaş and Kalkan, each blessed with stunning bays. Beyond the Antalya city center, the region is composed of a collection of small Turkish holiday resorts that form Turkiye’s second most-visited holiday destination after Istanbul. Kaş harbor is a sight to behold with the bustle of fishing boats docking in to unload their catch. Naturally, the restaurants surrounding the harbor take advantage of the abundance of fresh seafood and Kaş is also one of the most preferred locations for diving.

For bays between the two cities, check out Kaputas beach on the Kaş-Kalkan highway or Firnaz Bay, a stunning bay with turquoise waters where you can look down to the bottom of the sea. In Kalkan you don’t have to go far to find the water—Kalkan Public Beach is a beautiful beach conveniently situated in the city center. The white pebble beach is popular with locals and tourists alike and is only a few minutes away from restaurants, cafés, and shops.

With stunning sailing around the Turkish Coast including crystal-clear water, mountainous coastal views, and mild temperatures during the high season, it’s no wonder that Turkiye is the most popular gulet charter destination in the world. Combining a classic wooden yacht with a motor engine, gulets benefit from the smooth sailing of a motor while having the option to sail if the wind is right.

Turkiye is home to several world-class yachting destinations. Gocek offers pine mountain views, four stunning marinas, and a smattering of islands and bays to explore. From Bodrum, there are a wealth of coves, beaches, and bays to discover along the Yalikavak peninsula. Further out are Greek islands of the Aegean such as Samos, Patmos, and Symi.

Kalkan has been compared to the Italian Riviera thanks to its chic beach clubs, 13 in total, each with rock platforms and decks for sunbathing with sea access and a bevy of stylish cafés and restaurants. Situated on the Harbor Wall, Kalkan’s Indigo Beach Club offers events like yoga classes, movie and DJ nights, and pop up events. For a more quiet and peaceful option, even in the busy summer months, you are sure to find a spot on Patara beach to watch sunsets from the sand dunes.

Kaputas beach, one of Turkiye's most photographed beaches, is located a 10 minute drive or bus ride from Kaş and has a blue flag award for cleanliness. Kaputas boasts a beautifully soft, sandy beach while Kaş’ other beaches are pebbled. Kaş Marina is an excellent place for scuba diving, with over 20 spots to dive in, and plenty of beautiful endangered plants and marine animals to discover.

Escape to the Turkish Riviera and experience a nightlife scene that strays from the usual dance clubs and pounding beats. Kaş and Kalkan both enjoy a lively evening scene with options to suit everyone’s tastes, from chats in a local café to strolls along the alleyways to sipping drinks during a musical performance. In Kaş you’ll find bars of every type, each with their own unique atmosphere and with parties lasting into the wee hours of the morning.

Live music performances can be found at many local venues and it’s common to find concerts every night of the week during the high season. Kalkan also transforms at night, as the lights come on and people take to the streets for shopping, dining, bars, or just enjoying the atmosphere. You’ll find jazz bars, live-music bars, and several bars for dancing as well as plenty of rooftop bars to choose from, with almost every hotel having its own rooftop bar or restaurant.

As some of the most scenic and gorgeous seaside towns in the Mediterranean, Kaş and Kalkan are small, cozy, and less touristy towns that boast turquoise waters to the south and high scenic mountains to the north. The towns are only a short bus ride apart from each other, and while they seem like twins at first pass, they each have their own unique charm. The best way to tell the difference is to, of course, visit both for yourself and discover that the devil is in the details. Both seaside resorts benefit from whitewashed houses cascading down winding mountain roads and are visited by thousands of vacationers each year. These towns were both occupied by the Greeks until the citizen exchange of Turkiye in 1923 and still reflect the Mediterranean lifestyle. On a visit, it’s only traditional to visit the harbor and observe the fishing boats that bob along the coastline, creating the perfect postcard picture.

Both seaside resorts benefit from whitewashed houses cascading down winding mountain roads and are visited by thousands of vacationers each year. These towns were both occupied by the Greeks until the citizen exchange of Turkiye in 1923 and still reflect the Mediterranean lifestyle. On a visit, it’s only traditional to visit the harbor and observe the fishing boats that bob along the coastline, creating the perfect postcard picture.

Shopping in Kaş and Kalkan is a great opportunity to explore local businesses and discover cute souvenirs. Find markets in the district where you can buy the freshest fruits and vegetables and learn about the unique local shopping culture in these markets. Known for its array of smaller boutiques, Kaş attracts some of Turkiye’s most talented artists and provides an unparalleled shopping experience on the Turkish Riviera. Here you can find artisan goods that are higher quality than other spots along the Riviera.

As such, Kaş is the ideal spot to look for jewelry and you can also find ceramics and plenty of other handmade crafts along Kaş’ Uzun Carsi street, the main street of the city where you can find any kind of shop you are looking for. Similarly to Kaş, Kalkan offers a variety of small boutiques where you can find specialty products from handcrafted jewelry to organic herbal products. Whether you’re seeking luxury products from the quaint old town shops or a more authentic marketplace experience at the open markets, Kalkan has it all.

Home to gorgeous seaside restaurants, Kaş and Kalkan are filled with delectable culinary options and are especially famous for turkish mezes, fish, and raki. You’ll be spoiled for choice with welcoming open-air dining, low-lit romantic restaurants, and well-paired bohemian decor that is begging to be posted to your Instagram timeline. With over forty restaurants in Kalkan, you can choose from everything from traditional Turkish meals to international cuisine.

Open buffets are the style of choice for most restaurants, with a large selection of meze followed by grilled meat or fish. Kaş offers a range of cafés, bars, and restaurants to discover on each and every back street. Find traditional options, plenty of seafood, and even vegan delights in this charming seaside town. International food is becoming more readily available as word of Kaş’ beautiful beaches and inherent charm reaches the global stage.

Kaş and Kalkan are surrounded by excellent hiking, as the towns are situated along the route of the Lycian Way, Turkiye’s most popular long-distance hiking trail. Spanning 335 miles of marked hiking trails along the Tekke Peninsula, the trail stretches between Fethiye and Antalya on Turkiye’s southern coast. Part of the trail passes along Kaputaş Beach by way of a narrow strip of asphalt curving sharply around the rock face and descending down to the beach on a 187-step staircase. It's only when standing on the road and looking over the edge that the staircase becomes visible.

Though it is a tough descent, the views and the cool reprieve of the Mediterranean are certainly worth the effort. The trail also goes along Turkiye’s longest beach, Patara Beach, a whitesand beach inhabited by endangered loggerhead sea turtles. Patara is also home to the remains of an ancient Lycian city and the remnants of Roman baths, a Byzantine basilica, a colonnaded main street, and the main entrance arch are just waiting to be discovered.

Dive into the crystal-clear waters of Kas and discover the beauty that lies beneath the surface. With its stunning coastline and abundance of marine life, Kas is one of the top scuba diving destinations in Turkiye. Explore the underwater world of the Mediterranean Sea with the help of experienced local dive operators.

Discover ancient shipwrecks, stunning coral reefs, and colorful schools of fish that call these waters home. With its warm waters and excellent visibility, Kas is a year-round diving destination. Whether you're a seasoned diver or a beginner looking to try something new, Kas offers a range of dive sites suitable for all skill levels.

It seems too good to be true that you can reach this blissfully peaceful Greek island from Kaş by ferry and stumble into a Mediterranean world with pastel-painted houses and tiny side streets. One of the Dodecanese islands, Meis is a tiny island that centers around the bustling orbit of the harbor. Find a peaceful spot to sit and enjoy the buzz or take to the streets to explore the historic Lycian buildings.

As you wander through the traffic-free, narrow cobbled streets, you’ll take in Anatolian Greek villas with flower-filled balconies and shuttered windows, some whitewashed and some pastel. Hike up to the medieval castle overlooking the city for panoramic views. From the harbor, you can take a scuba diving trip to the island’s famous Blue Cave where, through an unassuming hole in the rocks, you’ll find a cavern filled up with blue light as the sun filters through.