TURKEY - Kalkan, Payava Hotel 4*

25/10/2025

Payava Hotel Kalkan Review – A Boutique Gem on Turkey's Mediterranean Coast | by Hamiczech - Czech Travel Blogger

Address: Payava Hotel by True Blue, Kalkan, Cumhuriyet Cad. No: 80, Turkey

Payava Hotel Kalkan 4*

Kalkan is a picturesque seaside town on the Turkish Riviera that immediately wins your heart with its romantic atmosphere and narrow streets lined with whitewashed houses with blue shutters and richly blooming bougainvillea. It offers wonderful views of the turquoise sea, stylish Mediterranean restaurants and beach clubs. It is ideal for those looking for a quieter place than busy Turkish resorts, but at the same time want to have the famous beaches of Kaputaş and Patara or historical monuments in the area within reach. Kalkan is simply a destination where peace, luxury and authenticity come together. And where to stay? Try the modern Payava Hotel. It is a fairly new boutique hotel in a subtle Scandinavian style, combining light colors, clean lines and natural elements. Don't expect overly rich decoration here. The biggest positives are the pool, very friendly and helpful staff, rich breakfast, and it is a quick taxi ride to the center of Kalkan. There is also a restaurant on site. If you are arriving by car, the hotel has its own parking lot.

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Location

The hotel is located in a quiet area of Kalkan, in a residential area, within walking distance there is a small supermarket and several bars and restaurants. By taxi you are in the center or on the beach within 5 minutes. Both could be reached on foot, but you have to take into account that Kalkan is quite hilly.

Accommodation

The hotel has 50 rooms in ten different categories, from 35-85 m2. The higher rooms have a sea view. Some ground floor rooms have direct access to the pool. There are also family rooms with 2 bedrooms. Slippers are provided in all room types, bathrobes only in some. An ironing board and iron can be booked at the reception. The hotel cares about sustainability and the environment.

I had a Deluxe Double room. It was spacious enough for a pleasant stay. Very comfortable bed with a high mattress. Large wardrobe. TV, air conditioning, balcony with seating, swimsuit drying rack. Work desk with chair. Electric kettle with tea and coffee, water replenished in the fridge every day. A beach bag is always a pleasure. Slippers. Wifi. Spacious bathroom with hotel cosmetics (vanity kit, hand soap, shower gel, shampoo, conditioner), hairdryer. Safe in the wardrobe.

My tip:

If you prefer spacious apartments with their own kitchen, terrace, but still with hotel services (daily cleaning, breakfast) instead of a hotel, whether for a couple or a family, visit the second accommodation option of the same owners, True Blue Kalkan Hotel 4*.

Food

Breakfast is served on the terrace from 8-11 a.m. next to the pool and the selection is really great. You will find juices, teas, coffee, hot and cold buffet, fruits, vegetables, cereals, various types of milk (including plant-based), savory and sweet pastries.

Cafe Payava - is located on the same terrace as breakfast. You can order dishes made from fresh ingredients mainly from local suppliers. You can have a light lunch or brunch here every Sunday, coffee or a drink. Lunch is served from 12-18 p.m. An interesting thing is that every Saturday you can come here to play chess with other interested parties.

For dinner or a drink you can go to one of the restaurants opposite or go to the center, where you have a lot of choice. If you love steaks, I recommend the Sade restaurant, which is on the top floor and you can enjoy the beautiful view, especially in the season I recommend making a reservation here, their steaks are really amazing! Then you have many restaurants around the port, I tried Kleo Cafe Bar & Restaurant for lunch (salads, typical Turkish dishes, seafood, pizza, meat, fajitas, desserts), you simply have to have that strawberry frozen daiquiri! It's the biggest I've ever had :)

Pool and beaches

There is a nice pool on the hotel terrace, some rooms have direct access. The beaches in Kalkan are almost all on rocks, so you will find a number of beach clubs on piers that offer sunbeds, umbrellas and refreshments. You pay for such clubs, but don't worry, the hotel has an agreement with Yali Beach Club and Restaurant (open from 8.30 to 18.30). You will get a free entry card at the hotel reception. It is 2 km away and Kalkan is very hilly, so I recommend having the reception call a taxi, and for about 200 Turkish liras they will take you there. The sea in Kalkan is wonderfully clear, because there is no sand, but stones, just like in Croatia. However, the sea here is significantly warmer and much saltier. The club has very comfortable sunbeds in the style of bed mattresses, large umbrellas, changing rooms and a restaurant. You enter the sea by stairs, you don't need shoes. You can also go to the public beach in Kalkan, where access is free. There are larger pebbles on it, so I recommend a cushioned sunbed (or you can rent a sunbed and umbrella) and water shoes. There are many restaurants and bars above this wide beach. If you go to the edge of the beach, there are also small romantic beaches between the cliffs. On the other side there is a port. I recommend taking a taxi to visit the beautiful Kaputaş beach with turquoise water, it is located down between the cliffs, parking is difficult, so choose a taxi, and the long Patara beach with dunes, darker sand and shallow sea, especially suitable for children and non-swimmers. You can have your own towels on both beaches, or you can rent sunbeds and umbrellas. There is also an entrance fee on both. Kaputaş is very cheap, 50 Turkish lira and in my opinion it is much nicer, Patara 15 Euros per person, the price also includes access to the museum and the archaeological site. There are restaurants on both beaches.

I really liked the hotel towels for the pool and the beach. They were more like thinner blankets, big enough for a person to fit on, compact and lightweight. This is something that a lot of hotels lack. Most of the time you get towels that don't even cover a sunbed.

Summary

Hotel Payava is an ideal choice for those looking for a smaller hotel with a personal atmosphere, beautiful views and peace away from the crowds. A great place for couples or individuals who want to relax, read a book by the pool and just switch off for a while. Be sure to visit the turquoise Kaputas beach, which is one of the most beautiful beaches in the world, the color of the water is incredible, like in the Caribbean. And another famous beach is Patara, a long beach with sand dunes. If you don't want to pay extra for a sunbed on both beaches, take a beach towel from the hotel. And don't forget to return it at the hotel, of course! I will write more about trips around the area in the article about Kalkan. I recommend changing some Turkish lira, because you can't pay with a card in taxis and I used taxis quite a lot, you probably won't want to walk up those hills. Even if you buy something in stores, it is better to have liras because they will give you a better price than paying by card or in Euros. And don't forget to bargain in clothing stores.

Thank you to the PR department of Payava Hotel for allowing me to visit this beautiful place and write this detailed article for you.

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