# Düden Waterfalls, Antalya > The Düden Waterfalls are two separate sights on one river. The **Lower Falls** plunge 40 m off a cliff straight into the sea in Lara — the park is free and open 24 hours; allow 40–60 minutes. The **Upper Falls** are a shady park with a cave behind the water, 10–12 km north of the centre: about 60–70 TL, daily from 8:00; allow an hour. Web page: https://yesgo.io/turkey/antalya/duden-waterfalls - City: [Antalya](https://yesgo.io/turkey/antalya), Turkey - YesGo score: 34/100 (Yes, if nearby) - Time on site: 1 h - Entry: Lower free, Upper ≈ 60–70 TL - Opening hours: Lower Falls (Düden Park): open 24 hours; Upper Falls: daily 8:00–19:00 April–October, until 18:00 November–March - With kids: Fine with kids - Lower Falls: Free, park open 24 hours - Upper Falls: ≈ 60–70 TL per adult - Upper Falls hours: Daily 8:00–19:00 (April–October), until 18:00 in winter - Closed: Never — both open every day - To the Lower Falls: Taxi from Kaleiçi 15–20 min, or a city bus along Lara Caddesi - To the Upper Falls: Buses CV17 and VF66 to the Düden Şelalesi stop; taxi ≈ 20–25 min - Bus fares: Antalyakart or a contactless bank card - Lower Falls location: Düden Park, Lara Caddesi, Muratpaşa - Upper Falls location: Varsak area, Kepez, north of the city - Coordinates: 36.85100, 30.78350 - Facts checked: 30.10.2026 ## Key facts - **40 m** — the Lower Falls drop off a cliff straight into the Mediterranean (source: English, Russian and Turkish Wikipedia: Düden Waterfalls) - **2 waterfalls** — on the same river: the Upper Falls in Kepez, the Lower Falls in Lara (source: English and Russian Wikipedia; antalya.tc) - **Free** — and open 24 hours — Düden Park at the Lower Falls (source: English Wikipedia; antalya.tc) - **15–20 m** — height of the Upper Falls — sources differ (source: Wikivoyage and antalya.tc give 20 m; Independent Travellers 15 m) - **A cave** — behind the Upper Falls, reached by narrow steps (source: antalya.tc; Independent Travellers) - **≈ 13 km** — as the crow flies between the two falls (source: Russian Wikipedia; calculated from English Wikipedia coordinates) - **Karst** — the river vanishes into the Bıyıklı sinkhole and resurfaces at the Upper Falls (source: English and Russian Wikipedia) - **“Düden”** — is Turkish for a karst sinkhole that swallows water (source: Turkish Language Association (TDK) dictionary; Independent Travellers) - **Catarrhactes** — the river’s ancient name — Greek for “waterfall” (source: Strabo, Geography; antalya.tc) - **Alexander’s Falls** — the Upper Falls’ other name, from the legend that Alexander the Great watered his horses here (source: Turkish Wikipedia; antalya.tc) - **Kepez plant** — water reaches the Upper Falls by canal from a hydroelectric station (source: English and Turkish Wikipedia) > **Two different places, 13 km apart** Be specific with taxis and map apps: **Aşağı Düden** is the Lower Falls by the sea in Lara; **Yukarı Düden** is the Upper Falls up north in Kepez. Plain “Düden” can land you at the wrong one — or at a hotel of the same name. Only time for one? Make it the Lower Falls: free, closer to the Lara beaches, and the famous view. ## Upper vs Lower Düden Waterfall: which one should you visit? The **Lower Falls** are the postcard shot: a wide river pouring off a 40 m limestone cliff straight into the Mediterranean. You watch from the clifftop park, for free, at any hour. Give it 40–60 minutes. The **Upper Falls** are a walk rather than a view — a fenced, paid park in a green gorge with footbridges, riverside paths and a cave where you stand behind the curtain of water. On a hot day it is noticeably cooler than the city. Our take: if you only fit one in, go Lower. If you are travelling with kids, hate the heat, or have half a day, do both — Upper in the morning, Lower in the afternoon. ## Lower Düden Waterfall: where the river meets the sea Few waterfalls anywhere fall directly into the sea, and this is the reason most people come. **Düden Park** has no gate and no ticket office: walk in from the boulevard, follow the fenced path along the river and you reach viewing terraces right at the cliff edge. From there you look down on the water hammering into the sea, with Lara’s apartment blocks lining the coast. It gets windy at the edge and the spray carries — hold on to your phone. The view from below is bigger still. Pleasure boats from Kaleiçi’s old harbour sail along the coast and nose in close to the falls, so you see the whole drop from top to waterline. ## Upper Düden Waterfall: gardens and the cave behind the falls The Upper Falls are lower — roughly 15–20 m — but they come with a whole park: gardens, cafés, picnic spots and footbridges over the river. The grounds are fenced and open only during the day, with an entrance fee. The highlight is the **cave behind the falls**. Narrow steps lead down into the rock; a short path takes you behind the water, and openings in the stone frame the cascade from the inside. It is damp and loud in there and the steps are slick, so wear shoes with grip. A long stairway continues into the gorge, where railed paths follow the river and climb to viewpoints above the cascade. An hour is enough without rushing. The site is also called Alexander’s Falls, after a legend that Alexander the Great watered his horses here on his way through Pamphylia. ## Düden Waterfall entrance fee and opening hours **The Lower Falls are free** — Düden Park is a public city park, open around the clock. **The Upper Falls charge about 60–70 TL** per adult. Guides quote different figures and Turkish prices change often, so check at the gate. They open daily at 8:00 and close at 19:00 from April to October, earlier in winter. Parking at the Upper Falls is paid. The cave is included in the Upper Falls ticket. Boat trips to the Lower Falls are a separate deal struck with the skipper at Kaleiçi harbour — agree the price and the route before you step aboard. ## How to get to the Lower Düden Waterfall 1. From the Clock Tower and Kalekapısı Square at the edge of [Kaleiçi](https://yesgo.io/turkey/antalya/kaleici), walk to the main boulevard where buses head east towards Lara. 2. Take a city bus along Lara Caddesi — line KL08 is the one most guides mention — and get off at Düden Park, roughly 25–35 minutes. Check the current line in the Antalyakart app, which shows live bus positions. 3. Easier: a taxi takes 15–20 minutes. Ask for “Aşağı Düden Şelalesi”. 4. From the stop, walk into the park and follow the fenced riverside path to the clifftop terraces. 5. Want the view from the sea instead? Skip the bus and take a pleasure boat from the old harbour in Kaleiçi. ## How to get to the Upper Düden Waterfall 1. Buses CV17 and VF66 run north from the centre to Kepez — get off at the Düden Şelalesi stop, a couple of minutes’ walk from the gate. 2. Allow 30–40 minutes depending on traffic. Tap an Antalyakart or a contactless bank card on the reader as you board. 3. By taxi it is about 20–25 minutes — ask for “Yukarı Düden Şelalesi”. 4. The drive between the two falls takes about 30 minutes, so the natural order is north to south: Upper in the cool morning, Lower and the sea after lunch. ## Is the Düden Waterfall worth it? The Lower Falls, yes — it is free, close to the Lara hotels and genuinely unusual: a big river ending in a cliff over the sea. Half an hour is enough if you are passing; it is not a full-day trip. The Upper Falls are worth it if you want shade, a stroll and the cave, especially with children. If you have already seen bigger waterfalls and only have a day in Antalya, spend that hour in Kaleiçi instead. ## Lower, Upper or by boat | | Lower Falls | Upper Falls | By boat | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | What you see | The falls from above, cliff and sea | A cascade in a gorge, cave behind the water | The Lower Falls from below, top to bottom | | Cost | Free | ≈ 60–70 TL | Agreed with the skipper | | When | 24 hours | From 8:00 until evening | Daytime, calm seas | | Time needed | 40–60 min | ≈ 1 h | Part of a coastal cruise | | Shade | Little | Plenty | None | | From Kaleiçi | 15–20 min by taxi | 20–25 min by taxi | From the harbour | One waterfall only? The Lower Falls — free, closer and the classic view. The Upper Falls earn the trip in summer heat and with kids. With half a day, do both, north to south. ## Before you go: checklist - [ ] I know which one: Aşağı (by the sea) or Yukarı (park with the cave) - [ ] Antalyakart topped up, or a contactless card for the bus - [ ] Some lira in cash for the Upper Falls and a boat - [ ] Shoes with grip for wet steps - [ ] A light jacket or phone pouch — the spray reaches the clifftop - [ ] An hour for each waterfall, plus 30 minutes between them ## Antalya by the water: compare and choose Antalya’s waterside sights rated by YesGo. - [Kaleiçi](https://yesgo.io/turkey/antalya/kaleici) — YesGo score 40/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 2 h · Free, open 24/7 - [Düden Waterfalls](https://yesgo.io/turkey/antalya/duden-waterfalls) — YesGo score 34/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h · Lower free, Upper ≈ 60–70 TL ## Waterfall, old town and sunset Morning at the Lower Falls in Lara, then Hadrian’s Gate and a wander through Kaleiçi, and sunset at Hıdırlık Tower above the harbour. 1. [Düden Waterfalls](https://yesgo.io/turkey/antalya/duden-waterfalls) — YesGo score 34/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h · Lower free, Upper ≈ 60–70 TL 2. [Hadrian's Gate](https://yesgo.io/turkey/antalya/antalya-hadrians-gate) — YesGo score 48/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 20 min · Free 3. [Kaleiçi](https://yesgo.io/turkey/antalya/kaleici) — YesGo score 40/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 2 h · Free, open 24/7 4. [Hıdırlık Tower](https://yesgo.io/turkey/antalya/hidirlik-tower) — YesGo score 44/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 30 min · Free, outside only > **The best angle is from the sea** From the clifftop you see the river go over the edge, not the whole fall. Boats from Kaleiçi harbour get right up to the spray — shoot from the deck and you get cliff and cascade from top to waterline. ## Not to be confused with Hotels and restaurants called “Düden” have nothing to do with the falls. Kurşunlu and Manavgat are other waterfalls in the province, each a separate trip out of town. The Düden Waterfalls are just two: Upper in Kepez and Lower in Lara. ## Tips - Staying in Lara? The Lower Falls are a short ride away — go early, then hit the beach. - In summer start with the Upper Falls: the gorge is shady and cool, and the Lower Falls look great in late-afternoon light. - Leave the stroller outside the cave at the Upper Falls — the steps are narrow and wet. - For the classic photo, stand on a side terrace at the Lower Falls so you get both the falls and the Lara coastline. - On harbour boats, agree the price before boarding and confirm the trip actually goes to the waterfall. - Düden Park is calmest on weekday evenings; local families come for picnics mainly at weekends. ## Questions ### Where are the Düden Waterfalls? The Lower Falls are in Düden Park in Lara, about 8–10 km east of the old town. The Upper Falls are in the Varsak area of Kepez, 10–12 km north of the centre. ### Which is better, Upper or Lower Düden Waterfall? Lower for the big view — a 40 m drop into the sea, free. Upper for shade, a walk and the cave behind the water. With half a day, see both. ### How much is the Upper Düden Waterfall entrance fee? About 60–70 TL per adult; sources differ, so check at the gate. The cave is included. ### Is the Lower Düden Waterfall free? Yes. Düden Park is a public park with no ticket office, open 24 hours. ### What are the Upper Düden Waterfall opening hours? Daily from 8:00, until 19:00 from April to October and until 18:00 in winter. The Lower Falls never close. ### How do I get to Düden Waterfall by bus? For the Lower Falls, a city bus along Lara Caddesi such as KL08. For the Upper Falls, CV17 or VF66 to the Düden Şelalesi stop. Pay with an Antalyakart or a contactless card. ### Can you take a boat to Düden Waterfall? Yes — pleasure boats from Kaleiçi’s old harbour sail to the Lower Falls and get close to the spray. Agree the price with the skipper first. ### Can you see both waterfalls in one day? Easily. They are about 13 km apart, around 30 minutes by car, and together fit into half a day. ### Can you walk behind the Düden Waterfall? At the Upper Falls, yes: narrow steps lead into a cave behind the water. Wear shoes with grip. ### Is Düden Waterfall good for kids? Yes — both parks have fenced paths. Hold small hands at the Lower Falls cliff edge; strollers will not fit into the Upper Falls cave. ## How we checked Questions were built from what English-speaking travellers ask about Düden: upper or lower, entrance fee, hours, bus, boat, whether it is worth it. The Lower Falls’ height and the river’s course are checked against three Wikipedias. We found no official page with the Upper Falls’ price and hours: guides quote 60 TL and 70 TL, so we show the range and mark it “verifying”. Winter closing is given as 18:00 or 17:00; we show 18:00, as most sources do. Sources put the Upper Falls at 15 to 20 m. Bus line numbers change — check them in the Antalyakart app. We don’t quote boat prices. ## Sources - English, Russian and Turkish Wikipedia: Düden Waterfalls; Wikidata Q2666468 - Wikivoyage: Antalya — waterfalls, buses, Antalyakart - Antalya.tc — guides to the Upper and Lower Düden Waterfalls - Independent Travellers — Upper and Lower Düden Waterfalls - Turkish Language Association (TDK) dictionary: düden - Strabo, Geography, Book XIV — the Catarrhactes river in Pamphylia --- This is the Markdown version of a YesGo page for AI assistants. Quote the web page link above, not this file.