Duden Waterfalls (Düden)

Antalya has two Duden Waterfalls, and they could hardly be more different. On the edge of the city, the Upper Duden is a broad curtain of water in a wooded park, where a path leads into a wet cave behind the fall. Around 10 kilometres downstream, the Lower Duden spills over the city's cliffs and drops roughly 40 metres directly into the Mediterranean. Half a day is enough for both, and the lower one costs nothing.

At a glance

Where the water comes from

The river's source is in the Taurus Mountains, north of the city. From there the Duden flows partly underground through limestone and comes to the surface at several points before reaching the coast. Antalya stands on a travertine plateau, a porous rock formed by mineral-rich water, which explains the caves, the sinkholes and the sudden drop of the cliffs along the coast. The volume changes with the seasons, peaking in spring after the snow melts and dropping in late summer.

The Upper Duden

Here the water spreads across a wide rock face and lands in a green pool. Plane trees and willows shade the park around it. Steps and a path take you down behind the fall to a cave, and from inside it you watch the water pour past. Expect it to be cool, noisy and wet. Snack stalls and tea gardens fill the park, which draws many local families at weekends.

The Lower Duden

This is the more spectacular of the two. The river crosses parkland in Lara, then falls from the cliff into the sea, throwing up spray and, in afternoon sun, often a rainbow. The clifftop park gives you a side view looking down. For a better angle, go by boat: boats leaving the old harbour of Kaleici run along the cliffs and pause in front of the falls, near enough for the spray to reach you.

Picking one

With time for just one, decide by what you are after. The Lower Duden is the grand view, a wall of water meeting the sea, best viewed at sunset from the clifftop park, or from the water. It sits near the Lara hotels and is easy to combine with a beach day. As for the Upper Duden, it suits a shady walk, a picnic or a visit with young children, and its cave is a feature the lower fall lacks. Many tours put the lower falls together with Kaleici old town and a boat trip, while reaching the upper falls usually means a separate taxi.

When to go

Spring, from March to May, brings the strongest flow and the greenest parks. In summer, visit early or late in the day; the shaded upper park stays cool, though weekends are busy. Local people like to watch the sunset at the lower falls.

Our Antalya old city, waterfalls and boat trip day tour spends a full day on Kaleici, the falls and a coastal boat trip, with lunch, and costs from US$90 per person. With a local guide just for you, the private Kaleici walking tour lasts seven hours and ends at the Duden Waterfalls, also from US$90. The Antalya days of the eight-day private Istanbul and Antalya package include the falls as well.

Tips

• At the upper falls, grip the railings; the cave path is slippery.
• Kaleici boat trips differ in length, so before boarding ask if the route reaches the Lower Duden.
• You will find toilets and cafés in both parks.
• City buses run from the centre to both falls, though a taxi is quicker.

For other sights nearby, see our Antalya destination page.

Frequently Asked Questions