Düden Waterfalls Antalya: Upper vs Lower & How to Visit

The Düden Waterfalls are among Antalya's most photographed natural sights, and there are actually two of them: the Upper Düden, set in a shady inland park where you can walk behind the cascade, and the Lower Düden, which drops dramatically off the cliffs straight into the Mediterranean. This guide explains the difference, how to see each, and how to get there from your resort.

Two waterfalls, one river

The Düden river runs off the Taurus mountains and reaches the sea through a series of falls on the edge of Antalya. Confusingly for first-time visitors, the two famous falls are several kilometres apart and quite different in character, so it helps to know which is which before you set out.

Upper Düden Waterfall

The Upper Düden Waterfall sits in a green, shaded park inland from the city, about 14 km out. Here the river cascades over a rocky ledge into a pool, and a path leads you into a cave behind the falling water, so you can stand and look out through the curtain of the cascade. It is cool, leafy and a lovely escape from the summer heat, with cafes and shade in the park. It is a favourite with families and makes an easy, relaxed visit.

Lower Düden Waterfall

The Lower Düden Waterfall is the dramatic one, where the river reaches the coast near Lara and plunges around 40 metres off the cliffs directly into the sea. You can view it from the clifftop park and viewpoints, which is free and impressive, but the classic view is from the water, so many visitors see it from a boat trip along the coast, which lets you look up at the full height of the falls against the cliffs. At the right time of day the spray can catch a rainbow.

Which one should you visit?

If you only have time for one and want shade, greenery and the novelty of walking behind the water, choose Upper Düden. If you want the jaw-dropping coastal drama and a photo of a waterfall meeting the sea, choose Lower Düden, ideally combined with a boat trip. Many visitors do both, as they are on the same side of the city and a private car can link them in a morning or afternoon.

The setting and the story

The Düden falls are fed by karst springs in the mountains, and the river runs partly underground before emerging to tumble over the ledges, which is why the water is cool and clear even in high summer. The Lower Düden's dramatic plunge off the coastal cliffs has made it one of the enduring images of Antalya, appearing on countless postcards, while the Upper falls have long been a favourite local picnic and escape spot. Together they show two very different faces of the same river, one leafy and intimate, the other wild and coastal.

Best light and photography tips

For the Lower Düden, the light is best when the sun is on the falls and the cliffs, and on the right day the spray throws a rainbow across the cascade, so a coastal boat trip in good weather gives the most striking photos. At the Upper falls, the dappled light through the trees and the view out from behind the water make for atmospheric shots, though it is shady, so a steady hand helps. Early or late in the day avoids both the harshest sun and the biggest crowds.

What else is nearby

Both falls sit close to the city and the eastern resorts, so they combine easily with other stops. The Upper Düden pairs well with the old town or the Antalya Museum, while the Lower Düden is near Lara beach and the big resort zone, so you can follow a waterfall visit with a swim or a seafront lunch. Making a half day of it, linking one or both falls with a beach or the old town, gets the most out of the trip. Our guide to what to do in Antalya shows how the city's sights fit together.

Boat trips to the Lower Düden

Boat trips run along the Antalya coast from the Old Harbour and from Lara, and seeing the Lower Düden from the sea is one of their highlights. A typical trip cruises the cliffs, pauses beneath the falls for photos, and often includes a swimming stop in a cove. It is a relaxing way to combine the waterfall with time on the water. We cover the wider coast in our guide to what to do in Antalya.

Practical tips

• There is a small entrance fee to the Upper Düden park.
• Paths at the Upper falls can be damp and slippery near the cave, so wear sensible shoes.
• The falls are fullest and most powerful after the wetter months and in spring snowmelt, though they flow year-round.
• For the Lower Düden, check boat-trip times if you want the sea view, or simply enjoy it free from the clifftop park.
• Combine either with a nearby beach or the old town to fill a day.

Visiting with children

Both falls work well for families. The Upper Düden park is shaded, green and easy to walk, and children are fascinated by the path that leads behind the cascade, though the ground there can be wet and slippery so keep little ones in hand. The Lower Düden viewed from the clifftop park is a safe, railed vantage point, and seeing it from a boat is a real adventure for children who enjoy being on the water. Neither requires much walking, which makes them a gentle, rewarding outing that breaks up beach and pool days without wearing anyone out.

How long to allow

Each waterfall is a fairly quick stop in itself, perhaps 45 minutes to an hour to wander, take photos and enjoy a drink at a cafe, so seeing one is easily slotted into a morning or afternoon. To visit both, allow half a day including the short drive between them, and to combine a fall with a boat trip to see the Lower Düden from the sea, set aside a longer part of the day. Building the falls into a wider itinerary, with a beach, the old town or the Antalya Museum, makes the most of the trip out.

A few practical notes

There is a modest entrance fee for the Upper Düden park, while the Lower Düden clifftop viewpoints are free. Wear shoes with grip for the damp paths near the Upper cave, take water and sun protection as parts of both sites are exposed, and remember that the falls run strongest after the wetter months and in spring, though they flow all year. If seeing the Lower Düden from the water matters to you, check boat-trip departure times in advance, as these vary by season and demand.

Making the most of your visit

The Düden falls reward a little planning. Going earlier or later in the day gives you softer light for photographs and thinner crowds, particularly at the popular Lower Düden viewpoints. Combining the falls with a nearby beach, the old town or the Antalya Museum turns a quick stop into a satisfying half day, and because both falls sit close to the city and the eastern resorts, the driving between them is short. A private car with a driver is ideal here, as it lets you link the two falls and any other stops on your own schedule rather than working out awkward public-transport connections.

Whatever you plan, take water and sun protection, since parts of both sites are exposed to the sun, and wear shoes with grip for the damp paths behind the Upper falls. Remember there is a small entrance fee for the Upper Düden park, while the Lower Düden clifftop park is free to enjoy. If seeing the Lower falls from the water appeals, book or check the timing of a coastal boat trip in advance, as departures vary with the season and demand. With those small details sorted, the Düden waterfalls are one of the easiest and most rewarding half-days out from Antalya.

One more tip

If you can, see the Lower Düden from both the clifftop park and a boat on the same trip, as the two perspectives are completely different: the park gives you the setting and the greenery, while the boat reveals the full height of the cascade dropping into the sea. It is a small extra effort for a much fuller experience of the sight.

How to get to the Düden Waterfalls

Both falls are on the eastern and inland edges of Antalya, close to the city and the Lara and Kundu resort areas. A private transfer or a car with a driver is the easiest way to see one or both, especially if you want to combine them, as public transport between the two is awkward. From the resorts a short transfer gets you there, and you can build the falls into a wider day around the city. See fixed prices for your resort on the destinations page, and start your trip with a smooth airport transfer.