Kepez · Antalya
Upper Düden Waterfall
In the forest, behind the water.
Upper Düden is the inland arm of the Düden river, in Kepez. The water drops into a pool among the trees, and what visitors remember is that you can walk behind it: the rock face leaves a passage, so you look out through the falling water.
- Location
- Kepez, Antalya
- Also called
- Alexander Waterfall
- River
- Düden river
- Known for
- The passage behind the water
Where the water comes from
The Düden is fed by underground springs and surfaces at a point called Düdenbaşı. From there the river splits in two: one arm runs towards Varsak and becomes Upper Düden, the other heads towards Lara and drops off the cliffs as Lower Düden. So “Düden Waterfall” is the name given to two different endings of the same water.
At Upper Düden the river falls over a travertine shelf as a wide curtain. The rock beneath has been hollowed out, leaving a space you can walk through. Most of the waterfall’s local fame comes from that passage.
What you will actually see
The area was laid out as a picnic and recreation ground by the State Hydraulic Works between 1970 and 1972. That is why it reads as a park rather than a viewpoint: shaded walking paths, river banks and places to sit.
The passage behind the falls is short, and daylight filters through the water curtain. Light is better in the morning and around midday. By the afternoon the area turns to shade.
Flow changes with the season. In spring the curtain is wide and heavy. By late summer it thins out and more of the rock shows. The waterfall you see genuinely depends on the month you come.
Where the Alexander name comes from
Locally the falls are also called the Alexander Waterfall. The story goes that Alexander the Great passed through this region with his army around 334 to 333 BC and watered his horses here. It is worth being clear that this is a legend. It does not rest on a firm historical record. The name comes from local memory.
Upper or Lower?
If you are wondering where this water comes from, we trace the whole journey from spring to sea on a separate page. It depends on what you are after. Tree shade, cool air, a walk and close contact with the water point to Upper Düden. A wide view, the sea and cliffs point to Lower Düden. The distance between them is short enough to see both in one day.
Photographs
Frequently asked questions
Can you really walk behind the Upper Düden waterfall?
Yes, and it is the reason most people come. The water falls over a rock shelf that leaves a walkable space behind it, so you end up looking at the waterfall from the inside out. The ground is wet and can be slippery, so wear shoes with grip.
Is Upper Düden the same place as Düden Park?
Yes. What people call Düden Park is the picnic and recreation area laid out around the Upper Düden waterfall. It is not a separate park.
How much time should I allow?
More than a waterfall stop usually takes. The area is arranged for spending time in, with shaded walking paths, river banks and places to sit, so a couple of hours is normal rather than a quick look.
Why is it also called the Alexander waterfall?
A local story says Alexander the Great watered his horses here while crossing Pamphylia. The name comes from that story. It is a legend rather than something backed by a firm historical record, and we pass it on as one.
