The Dim Çayı rises in the Taurus and reaches the Mediterranean at Kestel, a few kilometres east of central Alanya. Upstream of the coast road its valley narrows between pine-covered slopes, and for several kilometres the banks are lined with restaurants whose tables, cushions and swings stand on wooden platforms over the river.
Cold water under the floor and shade overhead make the valley several degrees cooler than the beach. That, and the trout, is why almost every Sapadere tour stops here for lunch — and why Alanya families fill the same platforms on summer weekends.
Top things to do: Dim River (Dim Çayı)
Lunch over the water
Choose a platform, kick off your shoes and order grilled trout, chicken şiş or köfte with meze. Service is unhurried and nobody minds if you stay for hours.
Swim and slide
Many restaurants dam a section of river into a swimming area with slides, rope swings and pedal boats. The water is cold but far gentler than at Sapadere.
Drive up to the Dim Dam
Further up the valley the road climbs to the Dim Dam and its reservoir, with wide views back to the sea — a favourite stretch of the jeep safaris.
Add Dim Cave
Dim Cave sits high on the valley’s western side, a short drive from the restaurants.
How to get to Dim River (Dim Çayı)
- By car or taxi the restaurant strip is roughly 15 km, or 20–25 minutes, from central Alanya: head east on the D400 and turn inland at Kestel.
- Local buses and dolmuşes signed “Dim Çayı” run from Alanya in season; ask your hotel for the nearest stop.
- Nearly all Sapadere and jeep tours include a stop here.
Insider tips
- Restaurants on tour circuits are busiest from 12:30 to 14:30. Come earlier or later for a quieter table.
- Swimming areas are free for customers; you pay for the meal.
- Bring a towel and a spare T-shirt for children — they will end up in the water.
- On summer Sundays the valley is packed with local families; weekdays are calmer.
Best tours & tickets: Dim River (Dim Çayı)
These top-rated experiences are the easiest way to see Dim River (Dim Çayı):
Jeep safari from €26 From Alanya: Jeep Safari Tour with Lunch at Dim River
The classic Alanya jeep safari: it does not go as far as Sapadere, which keeps the day shorter. A strong choice if you want mountain scenery and a river lunch without the longer drive.
- Off-road tracks in the Taurus foothills
- Village and viewpoint stops
- Lunch and swim on the Dim River
Day trip from €25 Alanya: 3-in-1 Sapadere Waterfalls, Dim Stream & Dim Cave Tour
The most-booked Sapadere product on GetYourGuide, with more than four thousand reviews. One long, easy day strings together the three inland classics of Alanya: the canyon, the Dim River restaurants and Dim Cave, with hotel pickup along the coast.
- Walk the full Sapadere Canyon boardwalk to the waterfall
- Riverside stop on the Dim Çayı
- Dim Cave and its underground lake
