Selge was one of the most remote and independent cities in the ancient Mediterranean world — a Pisidian mountain city that kept its independence from both the Persians and Alexander the Great by virtue of its position above the Köprülü Canyon. When Alexander passed through Pamphylia, Selge supplied him with guides and mercenaries rather than submitting.
The ruins sit at 950 metres in the Taurus Mountains, about 80 km northeast of Antalya. The remains include a well-preserved theatre, a stadium, a temple of Zeus, and extensive city walls, all with views over forested mountains and the canyon below. The site is rarely visited and there are no entrance fees or facilities — you are largely on your own among the ruins.
In the valley below, the Köprülü Canyon National Park contains two remarkably preserved Roman bridges still spanning the Köprüçay River, and white-water rafting from spring to autumn. The full excursion — canyon road, Roman bridges, rafting, and the climb up to Selge — is one of the best day trips from Antalya.