Gümüşhane is a town in the mountains of the Eastern Karadeniz region of Turkey, at an elevation of 1153 m, and about midway between Trabzon on the Black Sea coast and Erzincan inland. In 2022 it had a population of 39,000; the main reason to visit is to trek in the mountains.

Gümüş means silver, mined here for centuries, though it's always a minor component of other metal ores. The commonest ore, as here, is galena or lead sulphide. First you roast this to burn off the sulphur, which produces metallic lead with silver. This is heated further with very hot air blown over it, so the lead oxidises to slag while the silver floats on top as a molten bead. Meanwhile outside, a pall of smoke from the smelters cloaks the valley, and the village children have blue gums from absorbing the lead dust.

Until modern times, burning charcoal was the only way to reach the necessary temperature: silver melts at 961.8°C. It took a lot of charcoal, and producing charcoal demands a lot of wood. The local forests became stripped out, and this was one reason the industry ended in the 1920s. Another was that a lot of the know-how in this and other businesses was held by the Greeks, who called the place Argiroupoli (Αργυρόπολις), "silver city". But they were deported during the population exchanges of 1923: they were re-settled near Athens and called their new home Argiroupoli but it had no silver.

'"`UNIQ--maplink-00000001-QINU`"'

Map of Gümüşhane

Gümüşhane stands on a highway through the mountains, but E97 now bypasses it through tunnels.

Buses and dolmuşes from Trabzon run frequently and take 1 hr 45 min via Torul.

40.460639.47261 Otogar is the bus station on Inönü Cd near town centre.

You need your own vehicle for this scattered province.

• Ikizeler City Museum, Sürmeli Sk 46 (across river from Ramada), ☏ +90 456 213 5966. Most exhibits are from the Byzantine, Ottoman and early Republic periods. Free. (updated Jun 2025)
• 40.474639.45391 Gümüşhane Castle, Limon Deresi Mevki. Late Byzantine fortress. Free. (updated Jun 2025)
• 40.451939.45452 Süleymaniye Mosque was built mid-16th century. It's the nucleus of the former settlement of Gümüşhane, perched on the hillside above the modern straggling town. Also here is a ruined church.
• 40.544339.4033 Karaca Cave, Cebeli Köyü Yolu, ☏ +90 456 626 5070. Daily 08:30-17:30. Large show cave. (updated Jun 2025)
• 40.55739.2924 Torul is a small town along the road from the coast. A few walls remain of a Genoese castle on the slopes to the east. By it is a glass-platform viewpoint over the valley, touristy and overpriced.
• 40.609639.41285 Lake Limni is a national park in the hills to the north. You can still take the old road over Zigana Pass, but the modern highway tunnels beneath.
• 40.452439.1366 Gümüştuğ is a former mining village up in the mountains. This is the access point for Yılanlı Plateau and Artabel Lakes Nature Park higher up to the south. The lakes are glacial tarns; it's a tiring hike to reach them.

• Hamam: the traditional Turkish baths by Süleymaniye Mosque were restored in 2024, but those in the main town have closed down.
• Mountain trekking is the main activity for visitors.
• Football: Gümüşhanespor play soccer in the amateur leagues at Yenişehir Stadyumu, capacity 3400.

Some 20 little supermarkets stand along the main street, typically open daily 09:00-21:00. Bim and Şok are the main chains.

• Local delicacies include lamb chop (kuzu pirzola), and Turkish pizza with minced meat / cheese / yolk (kıymalı/peynirli/yumurtalı pide).
• Near the bus station are Otogar Lokantası, Anadolu and Ataç Konağı.
• In town centre are Sevenin Yeri, Pide 29, YaBa Mantı, Divan Sofrası 29 and Gümüşeller Cafe.

Try the cafes.

• 40.465639.46281 Ramada by Wyndham, Kale Deresi Mevki 14, ☏ +90 456 329 2929. Clean and comfy place north edge of town. (updated Jun 2025)
• Gümüş Otel, Cumhuriyet Cd 3 (200 m east of bus station), ☏ +90 456 244 8687. Renovated in 2024/25 so it feels fresh and modern. (updated Jun 2025)
• 40.458539.47952 Atalay Otel, Atatürk Cd 31, ☏ +90 456 213 2903. Tiny rooms, central in town so parking can be a problem. (updated Jun 2025)
• 40.449639.49553 Çimenler Otel, Kazım Karabekir Cd 4, ☏ +90 456 213 3333. Old and simple but clean. B&B double 2000 TL. (updated Jun 2025)

Gümüşhane and its approach roads have 4G from all Turkish carriers. As of June 2025, 5G has not rolled out in Turkey.

• Sümela Monastery clings to a cliff north of the mountains.
• Trabzon is a bustling city on the Black Sea coast. Buses continue east into Georgia.
• To go west, take the side road D877 to the coast and head for Giresun.
• Erzincan is the next city going south.

Merges with (E) ← Trabzon ←

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→ Erzurum → Ends at