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Weather in El-Minya
Egypt's forgotten city of pharaonic tombs and cliffs
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About El-Minya
El-Minya huddles along the Nile, its pharaonic tombs and clifftop temples largely uncrowded by tour buses. Beni Hasan's rock-cut tombs and Tuna al-Gebel's Greco-Roman cemetery whisper of dynasties long vanished.
Best months to visit
February, March, April, October, November, December
Things to do in El-Minya
Explore Beni Hasan rock tombs
Visit Tuna al-Gebel cemetery
Climb cliffs for Nile views
Explore local bazaars
Cruise the Nile at sunset
Visit alabaster workshops
Weather by month
Click any month for detailed weather information and travel tips.
January
19C
Mild and comfortable, and mostly sunny skies.
Recommended
February
22C
Mild and comfortable, and mostly sunny skies.
Recommended
March
26C
Warm and pleasant, and mostly sunny skies.
Recommended
April
31C
Hot and humid, and mostly sunny skies.
May
35C
Very hot, and mostly sunny skies.
June
37C
Very hot, and mostly sunny skies.
July
38C
Very hot, and mostly sunny skies.
August
38C
Very hot, and mostly sunny skies.
September
36C
Very hot, and mostly sunny skies.
Recommended
October
32C
Hot and humid, and mostly sunny skies.
Recommended
November
26C
Warm and pleasant, and mostly sunny skies.
Recommended
December
22C
Mild and comfortable, and mostly sunny skies.
El-Minya, in Middle Egypt, sees a fraction of the visitors of Luxor or Aswan despite holding some of the country's most significant ancient sites, including the rock-cut tombs of Beni Hassan with their vivid wall paintings and the ruins of Amarna, the short-lived capital built by the pharaoh Akhenaten. Its riverside setting and rural surroundings offer a quieter, more agricultural side of the Nile Valley.
Best areas to stay in El-Minya
Minya city
The regional capital and main base, on the Nile's west bank, with a corniche and access to nearby ancient sites.
Beni Hassan
A necropolis of rock-cut tombs north of Minya, known for well-preserved Middle Kingdom wall paintings.
Amarna
The remains of Akhenaten's capital city, including tombs, boundary stelae and the outline of his ancient city, south of Minya.
Tuna el-Gebel
A necropolis near Amarna with catacombs, tombs and the rock-cut tomb of Petosiris.
Getting to El-Minya
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Flights
Fly into Cairo, then travel by road or rail to Minya (around 3-4 hours).
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From London
~6-9 hours from London including connections to Cairo and the onward journey to Minya.
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Getting around
A hired car or guide with vehicle is the most practical way to reach Beni Hassan, Amarna and Tuna el-Gebel from Minya.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best time to visit El-Minya?
October to April offers cooler temperatures for visiting open-air sites like Amarna and the tombs at Beni Hassan.
What is Beni Hassan?
A site of ancient rock-cut tombs from Egypt's Middle Kingdom, decorated with detailed scenes of daily life, hunting and wrestling, carved into cliffs overlooking the Nile.
What is Amarna?
The ruined capital city built by the pharaoh Akhenaten in the 14th century BC during Egypt's brief shift to monotheistic worship of the sun god Aten, now a sprawling archaeological site.
Is El-Minya easy to visit independently?
It's less set up for independent tourism than Luxor or Aswan; many visitors arrange a guide or join a tour from Cairo or Minya town for site access and logistics.
What language is spoken?
Arabic, as throughout Egypt, with English understood by guides and at major sites though less so generally than in major tourist centres.
Traveler reviews
★★★★★
Beni Hassan's tomb paintings were astonishingly well preserved and we had the whole site to ourselves — a real contrast to the crowds at Luxor.
Ahmed S. · December 2023
★★★★☆
Amarna takes some imagination since little remains standing, but knowing the history of Akhenaten's city made walking the site fascinating.
Rachel D. · February 2024
★★★★☆
Arranged a guide from Minya for the day and saw sites most tourists in Egypt never hear about — well worth the detour from the usual route.
Tarek H. · November 2023
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