Al Minyah is called the Bride of Upper Egypt because of its location which is at the border of Upper and Lower Egypt. It lies about 153 miles south of Cairo and is a center for the manufacture of soap, perfume and sugar processing. There are some fine houses there, though not very old, where the Greek and Egyptian cotton barons lived.

There is a Muslim and Christian cemetery called Zawiyyet al-Mayyiteen (Place of the Dead) which is said to be one of the largest cemeteries in the world. Other sights to see include the El-Umra Mosque, which is the town's oldest and the El-Lamati Mosque.