Tanis Travel Guide

City City in Egypt known for its agriculture

An ancient Delta site, Tanis invites visitors to pharaonic ruins, scattered stone blocks and the vestiges of royal tombs; archaeologists’ finds live in nearby museum collections, though the site feels excavated and windswept rather than restored.

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Costs

About $50-$90 per day

Basic services and local guides are cheap; travel to Cairo raises costs.

Safety

Exercise caution, guided daytime visits recommended

Daytime site visits with a guide are generally okay; avoid remote solo travel after dark.

Best Time

October-April

Cooler, drier weather suits archaeology visits.

In This Guide

Why Visit Tanis?
Top Things to Do
Plan Your Visit
Where to Stay
Where to Eat

Time

—

Weather

—

Population

30,969

Infrastructure & Convenience

Sparse tourist infrastructure; arrange transport and a guide from nearby cities.

Popularity

Niche archaeological destination; far fewer visitors than major Egyptian sites.

Known For

ancient Delta city, royal tombs, archaeological excavations, Psusennes I treasures, Ramesside-era finds, mudbrick ruins, Nile Delta location, Egyptology interest

In 1939 Pierre Montet uncovered intact royal tombs at Tanis, including treasures and the gold mask of Pharaoh Psusennes I.

Why Visit Tanis? #

Set in the Nile Delta, Tanis is best known for its archaeological site and the royal tombs of Egypt’s Third Intermediate Period, including the tomb of Psusennes I uncovered nearby. History-minded travelers come to walk among ruined temples and see inscriptions that shed light on a less-studied era of ancient Egypt. Quiet and remote compared with Luxor or Cairo, the site offers a focused, almost scholarly experience of antiquity rather than crowded tourist infrastructure.

Top Things to Do in Tanis

All Attractions ›

Avaris

Ancient Egyptian site and former Hyksos capital

Archaeological Site

Pi-Ramesses

Ancient Egyptian capital of Ramesses II, archaeological site

Archaeological Site

Mendes

Ancient Nile Delta city, historic Egyptian cult center.

Archaeological Site

Lake Manzala

Large brackish lake in the Nile Delta

Lake

Tinnis

Medieval island city and former Nile Delta port

Ruins

Qantir

Archaeological site identified with ancient Pi-Ramesses

Administrative Seat

Wadi Tumilat

Historic eastern Nile delta valley, ancient trade route

Archaeological Site

Best Time to Visit Tanis #

Best visited late autumn through early spring when temperatures are mild and archaeological sites are comfortable to explore. Avoid high summer heat and the occasional khamsin sandstorms of spring.

Winter

November - February · 12°C to 22°C (54°F to 72°F)

Cool, dry and very pleasant for exploring ruins and Nile landscapes; days warm, nights chilly-bring layers for cooler early mornings and evenings.

Spring

March - May · 20°C to 35°C (68°F to 95°F)

Warming quickly with frequent dry khamsin dust winds; excellent daylight for photos but prepare for heat spikes and gritty sand on vulnerable days.

Summer

June - September · 30°C to 38°C (86°F to 100°F)

Relentlessly hot and humid near the delta; midday outdoor sightseeing is exhausting - stick to mornings, shaded sites and strong sun protection.

Best Time to Visit Tanis #

Climate

Tanis's climate is classified as Hot Desert - Hot Desert climate with hot summers (peaking in August) and cool winters (coldest in January). Temperatures range from 8°C to 32°C. Very dry conditions with minimal rainfall with a pronounced dry season.

Best Time to Visit

SeptemberAugustJune

Temperature & Rainfall

Temperature Range

46°

Warmest Month

2°

Coldest Month

Monthly Conditions

January

January is the coolest month with highs of 18°C and lows of 8°C. Light rainfall.

81 Excellent

Comfort

13°

Feels Like Cool

13°C

Temperature

8° – 18°

65%

Humidity

Humid

Weather

13 mm

Rainfall

2.3 m/s

Wind

Calm

0.6

UV Index

Moderate

10.3h daylight

February

February is cool with highs of 19°C and lows of 8°C. Almost no rain.

82 Excellent

Comfort

14°

Feels Like Cool

14°C

Temperature

8° – 19°

63%

Humidity

Humid

Weather

8 mm

Rainfall

3.0 m/s

Wind

Light Breeze

0.9

UV Index

Moderate

11.0h daylight

March

March is cool with highs of 22°C and lows of 10°C. Almost no rain.

83 Excellent

Comfort

16°

Feels Like Cool

16°C

Temperature

10° – 22°

59%

Humidity

Humid

Weather

7 mm

Rainfall

2.4 m/s

Wind

Calm

1.4

UV Index

High

11.9h daylight

April

April is mild with highs of 26°C and lows of 13°C. Almost no rain.

91 Ideal

Comfort

19°

Feels Like Mild

19°C

Temperature

13° – 26°

55%

Humidity

Humid

Weather

4 mm

Rainfall

2.4 m/s

Wind

Calm

1.8

UV Index

Very High

12.8h daylight

May

May is mild with highs of 30°C and lows of 16°C. Almost no rain and mostly sunny skies.

95 Ideal

Comfort

23°

Feels Like Mild

23°C

Temperature

16° – 30°

51%

Humidity

Humid

Weather

2 mm

Rainfall

2.8 m/s

Wind

Calm

2.2

UV Index

Extreme

13.6h daylight

June

June is warm with highs of 31°C and lows of 19°C. The driest month with just 0 mm and clear sunny skies.

97 Ideal

Comfort

25°

Feels Like Warm

25°C

Temperature

19° – 31°

50%

Humidity

Humid

Weather

0 mm

Rainfall

2.9 m/s

Wind

Calm

2.5

UV Index

Extreme

13.9h daylight

July

July is warm with highs of 32°C and lows of 21°C. The driest month with just 0 mm and clear sunny skies.

97 Ideal

Comfort

27°

Feels Like Warm

27°C

Temperature

21° – 32°

51%

Humidity

Humid

Weather

0 mm

Rainfall

2.9 m/s

Wind

Calm

2.5

UV Index

Extreme

13.8h daylight

August

August is the warmest month with highs of 32°C and lows of 21°C. The driest month with just 0 mm and mostly sunny skies.

98 Ideal

Comfort

27°

Feels Like Warm

27°C

Temperature

21° – 32°

53%

Humidity

Humid

Weather

0 mm

Rainfall

3.0 m/s

Wind

Light Breeze

2.3

UV Index

Extreme

13.1h daylight

September

September is warm with highs of 31°C and lows of 20°C. The driest month with just 0 mm and clear sunny skies.

99 Ideal

Comfort

26°

Feels Like Warm

26°C

Temperature

20° – 31°

56%

Humidity

Humid

Weather

0 mm

Rainfall

2.6 m/s

Wind

Calm

1.8

UV Index

Very High

12.2h daylight

October

October is mild with highs of 29°C and lows of 18°C. Almost no rain and clear sunny skies.

97 Ideal

Comfort

23°

Feels Like Mild

23°C

Temperature

18° – 29°

60%

Humidity

Humid

Weather

5 mm

Rainfall

2.4 m/s

Wind

Calm

1.3

UV Index

High

11.3h daylight

November

November is mild with highs of 25°C and lows of 14°C. Almost no rain and mostly sunny skies.

93 Ideal

Comfort

19°

Feels Like Mild

19°C

Temperature

14° – 25°

62%

Humidity

Humid

Weather

8 mm

Rainfall

2.3 m/s

Wind

Calm

0.8

UV Index

Moderate

10.5h daylight

December

December is cool with highs of 20°C and lows of 9°C. Almost no rain and mostly sunny skies.

83 Excellent

Comfort

15°

Feels Like Cool

15°C

Temperature

9° – 20°

64%

Humidity

Humid

Weather

9 mm

Rainfall

2.4 m/s

Wind

Calm

0.6

UV Index

Moderate

10.1h daylight

How to Get to Tanis

By Air

By Train & Bus

Where to Stay in Tanis #

Budget

Tanis (Egypt) is an archaeological site with no modern tourist infrastructure in the immediate area. I need web access to find nearby towns with budget stays.

Mid-Range

There are no hotels at the ancient site itself; nearby Nile Delta towns provide mid-range options. I can look these up online if you wish.

Luxury

Luxury hotels are located in larger Delta cities; I must verify current properties and links online to recommend reliably.