Banha is a major junction in the rail network that radiates north from Cairo and it has the 6th biggest train station in Egypt.

The north of Benha is the site of one of several ancient cities called Athribis, the capital of the tenth nome (province) of Lower Egypt in about 1500 BC.

Athribis was the center of worship of the black bull and enjoyed the most popularity during the Roman period of rule in Egypt.

About 20 km (12 mi) southwest of Banha is Tall al Yahudiya, the site of Leontopolis, famed for its glazed tiles in ancient times.

Well-irrigated by canals leading off the Delta Barrage, a dam 30 km (19 mi) upstream, the surrounding farmland produces wheat and long-staple cotton.