A process for producing aromatic hydrocarbons in a high yield by introducing a naphtha fraction the cyclopentane content of which is controlled to not more than 1% by weight, or the methylpentane content is controlled to not more than 10% by weight, in a catalytic reaction tower, and contacting with a catalyst comprising a large pore zeolite containing at least one of Group VII metals of the Periodic Table. In this process, the catalyst cycle is greatly lengthened.