Best Weekend Breaks from Manchester
Our favourite European weekend escapes from Manchester Airport, with flight times, best months and where to stay.
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Manchester Airport has one of the broadest European route networks outside London, which makes it a superb starting point for a long weekend away. We have picked destinations that combine reasonable flight times, straightforward airport transfers and enough to do to fill two or three days.
Barcelona — for beaches and Gaudí
At around two hours twenty minutes, Barcelona is one of the easiest Mediterranean cities to reach from Manchester. Spend a morning at the Sagrada Família, an afternoon in the Gothic Quarter and an evening at the beach.
Lisbon — for viewpoints and pastéis de nata
Lisbon’s airport is unusually close to the city, so even a Friday-evening arrival leaves time for dinner in Alfama. It is also one of the better-value Western European capitals for food.
Rome — for history and pasta
Rome deserves at least three days, but a long weekend can still cover the Colosseum, Vatican and an evening in Trastevere if you book timed tickets in advance.
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FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Amsterdam and Dublin are among the shortest European flights, at around an hour or slightly more.
