Airports
Located to the south of Manchester right on the M56 motorway, Manchester International Airport, one of the UK’s most popular, is gateway to the north of England and receives flights from destinations the world over.
 Flights come in from all over Europe including those from major flag carriers as well as with low-cost airlines, while flights also come in from Asian, African, American and Australasian destinations. If you find yourself in London, there are regular flights daily to Manchester with several useful carriers.
 Manchester International Airport comes with three terminals which are conveniently located in the one building and are connected via a moving walkway, Skylink. Domestic and international services are provided by all terminals with the different major airlines operating from specific terminals. Passenger facilities at all terminals are extremely good and include ATMs, currency exchange, duty-free shopping for non-EU passengers, standard shopping, a slew of cafés, restaurants and bars, and all the other usual facilities one gets with a world class airport.
Manchester International Airport is connected to the city by trains, buses and taxis. Trains run several times an hour to Piccadilly Station in the city centre within 20 minutes, while buses run every 30 minutes throughout the day. Three major companies run to the city from the airport - Stagecoach Manchester, Trent, and Arriva North West. National Express coaches provide transport to destinations farther afield. Taxis are also readily available outside all arrival halls and run on the meter.
Public Transport
Manchester has a very good public transport network with trams, buses, trains and taxis all readily available. Trams are fairly limited and a bit of a novelty but ideal for those going to Old Trafford, while buses provide the mainstay of travel within Greater Manchester. Trains are best for travel outside the city and taxis for convenience.
 Manchester has a tram network known as the Metrolink light rail service. It has minimal stops including from Altrincham (south) to Piccadilly Station in the city centre via Stretford and Old Trafford. Other destinations served include Eccles in Salford, Broadway, and Bury. Trams run all week with limited services on Sundays and public holidays.
Buses naturally cover the widest area in Manchester and are the best bet for getting about Greater Manchester versus cost. Several companies provide services starting very early in the morning to late at night as well as night buses. If you are here for an extended stay, weekly passes can be had to save significantly. There are also a number of tourist buses in Manchester, including Blue Badge Tours of Manchester and Northern Tours, both taking in all the key sights and attractions with commentary.
 Trains are only really useful for getting in and out of Manchester or perhaps for travelling within Greater Manchester itself. Dozens of stations cover the main suburbs, towns and villages of Greater Manchester via private operators. The main stations in town are Piccadilly and Victoria.
 On the taxi front, Manchester has black cabs just like London and they can usually be found sitting in taxi ranks on the side of the road in prominent parts of the city centre, such as at the railway stations, on shopping streets and outside major hotels. Taxis are metered and can also be booked by telephone.
 Manchester is a bicycle-friendly city with miles of dedicated bike paths as well as bicycle lanes on the most interesting and busy streets. In addition, Manchester has many miles of canals that have walking and cycling paths.
Getting around Manchester by hire car can be somewhat of a pain due to traffic and parking restrictions, although the fine surroundings make hiring a car a popular option for visitors to Manchester. Cars can be booked online ahead of time and arranged to be picked up at Manchester International Airport or delivered to your hotel.
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