Getting around Manchester

Manchester has a good public transport network that is comprised of buses, trains and trams as well as a bike-sharing system. The most useful services for most visitors to the city include the Metrolink tram network and the two free Metroshuttle bus routes in the city centre.

Bus

Manchester has an extensive bus network with many routes terminating at Piccadilly Gardens bus station. The bus network recently underwent a restructuring and rebranding programme in an attempt to provide a more cohesive transport system with rebranded buses sporting the new Bee Network branding.

Bus fares across Greater Manchester cost £2 and this lets you transfer to other buses within 60 minutes of buying your ticket. There are also a few free bus routes in the city centre and several travel passes are available that make it cheaper to get around Manchester.

The one-day Bee Bus ticket costs £5 and is good for one day of unlimited travel on buses within Manchester. A seven-day Bee Bus ticket costs £10.

There are also two free bus routes that run through Manchester city centre with services every 10 minutes during the day and every half hour in the evening. The two free bus routes (formerly known as Metroshuttle but now simply called the free bus) are the most useful bus routes for most visitors to Manchester as they cover many points of interest in the city centre and there this means that there is no need to worry about buying tickets or passes. Free bus 1 covers the southwestern half of the city centre and free bus 2 covers the northeastern portion of the city centre with both routes stopping at Piccadilly Gardens and outside Manchester Piccadilly railway station.

Train

There are 91 stations on Manchester’s suburban train system, which many people take to the airport or the Peak District.

The Rail Ranger pass costs £8.60 and is good for off-peak travel on all local train services in Greater Manchester.

Tram

The Metrolink tram network provides good coverage in the city centre and extends to some suburbs. It is a useful mode of transport for many travellers with nine stops in the city centre including the main railway stations.

A single ticket, good for two hours, costs £1.40–4.60 depending on how many zones you will travel through and a one-day ticket costs £2.70–7.10 (£1.90–4.90 off-peak).

One-day travel passes

There are several good value travel passes available that give you unlimited travel on buses, trains and trams in the Greater Manchester area. Off-peak passes are valid after 9.30am Mon–Fri and all day on weekends.

Starling Bank Bikes

Manchester has recently launched a new cycle hire scheme, similar to the scheme that has been operating in London since 2010.

Starling Bank Bikes, named after the programme’s sponsor, can be rented from docking stations across Manchester, Salford and Trafford.

They can be hired on a pay-as-you-ride basis with pedal bikes costing 50p to unlock plus 5p per minute and e-bikes costing £1 to unlock and 10p per minute to ride. There is also the option of getting a discount if you pre-pay between £5 and £40 in advance, where it will cost just 5p per minute to ride both standard or e-bikes with no unlock fees for standard bikes. There are also additional fees if you fail to return the bike properly, such as not returning it to the correct spot or not locking it after you have finished using it.

You can use the bikes by downloading the Beryl app and using the app to find your nearest docking station and unlock your bike.