Looking for a quick getaway from Manchester that won’t break the bank? Well, we compared the budget-flight destinations from Manchester Airport with our exclusive price data to find ten of the cheapest cities to fly to for the perfect cheeky getaway.
Fancy topping up your tan in Spain or perhaps eating your troubles away in Greece? Or even, a romantic French city break – Paris is a touch cliché, but France boasts other charming cities… so what do you have Toulouse?!
No.10 Split
Croatia
Croatia’s second largest city, Split is an overlooked gem on the Dalmatian coast. With exuberant nightlife, a palace that has been named an UNESCO World Heritage site, Roman ruins, and an old town filled with delicious restaurants and unique boutiques, it’s certainly a change of scenery from anything in the UK. The dramatic coastal mountains provide the perfect backdrop to the azure sea and mostly clear blue skies, it’s just asking to be instagrammed. 
The average price of a hotel room in Split: £82 | €97
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Top hotel pick: Vanjaka BnB
Trogir
A bed and breakfast located in a 17th century stone house, the Vanjaka BnB is just a ten-minute drive from Split airport in the town of Trogir. The rooms are bright and airy with features such as exposed stone walls, wooden beams, and bright furniture accents.
One of the great things about this hotel is that it’s very easy to rent a boat; you can take a romantic trip to the nearest beach about ten minutes away, or sail across the bay to central Split. Alternatively, head to Restaurant Vanjaka for a taste of some authentic local cuisine.
Fly to Split with Easyjet from Manchester Airport.
No.9 Toulouse
France
‘The Pink City’ as it is known, Toulouse is famous for its blush brick churches and deep terracotta roof tiles. An ancient settlement, Toulouse has a charming old quarter full of vibrant shops with brightly painted facades and medieval churches. The city is home to many students, hosting one of France’s largest universities, so you’ll find plenty of lively nightlife and a quirky art scene.
The average price of a hotel room in Toulouse: £80 | €95
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Top hotel pick: Nemea Toulouse Constellation
Check into the Nemea for the perfect combination of apartment and hotel in one. The ideal choice for a relaxing break, the hotel boasts a welcoming wellness area with a Hammam, sauna, massage area and fitness centre.
Each of the apartments come fully equipped with a microwave, coffee machine, kettle, fridge, toaster and ceramic hob. The apartments also benefit from the services of a hotel, so you can look forward to fluffy bathroom towels and fresh linen every week, laundry facilities, plus for a small charge, facilities such as dry cleaning, baby sitting and meal delivery.
Fly to Toulouse with Flybe from Manchester Airport.
No. 8 Nantes
France
Brittany’s capital, Nantes, is an artistic city with plenty of spirit, located on the banks of the Loire and centred around a medieval castle. A walking tour of the city will introduce you to a bevy of artistic expression from large painted murals, to elephantine sculptures or the timbered middle aged architecture.
The average price of a hotel room in Nantes: £75 | €89
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Top hotel pick: Seven Urban Suites
Seven Urban Suites is the situated on the Ile de Nantes in walking distance of most of Nantes’ tourist attractions and within easy reach of public transport to the rest of the region. All guests of the suites have access to the Spa, on-site parking and gourmet snacking at the in-house bistro.
The suites are in the apart-hotel model and therefore allow for a relaxing self-catering stay, fully equipped with a kitchenette, ceramic hob, fridge, microwave oven and sink in the 2-room family-sized apartments. There are also normal rooms is you’re looking for the full-on hotel experience, and planning to try the sumptuous local restaurants instead of cooking at home.
Fly to Nantes with Flybe from Manchester Airport.
No. 7 Thessaloniki
Greece
Considered to be the foodie-hub of Greece, Thessaloniki is the place for you if you are craving feta, olives, salads, seafood, and all forms of grilled meat. Thessaloniki is Greece’s second largest city, built on the main-land along the southern coast. A modern metropolis, Thessaloniki is known for its thriving markets, archaeological sites, and great nightlife. Like most second-cities it’s considered to be slightly more upbeat than the capital.
The average price of a hotel room in Thessaloniki: £72 | €85
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Top hotel pick: Capsis Hotel
Stay at the Capsis Hotel which has recently undergone a large renovation project completing its elegant, industrial meets classic aesthetic. Each of the 407 rooms boast a clean minimalist style with all-white walls and bed linen, completed by Scandinavian style furniture and well-lit modern bathrooms.
The hotel features a relaxing gym and spa, where you can enjoy a host of different treatments and massages or simply relax in the sauna. To cool-off, head up to the roof top pool for a splash in the sunshine and feast on healthy meals and snacks provided by the pool-side bar and restaurant.
Fly to Thessaloniki with Thompson Airways, Easyjet and Jet 2 from Manchester Airport.
No. 6 Kos
Greece
Kos is the Greek Island with everything. It has endless sandy beaches, mountainous crags, lush green valleys, and hundreds of ancient Greek relics that are strewn about the island in such frequency that visitors are used to side stepping the ancient stones emerging from wild flower beds.
The average price of a hotel room in Kos: £69 | €82
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Top hotel pick: Apollon Hotel
Check into the Apollon hotel to position yourself between the best of what the island has to offer; beaches and a vibrant city atmosphere. Walk a short distance to the beach or catch the bus a couple of stops to Kos Town for a spot of shopping, and to enjoy the gastric delights of Greek cuisine.
When you’ve finished enjoying the town atmosphere, head back to the hotel to lounge by the large outdoor pool or sip on cool beverage at the pool bar. If you are travelling with a family then the hotel also offers an outdoor playground, children’s pool, and day time activities.
Fly to Kos with Thompson Airways, Monarch Airlines and Jet2 from Manchester Airport.
No. 5 Corfu
Greece
An island of tranquillity with fabulous beaches surrounded by an azure blue Mediterranean Sea, Corfu is the kind of Greek island you dream of escaping to. Spend your days enjoying fresh seafood, inordinate amounts of feta, sunbathing on a white sandy beach and swimming in the sea. Everyone needs at least one of these holidays in their lifetime…
The average price of a hotel room in Corfu: £66 | €78
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Top hotel pick: Divani Corfu Palace
Our top pick hotel is the Divani Corfu Palace, a luxury sea-front hotel with a large outdoor pool and sunbathing area, a delicious restaurant, free parking, and perhaps best of all, the Divani is a pet-friendly hotel so no one gets left behind! The luxurious marble-clad lobby complete with an architect’s floating spiral staircase and plenty of green plants is a cool and welcoming space that sets the tone for understated chic throughout the rest of the hotel.
A deluxe room at the Divani Palace come with a large double bed or two single beds, balcony, fully equipped mini bar, and either a view of the lagoon or the hotel gardens. If you are looking to celebrate – perhaps a special occasion such as a birthday or romantic proposal – then why not upgrade to a Junior Suite for a much larger room with a separate living area and fully furnished balcony?
Fly to Corfu with RyanAir, Jet2 and Easy Jet from Manchester Airport.
No. 4 Alicante
Spain
One of Spain’s central hubs for tourism, Alicante is an attractive and dynamic city with a castle, quaint old town and large waterfront. Famed for its great nightlife, you won’t be shy of a dance-floor or of somewhere to grab a tasty bite to eat – Alicante has everything you need for a girls’ or guys’ weekend away.
Alicante Port | Photo by Jesús Alenda (CC BY 2.0)
The average price of a hotel room in Alicante: £64 | €76
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Top hotel pick: Areca Hotel
A modern 4-star hotel, just two minutes from Alicante Airport and Elche’s beaches, Areca Hotel offers an inviting spa, free Wi-Fi, free parking and a gourmet Mediterranean restaurant, Carabi. The spa includes a lush indoor pool surrounded by water jets, a hot sauna and Turkish bath, plus a fitness suite. As the closest hotel to the Alicante Trade and Exhibition Centre there’s always the chance you can combine business and pleasure on your stay to the Areca Hotel.
The hotel has 72 rooms, including doubles and triples. A standard room is spacious and pleasant with either a double or two single beds, desk, TV, free WiFi, minibar and en-suite bathroom. If you’re feeling fancy, then upgrade to a junior suite and enjoy amenities such as a whirlpool in your bathroom, plus a fluffy bathrobe and slippers.
Fly to Alicante with RyanAir, Jet2, Monarch Airlines, Easy Jet, Thomas Cook and Thomson Airways from Manchester Airport.
No. 3 Sofia
Bulgaria
Sofia is Eastern Europe’s hidden gem, a city tucked away at the foot of the Vitosha mountains and filled with glamorous 18th century buildings, onion-domed orthodox churches, yellow-bricked roads (literally) and warm Bulgarian hospitality.
Whilst in Sofia, take a walking tour of the city to learn more about the history, from Roman remains through to the Soviet Union and how Bulgaria worked hard to protect its Jewish population from the clutches of Hitler. The city is home to vibrant night life and excellent cuisine, with most of the city being in easy walking distance.
The average price of a hotel room in Sofia: £64 | €76
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Top hotel pick: Sofia Hotel Balkan
A fusion of classical design and lavish décor, the Sofia Hotel Balkan is part of the President’s palace complex in the heart of Sofia. Beneath the hotel lies the remains of an ancient Roman fortress, some of which can still be seen surrounding the hotel.
A classic room features a large double bed, impressive high ceilings and plenty of natural light making the room a warm retreat from the bustle of the city outside.
Fly to Sofia with Jet2 from Manchester Airport.
No. 2 Krakow
Poland
Filled with history and legends, Krakow was founded on the defeat of a dragon and the myths surrounding the city are tangible at every turn, with an ancient castle, Europe’s largest market square, soaring churches, and great nightlife.
Of course, there’s always the more solemn side to Krakow’s 20th century history, and if you are interested in learning more, then the well-preserved Jewish quarter and nearby museums are a good starting point.
The average price of a hotel room in Krakow: £59 | €70
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Top hotel pick: Betmanowska
An old-world hotel with modern amenities, the Betmanowska is located in the main square of Krakow, in the heart of the old town. The building dates back to the early 15th century and architectural features such as exposed brick walls, large windows and an 18th century façade add to the charm of the building.
The suites-only hotel hosts a variety of luxury apartments with views over the main square, all equipped with large and comfortable beds, flat screen TV’s, mini-bar and private Jacuzzi for two.
Fly to Krakow with Easyjet and Ryan Air from Manchester Airport.
No. 1 Murcia
Spain
A beautiful town in the South East of Spain and not too far from the Coast, Murcia is a perfect destination for a short weekend away or a full two weeks of relaxation. Considered a country-retreat by Spaniards, Murcia is a haven for hikers, bikers, foodies and sun seekers. In short, there’s not a single reason not to drop everything and give it a try!
Murcia Cathedral | Photo by Ramón Cutanda López (CC BY 2.0)
The average price of a hotel room in Murcia: £56 | €65
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Top hotel pick: Hotel 525
Our top-pick hotel in Murcia is the hotel 525, a chic boutique hotel with rooftop pool and views over the town and down to the sea.
The hotel features a design aesthetic right the way through, boasting a restaurant serving delicious local cuisine, a trendy bar as well as library and conference facilities. To really relax and de-stress, pay a visit to the 525 Spa for a deep-tissue massage or simply relax in the sunshine by the pool.
Fly to Murcia with Ryan Air, and Jet2 from Manchester Airport.
Looking for more European getaway inspiration? Check out our top reasons to head to the Algarve!
*Based on the average hotel price data for November 2015 – November 2016.