The Top 10 bucket-and-spade destinations you can reach from Manchester Airport this summer

By Tom Barker and Caiden Holland

This summer is set to be the busiest for travel since 2019, with more than five million passengers expected to pass through Manchester Airport on their way to sun, sea and sand over July and August.

If you’re planning to get away this summer, but haven’t yet made up your mind as to where, here are our Top 10 bucket-and-spade destinations within a three-hour flight from Manchester.

Palma De Mallorca

Palma is the largest autonomous city in the Balearic Islands - with beaches on your hotel doorstep and temperatures at 31 degrees this city is the perfect holiday destination for young families. With the variety of designer outlets, historic buildings, and the largest waterpark on the island there’s a lot to keep families entertained. You can fly with TUI, Ryanair, Jet 2, and easyJet with plenty of choice on offer, meaning flight times will not be an issue.

Ibiza

Ibiza is often known as the party island of the Balearics although true due to its vast amount of night clubs and bars it also has amazing climate with temperatures on average reaching 30 degrees and a vast variety of tourist attractions to offer. These range from relaxing on the beaches to paragliding over the fluorescent blue ocean. Jet 2, Ryanair and easyJet all offer you great deals on flights from Manchester Airport.

Alicante

Alicante is a city and municipality in the Valencian Community in Spain. It is the capital of the province of Alicante and a historic Mediterranean port. Home to places such as Benidorm it suits any budget. With its 4 waterparks and a five-mile-long beach and average temperatures reaching 33 degrees finding a place to take the kids is not an issue. With many airlines flying out of Manchester to Alicante every day such as Ryanair, Vueling, Jet 2 easyJet, and Pegasus you have no issue booking flights that suit your calendar.

Barcelona

Barcelona is the capital city of Catalonia, which is a region of Spain. Barcelona is the largest city on the Mediterranean coast. It is home to the world-renowned football club FC Barcelona. Still, even if you are not a football fan there is much more this city has to offer from its beautiful traditional Spanish architecture and unique 31-degree average temperatures. The selection of flights out of Manchester is extensive with Jet 2, Ryanair, Vueling, and easyJet all flying direct to Barcelona.

Faro

Faro is a municipality, the southernmost city and capital of the district of the same name. With its incredibly long beaches, friendly locals and lively nightlife, Faro is one of the best places to get an introduction to Portugal's seaside playground, The Algarve. Whatever time of year you book flights to Faro you can be guaranteed some of the warmest weather in Europe. Average temperatures reach the low thirties throughout the summer months. With once again Ryanair, Jet 2, easyJet, and TUI operating out of Manchester to Faro you are spoilt with choice of flights.

Malaga

The traditional Spanish town of Malaga is located in the South, offering breathtaking views of the Mediterranean Sea. The region is especially known for its Tapas and weather, with average temperatures around 35 degrees. Beaches equipped for family activities, offer a wide variety of water sports, which will ensure the whole family are entertained. So fly to the birthplace of Picasso for Sangria and Tapas from Manchester with Ryanair, Tui and easyJet.

Lisbon

Lisbon is the ideal city break for the family. The city offers an eclectic mix of old and new, with historical landmarks and architecture combined with cafes and bars bustling with life. The beaches of Cascais and Estoril are located nearby which is the ideal place to cool off from the 25-30 degree heat. Travel to the Portuguese capital with TAP Air Portugal, Ryanair and easyJet from Manchester Airport. 

Menorca

Located in the Balearic Islands, Menorca is the perfect family destination. Menorca offers the ideal balance of relaxation and action-packed fun for all the family to get involved in. Menorca has 200 small coves to explore with pristine white sand and turquoise water. In Menorca there is never a reason to rush, so leave your hurries at home and fly to Menorca from Manchester Airport with Jet2, Tui and easyJet.

Pisa

Covid-19 has meant that families have been locked up in their homes for years. What better way to escape than visiting one of Europe’s most famous cities? The Leaning Tower of Pisa has captivated generations and is not one to be missed. Aside from the Leaning Tower, Pisa offers so much more. Beaches are 15-20 minutes away from the city, the closest beach is Marina di Pisa, but, for better experiences, go to the little town of Castiglioncello. So fly to Pisa from Manchester Airport with easyJet, Ryanair and Jet2 and eat as much Gelato as your heart’s content.

Porto

You may not think it, but Porto is home to a rather large Port, one of Europe’s most picturesque too. Porto is located in Northern Portugal and is an idyllic family destination. Porto neighbours the beautiful Douro Valley with its famous vineyards, tours are available starting in Porto. Porto has existed since the 3^rd Century BC and so its history is clear to see. One historical landmark worth viewing is Livraria Lello which inspired the library in Hogwarts. The city also offers outstanding beaches including Praia de Matosinhos, popular with surfers.

Fly to Porto from Manchester Airport with Ryanair and easyJet and indulge yourself in Porto’s fabulous food.

To find out more about the more than 210 destinations you can fly to from Manchester, visit www.manchesterairport.co.uk.