Manchester public transport: tickets, passes and apps

Manchester's network is run under the Bee Network brand, with Metrolink trams, buses and some rail services sharing one fare system. Fares are zoned in rings from the city centre, and the price you pay depends on how many zones you cross. The table below gives the ticket types a visitor is most likely to use.

All prices are 2026 estimates. Check the Bee Network site or app before you travel, because fares and caps change.

The simplest way to pay is contactless. Tap your bank card or phone wallet on the reader when you board a tram or bus, and tap out again on the tram where readers are provided. The system tracks your journeys and applies a daily cap, so you never pay more than the cap for the zones you used. Use the same card or phone for every tap, because each device counts separately towards the cap.

If you prefer an app, the Bee Network app lets you buy tickets and passes in advance and shows live departures. Paper tickets are still sold at some tram stops and on some buses, but cash is not accepted on most services. A 7-day pass can be loaded onto a smart card or bought in the app.

For visitors staying a week or more and riding most days, a 7-day pass usually beats daily capping. For one or two days, capping is simpler and often cheaper.

Metrolink fares are based on four rings around the city centre. Zone 1 covers the central area, including Piccadilly, Victoria, Deansgate and the shopping district. Zone 2 reaches out to places like Salford Quays, Old Trafford and the Etihad Campus. Zones 3 and 4 cover the outer suburbs and the airport.

Most visitor trips stay within zone 1–2. If you are going to the airport, that is a separate higher fare. Check the zone map on the Bee Network site before you buy, because the boundary between zones is not always obvious on the ground.

Manchester Airport is about 14 km south of the city centre. The fastest option is the train to Manchester Piccadilly, which takes about 20 minutes and runs frequently. The tram also serves the airport and takes about 45–50 minutes to the city centre, but it is cheaper and runs later into the evening.

A taxi or rideshare from the airport to the centre takes about 25–35 minutes depending on traffic and costs considerably more than the train or tram. If you are arriving late, check the last tram and train times before you land, because services thin out after midnight.

If you are staying near the airport, see the hotels near Manchester Airport page for options.

Manchester's tram and bus network is compact and easy to use, but a few habits save money and time. Tap out on the tram even when the barrier is open, because the system needs both taps to calculate the right fare. Avoid buying single tickets for every trip; capping or a pass is almost always cheaper.

If you are in the city for a weekend, a day cap is usually enough. If you are staying a week and using the tram daily, price the 7-day pass against the caps you expect to hit. For trips outside Greater Manchester, rail tickets are separate and should be booked in advance, as walk-up fares are high.