Short Ski Breaks Flying From Manchester
Want a few days skiing and travelling from Manchester, here's everything you need to know. Where can you fly to from Manchester? Which are the best short break ski resorts to head to? Can I fly to the mountains from Manchester on any day of the week? Is it possible to ski just for the weekend when flying from Manchester?
*Flying to smaller regional airports
The difference between these airports and the larger international airports is generally the frequency of flights. For example, although you can fly into Lyon on any day of the week there are only one or two flights a day so you don't have the choice of flight times you would in the larger airports.
**Flying into Oslo
Availability of flights is not really a problem between Manchester and Oslo. Tuesdays and Saturdays don't have flights on the whole but every other day does.
The one issue is that the leg from Oslo to Manchester tends to be in the mornings, meaning transfers will not get you to the airport in time for the flight. The solution is to spend a night or two in Oslo at the end of your holiday, adding in a city break to your ski trip.
What does this mean for short ski breaks?
Technically you could have a short ski break in any of our featured resorts when flying from Manchester. However, particularly from Austria, it means transfers are longer than if you flew into the smaller regional airports.
Innsbruck and Salzburg only operating at the weekend means you could fly one way to these and the other leg would have to be from Zurich or Munich.
For example, St Anton is just over an hour from Innsbruck but a lengthier 2 hours 25 minutes from Zurich meaning you'll probably have to sacrifice some skiing on at least one travel day (due to the longer transfer).
Or pick a ski resort with a short transfer from Geneva, such as Chamonix, and you could ski on every day of your travel as there are plenty of flights between the two airports.
What are the best short break and ski weekend resorts when flying from Manchester?
Manchester may be the busiest UK airport outside London and have almost daily flights to many airports throughout Europe, however, the frequency of flights to airports close to ski resorts is nowhere near as frequent as when flying from London. This means you may well be restricted somewhat on where you can easily get to and especially whether you can ski on your arrival and departure days.
You could opt for one of the resorts below which are fairly easy to get to with flights from Manchester, otherwise, you could settle for a longer transfer from a major airport like Geneva and right-off your travelling days (no skiing) and pick any resort you like.
For example, Manchester only has Sunday flights into Innsbruck, meaning a short ski break to St Anton when flying from Manchester is a little bit more tricky (St Anton is arguably our most popular short break ski destination). It's still possible if you don't mind the longer transfer from Zurich but there are plenty of other resorts we think you may find far easier when flying from Manchester.
Here are our top picks for skiing from Manchester:
Short transfers from major ski airports:
Engelberg - Switzerland
Best for - snow reliability. Regularly has the deepest snow base in the world, this glacial resort simply does not get the recognition it deserves.
Fly into Zurich - 1 hour 30 minute transfer to resort (private transfer or car hire) or you can take the train in just over 2 hours.
- High snow sure slopes
- Glacial slopes at the summit
- Off-piste playground
- Huge vertical descent from the peak down to town
- The town is built around a Benedictine Monastery
- There's a buzz about town, particularly lively at the weekends
- Ski area - 82km
- Highest point - 3,030m
Chamonix - France
Best for - confident skiers. Known as the birthplace of mountaineering, Chamonix is a lively mountain town with some serious skiing.
Fly into Geneva - 1 hour 10 minute transfer to resort (private and shared transfers or car hire).
- Extensive high altitude off-piste and challenging skiing
- A large town with plenty of dining, shopping and drinking options
- Surrounded by stunning peaks including Mont Blanc
- There is skiing for all levels available across the various ski areas
- To get to the slopes you have to catch a bus, they are regular and included on your lift pass
- Ski area - 115km
- Highest point - 3,840m
Megeve - France
Best for - relaxed skiing and serious style. Packed full of old school charm, Megeve has miles of cruisy slopes, wonderful views and delicious food.
Fly into Geneva - 1 hour 15 minute transfer to resort (private and shared transfers or car hire).
- Tree-lined lower slopes and run open runs above
- 13th century car-free cobbled village
- An open-air ice rink in the village
- Foodie haven with intimate lodges, lively brasseries and plenty of rustic farmhouses
- Folie Douce up on the mountain is for the lively apres, in town is a more laid-back sophisticated affair
- Ski area - 325km
- Highest point - 2,355m
La Clusaz - France
Best for - tree skiing. A sure-fire winner if you're looking for short transfers, a pretty ski village and wonderful tree-lined skiing.
Fly into Geneva - 1 hour transfer to resort (private and shared transfers or car hire).
- Surprisingly bustling year-round town
- Wonderful cobbled village square surrounding the 200-year-old Savoyard church
- French feel, it actually feels like you're skiing in France
- Great slopes for all ski levels
- Becoming a free-riding hot-spot if you like a bit of off-piste skiing
- Ski area - 125km (210km connected by shuttle)
- Highest point - 2,477m
Courmayeur - Italy
Best for - food and long lunches. The sunny side of Mont Blanc, Courmayeur will treat you to some of the best mountain food in the Alps and the skiing pretty good too.
Fly into Geneva - 1 hour 30 minute transfer to resort (private and shared transfers or car hire).
- Glamorous car-free village centre
- Great for confident intermediate skiers (there are slopes for all levels still)
- Food is a huge thing here
- The town is lined with bars, restaurants, cafés and ice cream cars
- The gondola up the mountain is open until midnight so you can have evening meals in the mountain restaurants
- Ski area - 39km
- Highest point - 2,755m
Alpe d'Huez - France
Best for - sunshine skiing and nightlife. The sunshine capital of skiing, with extensive slopes for all ski levels, lively apres and glacial heights.
Fly into Lyon - 2 hour 10 minute transfer to resort (private transfers or car hire).
Fly into Geneva - 3 hour transfers to resort (private transfers or car hire)
- Huge ski area including one of the longest black runs in the world (16km Sarenne)
- Reportedly 300 days of sunshine a year
- Wonderful skiing for all ski levels across the whole area
- Lively resort both on and off the mountain and busy late night venues
- The resort town is a little split up and not the prettiest you will find
- Ski area - 249km
- Highest point - 3,300m
Cortina - Italy
Best for - looking good with a glass of wine. An Italian supermodel of a ski resort with two distinct landscapes either side of the village.
Fly into Venice - 2 hour transfer to resort (private transfers or car hire).
- Stone church dominates the pedestrian piazza
- Extensive shopping and designer boutiques
- Quiet slopes as around 70% of visitors don't actually ski
- 44 mountains huts and restaurants - you're spoiled for choice
- Aperitivo hour style apres - think wine and picky bits rather than huge beers and table dancing
- Ski area - 120km local area with links to the wider 1,200km Dolomiti Superski area
- Highest point - 2,930m
Norefjell - Norway
Best for - spas and slope-side skiing. A resort to get away from city life. Serenely quiet, relax into the award-winning spa halfway up the mountain each evening.
Fly into Oslo - 2 hour transfers to resort (private and shared transfers).
- Wooded slopes and a very friendly ski area
- Largest vertical drop in Norway from the mountain peak to the frozen Lake Kroderen below
- Suitable for beginners and intermediates (plenty of off-piste for the more adventurous) families are particularly well looked after
- Ski in, ski out accommodation
- Award-winning, stunning spa
- Climbing walls and roaring fires
- Ski area - 25km
- Highest point - 1,188m (northernly latitude means you don't need the height of the Alps for good snow
Les Arcs - France
Best for - a huge ski area. The second largest linked ski area in the world with four village hubs each having a very different atmosphere.
Fly into Lyon - 2 hour 20 minute transfer to resort (private transfer or car hire).
Fly into Geneva - 2 hour 45 minute transfer to resort (private and shared transfers or car hire).
- Ideal for intermediate and advanced skiers though beginners are also well catered for
- 70% of pistes above 2,000m
- Arc 1800 is the liveliest village
- Arc 1950 is gets going straight after the lifts close
- Arc 1950 and 2000 are linked by a pedestrian lift so you can easily get between the two
- Ski area - 200km linked with the 225km of La Plagne
- Highest point - 3,226m
Ski break prices when flying from Manchester
All of our website pricing is currently based around London flights, to get accurate prices when flying from Manchester give us a call on 01962 587777 and our ski specialists will be happy to put a quote together for you. Alternatively, you could take a look at our offers and guide pricing pages to get an idea of our prices, swapping the Manchester flights instead of the London flights shouldn't make a huge difference in the holiday cost in most cases.