How to get from Manchester to Paris

How to Travel from Manchester to Paris?

Paris is widely considered to be one of the most romantic cities in Europe and will always be a popular destination with tourists from all over the world. If you're planning a trip from Manchester to Paris, you'll have the option of taking one of two modes of transport. The first option, and generally the most affordable, is to catch a train. There are approximately eight trains a day travelling from Manchester to Paris and your trip will take between 6h 20min and 7h 30min depending on the number of changeovers along the way.

Your second option, and by far the quickest is to take a flight from Manchester Airport to Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris. If you take a direct flight, your travel time will typically be around 1h 30min but flights with single or multiple layovers can take anywhere from 5h 30min to 19h depending on how long the stopovers are.

What is the Cheapest Way To Get from Manchester to Paris?

When looking for the most affordable way to travel between Manchester and Paris, generally a train journey will be cheaper than taking a flight. However, you'll often find good deals through Omio on direct flights from Manchester to Paris operated by Air France that are cheaper than any other journey. When travelling via train to Paris, you can expect to have at least one changeover along the way, sometimes two changes and your trip can take anywhere from 6h 20min to 7h 30min.

If you're trying to save money, remember to book your travel as far in advance as possible. The closer you get to your date of departure, the more expensive you can expect the tickets to be. Another thing to keep in mind is booking with flexible travel dates. You'll often find different deals on different days of the week, with early weekdays typically being a much cheaper option than weekend travel, especially for flights.

What is the Fastest Way to Travel from Manchester to Paris?

The travelling distance between Manchester and Paris is roughly 375 miles (605 km) and your fastest mode of travel is to take a direct flight from Manchester Airport to Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport which will take approximately 1h 30min. If you're travelling via train, your departure point will be Manchester Picadilly station and will arrive at Paris Gare du Nord after one or two changes along the way.

A train ride will generally be around 6h 20min for trips with one changeover and around 7h 30min with two changes. Your starting train will be operated by either Avanti West Coast or Arriva Trains and the last leg of the journey will be operated by Eurostar on one of their high-speed trains to Paris. Direct flights between Manchester and Paris are typically operated by Air France.

Paris Eiffel Tower. Source: Shutterstock

Find the best tickets from Manchester to Paris and book with Omio

Booking through Omio is the optimum way to get the best deals when searching for travel from Manchester to Paris. Omio consolidates results from a variety of websites and companies and displays all of the results on one page with filtering options that allow you to make the most informed choice. You don't have to worry about searching a wide range of sites that aren't in your home language, Omio gives you the opportunity to get all of the information you need in whatever language you choose. They also offer an Omio magazine that provides helpful tips to travellers on how best to travel and their mobile ticket option provides a paperless service that streamlines the process.

Trains from Manchester to Paris

If you're one of those travellers that enjoy the journey more than the destination, a train ride from Manchester to Paris is the perfect way to see the sights along the way. When travelling this route via train, you'll need to head to Manchester Picadilly station an hour before your departure time. There are typically eight or nine trains departing daily starting at 7:15 a.m., with the last train leaving around 12:30 p.m.

The starting leg of your trip will be operated by Avanti West Coast or Arriva Trains, once you reach London St Pancras train station, you'll change trains and board one of the Eurostar high-speed trains to Paris. The last leg of your trip will take around 2h 15min.

Train travel from Manchester to Paris with Avanti West Coast and Eurostar

One of the most popular train companies operating the starting leg of this route is Avanti West Coast, formerly known as Virgin Trains. They offer a variety of long-distance routes between London Euston and several destinations in England, Scotland, and Wales. Their high-speed trains offer efficient service with less time spent on the train and they also come with additional comfort.

The second leg of your journey will be handled by one of the most well-known train operators in the country, Eurostar. Eurostar offers frequent daily travel on their high-speed trains from London St Pancras train station to Paris. Travelling with Eurostar come with a variety of benefits that include no weight limit on the luggage you take on board, no restrictions in terms of food, and they're one of the greenest companies to travel with.

Paris River. Source: Shutterstock

Flights from Manchester to Paris

If you're taking a flight from Manchester to Paris, you'll need to arrive at Manchester Airport two hours before your departure time to have enough time to check in. You'll often find as many as 15 flights between these two destinations on any given day operated by British Airways, Air France, KLM, and more. A direct flight to Paris from Manchester Airport is generally operated by Air France and covers the distance in approximately 1h 30min.

If you're travelling with British Airways, you can expect to have a single layover at London Heathrow International Airport before heading to Paris. Flights with KLM typically have a single stopover at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol before completing the journey. Flights with a layover generally take around 6h 30min.

Flying from Manchester to Paris with Air France

If you're planning on taking a direct flight from Manchester to Paris, your flight will most likely be operated by Air France. Your flights will depart from Manchester Airport and arrive at the global hub for Air France flights, Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport, where Air France serves around 25 French cities and around 168 different locations across 93 countries in the world. A direct flight from Manchester to Paris with Air France will take around 1h 30min.

You'll also find several flights partially operated by Air France as well as KLM. These typically have a single stopover in Amsterdam and have a total travel time of around 7h 30min, depending on how long the layover is. Another operator of these flights is British Airways. They offer flights with a stopover at London Heathrow International Airport and have a travel time close to 5h 30min with their shortest stopover.

To Paris by train/ flight—travel tips

As an art lover, you'll be hard-pressed to find somewhere better than Paris. You can take time out of your schedule to visit the recently renovated Musée d’Orsay and explore timeless pieces created by artists such as Manet, Renoir, or Degas. Interested in a little stroll? Head to Palais-Royal Gardens and marvel at the 17th-century walls while walking through the formal gardens and intricate boutiques.

If you're a fan of art history, you can spend time exploring one of the many museums that include the Louvre or Fondation Louis Vuitton, which is Frank Gehry’s contemporary art museum. Paris is teeming with internationally renowned landmarks that are all worth checking out, including the Eiffel Tower, Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Paris, Arc de Triomphe, and the Palace of Versailles, to name a mere few.

Manchester to Paris Travel Comparison