(08 Apr 2016, 1:00 pm)James101 wrote Deffo stick within the tfgm area. Compare them to nexus with providing clear bus stop information and many great interchange points across the city. Within the city centre a general rule is anything from Piccadilly Gardens heads south, anything from Shudehill heads west, and the on street stops along the far side of Piccadilly by Nandos, Zizzi and Travelodge head North or East.
If you got a bus/train/tram System One it's a tad more expensive at £8.70 but having the option of the train to quickly zip between urban areas to catch up with something interesting bus wise. A sample could be:
Any Train Piccadilly Train Station - Stockport Frequent service on the WCML takes 10 mins to get to Stockport. VTWC, XC, Northern, Arriva and East Mids all operate.
X5 Stockport - Trafford Centre Bus Station right by train station. Interesting as route goes via M60 and often throughs up an ex Bluebird Solo from Stagecoach. Stockport Bus station good for photos with viaduct in background.
126 Trafford Centre - Leigh Bus Sation Interesting as operated by Diamond North West and route is another mix of urban and motorway.
V1 Leigh Bus Station - Manchester Piccadilly Try the infamous busway! Recommend hopping off at the shared V1/V2 stops for photos of the Streetdecks coming over the hilly route.
Obviously from the city theres's loads of options according the what interests you - I could help with any specifics, I like the following:
135 Manchester Piccadilly - Heaton Park Operated by First using Scania bendies. I appreciate getting off at Heaton Park which is not a major interchange may be daunting but the bus stop is at the very visible tram stop and 99% of the time I'd say there's someone else getting off.
90 Heaton Park - Prestwich High Street Chance to ride something by Rosso to the upmarket and busy area of Prestwich. The High Street is the the main stop so easy to know where to get off
X43 Prestwich High Street - Manchester Chorlton Street Theres many options to get to the city from this stop every few minutes but it may be of interest to catch the Transdev Witch Way into town.
Back in the City Centre it may be a safe bat to bash the hyper-frequent routes for photos. Could include:
41/42/43/142/143/147 Piccadilly - University Every few seconds(!) the 147 from Bullocks runs from the train station rather than the main Picc Gardens.
Metroshuttle 1/2/3 Piccadilly - Piccadilly shuttles Every few minutes in loops around the city centre, all have on board route maps to see if it's useful to hop-off if stuck in traffic.
10/50/36/37 Manchester - Salford Centres Options of Arriva, Stagecoach and First. Depart from different places in Manchester but all stop at Salford Shopping Centre. Maybe don't wander from the bus stops in Salford!
85/86 Manchester Piccadilly - Chortlon One of many routes now to host 'standard stagecoach' spec MMC 400s. Benefit of 85/86 is they're not too long end-to-end and terminate in bus stations either end.
Just to add - the tram network is ideal for getting out and about too.
Mind the lack of ticket machines at stations is a pain.
There is also the Transdev stuff from outside the coach station just beyond Piccadilly on Chorlton St.