Travelling from Chicago to Barcelona-El Prat Airport (BCN): What you need to know
Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD) is Chicago's main airport. Explore your options for booking a flight from Chicago to Barcelona-El Prat Airport (BCN) jetting off from here.
Jump on a direct Chicago to Barcelona-El Prat Airport flight and you'll be in the air for an average of 8 hours 35 minutes.
The timezone in Barcelona is UTC+1, which is seven hours ahead of Chicago. Barcelona-El Prat Airport is located in Barcelona.
Take your pick of 8 direct flights each week between Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD) and Barcelona-El Prat Airport (BCN). This is the busiest route, with American Airlines offering a 6:40pm departure from ORD to BCN.
To ensure you get on your flight from Chicago to BCN, leave plenty of time to check in and find your gate. Turning up two hours ahead of international departures and an hour before domestic flights is the general rule.
Peak months like July or high seasons such as spring break and Thanksgiving will mean longer lines at check-in and security. Travelling then? Play it safe and get to the terminal even earlier. Arriving two hours before domestic flights and up four hours ahead of international flights is a wise idea.
Airports in Chicago
Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD)
Get to your destination in one go from Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD). Direct flights from Chicago to Barcelona-El Prat Airport (BCN) can be booked from here.
You can lock in a direct flight from Chicago to Barcelona-El Prat Airport with United Airlines. This popular airline operates departures from ORD.
United is the airline most travellers choose for flights from ORD to BCN.
American Airlines is the most punctual carrier operating on this route, with 77.78% of its services arriving as scheduled.
Stopovers are the ideal opportunity to take a travel break and perhaps even visit a new city. When searching for cheap flights from Chicago to BCN departing from Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD), uncheck the 'Direct flights only' box to find all potential stops. Top options include:
London Heathrow Airport (LHR)
Adolfo Suarez Madrid-Barajas Airport (MAD)
Montreal-Trudeau International Airport (YUL)
ORD is around 27 kilometres from central Chicago. If you're ride-sharing, catching a taxi or driving from the centre, it'll take you 30 minutes or so to get there, depending on traffic conditions. If you're planning to take public transport, expect the travel time to be around 45 minutes.
Want a leisurely start to your holiday? Stay near Chicago O'Hare International Airport. Whether you have an early flight from Chicago to Barcelona-El Prat Airport or want to avoid feeling rushed, these hotels are the answer:
Of the flights that depart from Chicago O'Hare International Airport, 70% land on schedule at their destination.
The address for ORD is 10000 West O'Hare.
Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW)
Break up your flight from Chicago to Barcelona-El Prat Airport with a stop so you can stretch your legs or perhaps go somewhere you've never been before. Some popular stopovers between Chicago Midway International Airport and BCN are:
Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport (ATL)
Boston Logan International Airport (BOS)
Philadelphia International Airport (PHL)
Using public transport, you can travel from central Chicago to MDW in around 30 minutes. The airport is roughly 16 kilometres away, and making the journey by car takes approximately 25 minutes.
Catching the earliest flight? Think about checking in to one of these hotels near Chicago Midway International Airport the day before your Chicago to BCN flight:
Chicago Midway International Airport has an on-time performance of 76%. This figure highlights how frequently flights that take off from this airport make it to their destination on time.
MDW is located at 5700 South Cicero.
Chicago Rockford International Airport (RFD)
Whether just for an hour or two or several days, a stopover can make your entire trip feel a little more stress-free. When flying out of Chicago Rockford International Airport (RFD), you can book a plane ticket from Chicago to Barcelona-El Prat Airport (BCN) stopping at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX).
The trip to RFD from the centre of Chicago is around 2 hours by public transport. If you're in a car, it'll take you roughly 1 hour 40 minutes to cover the 145 kilometres or so.
Make catching an early Chicago to Barcelona-El Prat Airport flight one of the easiest parts of your trip. Stay at one of these accommodation options near Chicago Rockford International Airport and get to your gate with time to spare:
Flights that take off from RFD make it to their destination on schedule 71% of the time.
You'll find Chicago Rockford International Airport at 2 Airport Cir.
About Barcelona-El Prat Airport (BCN)
Have a late flight from Chicago to Barcelona-El Prat Airport? Don't let it stretch your travel day into tomorrow. Check in to one of these hotels near BCN and be in snooze mode sooner:
For the best deal, book your ride around four weeks ahead of your Chicago to Barcelona-El Prat Airport flight.
Getting from Barcelona-El Prat Airport (BCN) to central Barcelona
Central Barcelona is around 13 kilometres from Barcelona-El Prat Airport. Journey times by car hire or taxi will vary depending on traffic conditions and time of day, so do some research before you go.
It takes roughly 30 minutes if you're travelling on public transport.
How to find the cheapest flights from Chicago to Barcelona-El Prat Airport (BCN)
$624 is the lowest price for a one-way ticket from Chicago to Barcelona-El Prat Airport. Return flights start at $830. These prices can change based on availability.
Snap up cheap flights from Chicago to BCN by booking four months ahead. Based on our research, that's the ideal time frame for landing a bargain.
The best month for picking up cheap Chicago to Barcelona-El Prat Airport tickets is September. Use the 'Whole month' tool to compare prices, then choose the dates offering the lowest fares.
Locking in a cheap plane ticket from Chicago to BCN is a piece of cake with Price Alerts. Simply set up one of these automatic alerts and we'll get in touch when there's a price drop.
Save money on your flight from Chicago to Barcelona-El Prat Airport by using the search filters. Choose your preferred duration, departure time and airlines, then sort the results by 'Cheapest' for the best deals.
The best time to fly from Chicago to Barcelona-El Prat Airport (BCN)
January is the quietest month for flights from Chicago to Barcelona-El Prat Airport (BCN), while June is the busiest. Work out the best time to go to Barcelona based on whether you want a bustling atmosphere or a more laid-back vibe.
Lock in a Chicago to BCN plane ticket departing in August if you want to explore the city during its warmest month. Expect temperatures in Barcelona to range from 20ºC to 31ºC.
If you want cooler conditions, look for a cheap ticket from Chicago to Barcelona-El Prat Airport in January when temperatures are between 5ºC and 14ºC.
More about Barcelona
After booking your flight from Chicago to Barcelona-El Prat Airport, find a hotel that offers the right mix of comfort and location. Make one of these options your base for exploring Barcelona:
Your Barcelona trip won't be complete without checking out the sights. Major attractions that are worth your time include Sagrada Familia, Museum of the Church of the Sagrada Familia and Park Guell.
Explore more of Spain
Barcelona will leave a lasting impression, but there are so many other parts of Spain you'll want to see. Around 241 kilometres west of Barcelona, a trip to Zaragoza will keep your itinerary packed. Start with attractions like Plaza del Pilar, La Seo del Salvador and Basílica de Nuestra Senora del Pilar.
If there's time to check out another side of Spain, head for Ibiza, about 274 kilometres south of Barcelona. Bossa Beach, Playa de Ses Salines and Eden Ibiza are key highlights.