Travelling from Chicago to Frankfurt: what you need to know
There are a couple of main airports you can start your journey from in Chicago. Explore your options leaving from O'Hare International Airport (ORD) or Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW) when searching for a flight from Chicago to Frankfurt.
Frankfurt Airport (FRA) and Frankfurt - Hahn Airport (HHN) are Frankfurt's major entry points.
Around 8 hours 25 minutes is how long you can expect to be in the air on a direct Chicago to Frankfurt flight.
Frankfurt's timezone is UTC+1, which makes Frankfurt six hours ahead of Chicago.
The most popular route for flights from Chicago to Frankfurt is from O'Hare International Airport (ORD) to Frankfurt Airport (FRA). You can select from 27 weekly services between these two airports. If you'd like to get going as soon as possible, the earliest flight from ORD to FRA is the 15:05 United Airlines service. If you prefer to leave later in the day, the latest available service is at 23:35 with Lufthansa.
For a stress-free journey, arrive at the airport two hours ahead of international flights and one hour before domestic departures. This will give you plenty of time to board your Chicago to Frankfurt flight.
Travelling during a peak month like August? Popular periods (like Thanksgiving, Christmas/New Year and spring break) can add an hour at check-in and security. Be extra cautious and arrive up to four hours before an international flight and two hours before a domestic departure.
How to find the cheapest flights from Chicago to Frankfurt
To snag cheap Chicago to Frankfurt flights, reserve your trip six months ahead of your departure date.
September is the best month for nabbing an amazing deal on a plane ticket from Chicago to Frankfurt. If you need to travel at a different time of year, the 'Whole month' tool will give you the lowest prices across every month.
Never miss a deal on cheap flights from Chicago to Frankfurt by setting up a Price Alert. You'll receive an email or push notification on the app when a new low fare is offered.
Lock in a cheap Chicago to Frankfurt flight with the help of our filters. Select your ideal duration, departure time and airlines, then sort the results by 'Cheapest' to see the best deals.
Flying from Chicago
O'Hare International Airport (ORD)
You can book a direct flight from Chicago to Frankfurt departing from O'Hare International Airport (ORD). Start your journey at ORD and come in for landing at Frankfurt Airport (FRA).
Lock in your Chicago to Frankfurt plane tickets with Lufthansa. This airline is a top choice for direct flights from ORD.
A stopover is the perfect opportunity to break up your trip — and maybe even explore another city. When browsing Chicago to Frankfurt flights leaving from O'Hare International Airport, deselect the 'Direct flights only' box to see where you can stop along the way. Top options include:
Dublin Airport (DUB)
Leonardo da Vinci-Fiumicino Airport (FCO)
London Heathrow Airport (LHR)
The journey from central Chicago to ORD takes about 55 minutes on public transport. If you drive, ride-share or get a cab, you'll cover the 26 kilometres in 35 minutes or so, depending on traffic.
Searching for a handy hotel near O'Hare International Airport? If you're boarding an early flight from Chicago to Frankfurt, these accommodation options will have you sleeping moments from check-in:
Of all flights departing from O'Hare International Airport, 74.85% arrive on time at their destination.
The address for ORD is 10000 West O'Hare.
Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW)
Break up your Chicago to Frankfurt flight with a stop so you can stretch your legs or tick another place off your list. Top stopovers between Chicago Midway International Airport and Frankfurt are:
Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW)
Logan International Airport (BOS)
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL)
MDW is around 14 kilometres from central Chicago. It takes 20 minutes or so to get to the airport by car from the city centre. Public transport takes roughly 45 minutes.
You're off on holiday, so why not enjoy an extra night away from home? Consider checking in to one of these hotels near Chicago Midway International Airport the day before your flight from Chicago to Frankfurt:
As far as flight punctuality goes, Chicago Midway International Airport has an on-time arrival rate of 77.88%.
The street address for MDW is 5700 South Cicero.
Arriving in Frankfurt
Frankfurt Airport (FRA)
Frankfurt Airport (FRA) is approximately 11 kilometres from the centre of Frankfurt. If you're catching a cab or a ride-share, the drive takes roughly 20 minutes.
It typically takes 35 minutes to get there when travelling by public transport.
The last thing you need is a long journey to your hotel if you're landing late on a flight from Chicago to Frankfurt. Check in to one of these accommodation options near FRA instead:
Grab a Frankfurt Airport rental car and discover Frankfurt and beyond with your own set of wheels. Wheego, Alamo and OK Mobility are well-known companies you can book with here.
Get the best deal by booking your vehicle from Frankfurt Airport about three weeks before your trip.
Frankfurt - Hahn Airport (HHN)
Frankfurt - Hahn Airport (HHN) is about 105 kilometres from the centre of Frankfurt. After your flight from Chicago to Frankfurt, it takes approximately 1 hour 30 minutes to get to the heart of the city in a ride-share or cab.
You can expect the journey to take about 2 hours 40 minutes on public transport.
There are some great places to call home for the night near HHN. Tuck yourself in after your Chicago to Frankfurt flight at any of these perfectly located options:
Flex To Go, Alamo and Keddy By Europcar make collecting a Frankfurt - Hahn Airport rental car quick and easy. These reliable suppliers are located around or in the terminal and will get you on your way in no time.
Secure your first choice, not your last resort. Reserving your ride from HHN four weeks in advance often means better deals and a wider selection of vehicles.
Best time to go to Frankfurt
It's time to pick your travel dates for your flight from Chicago to Frankfurt. April is the most popular month to travel to Frankfurt. If you like a more relaxed vibe, go in January.
The warmest month in Frankfurt is July, with temperatures ranging between 12ºC and 28ºC. Lock in your Chicago to Frankfurt ticket then if that's your idea of comfortable weather.
January sees average temperatures of between -4ºC and 7ºC. Search for cheap flights from Chicago to Frankfurt around that time if you want to travel in cooler conditions.
More about Frankfurt
After booking your flight from Chicago to Frankfurt, choose a hotel that puts you where you want to be. Make one of these options your base for exploring Frankfurt:
All great holidays should include a little sightseeing. Palmengarten, Goethe House and Frankfurt Cathedral are essential stops on your Frankfurt itinerary.
Explore more of Germany
You've done Frankfurt, now it's time to discover other parts of Germany. Journey about 418 kilometres north-east to Berlin to tick off its top attractions. From Brandenburg Gate to Berlin Wall Memorial and East Side Gallery, there's plenty to keep you on the go.
Around 386 kilometres north of Frankfurt, Hamburg is another favourite stop in Germany. Experience major highlights starting with Miniatur Wunderland, Elbphilharmonie Hamburg and Port of Hamburg.
