Flying from Chicago to Sao Paulo: what you need to know
Chicago is home to two main airports where you can start your adventure. Explore your options for reserving a flight from Chicago to Sao Paulo departing from O'Hare International Airport (ORD) or Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW).
Step off your plane in Sao Paulo at Sao Paulo-Guarulhos International Airport (GRU) or Viracopos Airport (VCP).
Around 10 hours 15 minutes is how long you can expect to be traveling on a direct Chicago to Sao Paulo flight.
Sao Paulo is two hours ahead of Chicago and is in the UTC-3 timezone.
With seven weekly flights between the two airports, O'Hare International Airport (ORD) to Sao Paulo-Guarulhos International Airport (GRU) is the most popular route. Board the first flight from Chicago to Sao Paulo with United Airlines at 18:00. If you prefer to get more out of your day before flying, the latest flight from ORD to GRU is with United Airlines at 21:15.
For a smooth journey, turn up at the airport two hours ahead of international flights and one hour before domestic departures. This will give you enough time to board your Chicago to Sao Paulo flight.
Peak months like August or vacation periods such as Christmas and New Year will mean longer waits at check-in and security. If you're traveling then, play it safe and head to the airport even earlier. Arriving two hours before domestic flights and four hours ahead of international departures is a smart idea.
How to find the cheapest flights from Chicago to Sao Paulo
To score cheap Chicago to Sao Paulo flights, reserve your journey three months ahead of your departure.
June is the best month for landing a fantastic deal on a plane ticket from Chicago to Sao Paulo. If you need to travel during a different time of year, the 'Whole month' tool will give you the lowest prices across every month.
There's no need to search every day to see if prices have dropped when you create a Price Alert. We'll tell you the moment there's a better deal on cheap flights from Chicago to Sao Paulo.
Find an affordable Chicago to Sao Paulo flight with the help of our filters. Select your preferred duration, departure time and airlines, then sort the results by 'Cheapest' for the best deals.
Flying from Chicago
O'Hare International Airport (ORD)
Depart from O'Hare International Airport (ORD) on a nonstop flight from Chicago to Sao Paulo. From ORD, you can fly directly into Sao Paulo-Guarulhos International Airport (GRU).
United Airlines is a well-known carrier that offers direct Chicago to Sao Paulo plane tickets leaving from ORD.
We make it a breeze to find a Chicago to Sao Paulo flight with a stopover. To see your options departing from O'Hare International Airport, deselect 'Direct flights only.' Then, select a flight with a stop long enough to see the sights of your chosen city. Popular stopovers include:
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL)
Miami International Airport (MIA)
John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK)
ORD is around 26 kilometers from central Chicago. If you're driving, ride-sharing or catching a cab from the center, it'll take you 35 minutes or so to get there, depending on the traffic. If you're using public transport, expect the travel time to be around 55 minutes.
Catching an early flight from Chicago to Sao Paulo? Avoid the hassle of rushing to the airport (and catch some extra z's) by choosing one of these stays near O'Hare International Airport:
When it comes to the on-time performance of O'Hare International Airport, 74.85% of flights arrive within the scheduled time frame.
ORD is located at 10000 West O'Hare.
Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW)
Split up your Chicago to Sao Paulo flight with a stop so you can recharge or cross another place off your list. Some popular stopovers between Chicago Midway International Airport and Sao Paulo are:
Miami International Airport (MIA)
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL)
Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW)
With public transport, you can travel from central Chicago to MDW in around 45 minutes. The terminal is roughly 14 kilometers away. Driving will take you about 20 minutes.
It's your vacation, so why not book an extra night away from home? Consider staying at one of these accommodation options near Chicago Midway International Airport the day before your flight from Chicago to Sao Paulo:
Chicago Midway International Airport has an on-time performance rate of 77.88%. This figure gives an insight into how often flights departing from this airport arrive on time.
The street address for MDW is 5700 South Cicero.
Arriving in Sao Paulo
Sao Paulo-Guarulhos International Airport (GRU)
Sao Paulo-Guarulhos International Airport (GRU) to central Sao Paulo takes around 30 minutes by car. The center is roughly 21 kilometers away.
If you're traveling on public transport, expect a journey time of around 1 hour 20 minutes.
If you're coming in on a late flight from Chicago to Sao Paulo, few things beat the convenience of staying close to the terminal. Collect your bags from the carousel and then be showered and resting soon after at one of these accommodation options near GRU:
Grab a Sao Paulo-Guarulhos International Airport rental car and explore Sao Paulo and beyond with your own set of wheels. Foco, Localiza and Movida are top outlets to choose from here.
Lock in the best possible rate by reserving your vehicle from Sao Paulo-Guarulhos International Airport around two weeks before your trip.
Sao Paulo/Congonhas Airport (CGH)
Sao Paulo/Congonhas Airport (CGH) is about 8 kilometers from the center of Sao Paulo. After your flight from Chicago to Sao Paulo, it'll take you approximately 15 minutes to get to the heart of the city in a ride-share or cab.
If you hop on public transport, you'll get to the city center in 35 minutes or so.
After your flight from Chicago to Sao Paulo, tuck yourself in at a hotel near VCP. These are some comfortable options that'll help you get into relaxation mode:
Foco, Localiza and Movida make collecting a Sao Paulo/Congonhas Airport rental car easy and quick. These trusted providers are located around or in the terminal and will have you on your way in a heartbeat.
Snap up a deal by securing your ride from CGH three weeks ahead of time. You'll also have access to a wider selection of vehicles.
Viracopos Airport (VCP)
Hop off your flight from Chicago to Sao Paulo and go directly to your hotel or jump right into exploring. The center of Sao Paulo is around 80 kilometers from Viracopos Airport (VCP) and typically takes 1 hour 15 minutes to reach by car.
The journey will take around 3 hours 25 minutes on public transport.
Take the guesswork out of the next leg of your journey with a Viracopos Airport rental car. Foco, Localiza and Movida are reliable rental providers.
Around four weeks before your flight from Chicago to Sao Paulo is the ideal time to secure your ride from VCP. You're likely to find a better rate or even pick up some early bird discounts.
Best time to go to Sao Paulo
July is the most popular month for flights from Chicago to Sao Paulo. To travel when it's less crowded, visit Sao Paulo in April.
The warmest month in Sao Paulo is February, with temperatures ranging between 18ºC (64ºF) and 28ºC (82ºF). Book your Chicago to Sao Paulo ticket then if you enjoy this type of weather.
July sees average temperatures of between 12ºC (54ºF) and 25ºC (77ºF). Look for cheap flights from Chicago to Sao Paulo around that time if you want to travel in cooler conditions.
More about Sao Paulo
Once you've booked your flight from Chicago to Sao Paulo, find a hotel that keeps you close to what you want to see. Make one of these accommodation options your base for exploring Sao Paulo:
Sao Paulo Museum of Art and Ibirapuera Park are just a couple of the big attractions to add to your Sao Paulo to-do list. Keep the adventure rolling by checking out Paulista Avenue.
Explore more of Brazil
Belo Horizonte is just one of the many places in Brazil waiting to be explored after you've experienced Sao Paulo. Around 499 kilometers to the north-east, check out popular attractions including Abilio Barreto Historical Museum, Matiz Arte Objeto and Deck Vertedouro.
Around 338 kilometers south-west of Sao Paulo, Curitiba is another essential stop in Brazil. Experience major highlights starting with Jardim Botanico de Curitiba, Museu Oscar Niemeyer and Largo da Ordem.
