Madrid is 7 hours ahead of Chicago. Madrid uses Central European Time (CET/CEST, UTC+1/+2) while Chicago uses Central Time (CT, UTC-6/-5). When it's 12:00 PM in Madrid, it's 5:00 AM in Chicago.
Both cities observe daylight saving time on similar schedules, so the 7-hour difference remains relatively constant.
Best calling time: 4:00 PM - 11:00 PM Madrid time. This corresponds to 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM in Chicago, covering business hours.
Madrid and Chicago are major cities with business connections in finance, manufacturing, and culture. Chicago has a notable Spanish-speaking community, strengthening cultural ties.