For us, the Duomo is a must-see in Milan, and make sure you don’t miss our favourite part: its rooftop terraces. We loved walking among the spires and sculptures, with stunning views over the city. Being able to walk on the roof of a cathedral is what makes this visit so special.
Choosing your ticket is simple: the cathedral and rooftop terraces are must-sees, while the rest is optional, depending on your interests and how much time you have.
We’ll explain everything you need to plan your visit with ease, so let us show you around!
Recommended time
2 to 3 hours
For the cathedral, rooftop terraces and museum.
Combined ticket
22 €
Adult, with access via the stairs. €26 with lift access.
Don’t miss
The rooftop terraces
To enjoy the views over Milan and see the statues up close.
Be aware
There are steps
The lift takes you to the first level (250 steps up); there are still around a hundred steps to climb.
Our thoughts
For a first visit, combine the cathedral and rooftop terraces. We recommend choosing a guided tour to cover the highlights, or a combined ticket (interior and exterior) to explore the Duomo at your own pace.
Practical information for visiting the cathedral
Piazza del Duomo, 20122 Milan.
Metro: M1 and M3, station: Duomo.
The museum has a separate entrance at no. 12 on the square, in the Royal Palace.
- Cathedral and terraces: daily, 9 am to 7 pm.
- Museum and San Gottardo Church: 10 am to 7 pm, closed on Wednesdays.
- Last admission: 6 pm; areas begin closing at 6.30 pm.
We recommend arriving as soon as it opens at 9 am, with your tickets booked in advance, so you can skip the ticket office and make the most of the early part of the day.
Allow around 2 to 3 hours for the cathedral, terraces and museum, excluding queuing time.
Several ticket options are available (detailed below):
- Cathedral without terrace access: adult ticket €21
- Terraces only: adult ticket €23
- Combined ticket (cathedral, terraces, museum and San Gottardo Church): adult price €22 using the stairs or €27 using the lift.
If you’d like to learn more about the monument, the guided tour below, available in several languages (French, English, Italian, Spanish and German), is also worth considering.
Which ticket should you choose to visit the Duomo?
On our first trip, we chose a combined ticket, as it’s the best option for seeing everything without any hassle, and because we like exploring on our own. It’s what we recommend for a first visit.
When we returned, the guided tour taught us lots of things that we hadn’t discovered the first time. If you have a little time, visit the Duomo Museum and the church of San Gottardo, but they’re not essential.
Here are the three main ticket options. You can choose lift access, an audio guide and priority entry when booking.
Which option should you choose?
The different options at a glance.
Cathedral without rooftop terraces
For a visit focused on the building itself
- Entry to the cathedral
- Rooftop terraces not included
- Museum and other areas depending on the option chosen
Rooftop terraces only
Our choice if you only visit one area
- Walk on the rooftops
- Access by stairs or lift depending on the option chosen
- Cathedral interior not included
Combined ticket
For a comprehensive first visit
- Cathedral and rooftop terraces
- Museum and San Gottardo church
- Audio guide and priority entry depending on the option
A guided tour: our recommendation for a deeper understanding of the Duomo
The guided tour of the cathedral and terraces offers much more than just entry to the monument: the guide explains the history of its construction, the architectural choices and the details of the sculptures and stained-glass windows. We would opt for the 2-hour tour, which includes commentary on the terraces. The 1-hour 30-minute tour leaves you to explore them on your own. You can then visit the museum and San Gottardo independently.
The guided tour does not cost much more than a combined ticket, and we think the extra cost is worthwhile given how much you learn. Especially as lift access and priority entry are included. Make sure you select French, then check the price for your chosen time slot and tour option.
Our tips for planning your visit
We recommend starting with the rooftops, continuing inside the cathedral, then heading to the museum, which has a separate entrance.
For a guided tour, refer to the meeting time and location given on your booking.
The ticket is valid on your chosen day and the following day, with one entry to each area. You can therefore save the museum for the following day, bearing in mind that it is closed on Wednesdays. Keep your ticket until the end: it is also checked on your way out.
What should you wear to visit the cathedral?
To enter the Duomo, wear clothing that covers your shoulders and knees, whether you are a man or a woman. Sleeveless clothing, shorts and miniskirts are not allowed inside. You should also remove your hat in the cathedral.
We recommend packing a scarf or light jacket in your bag, along with a pair of leggings if your outfit leaves your legs uncovered. For the terraces, wear comfortable shoes: the steps and rooftop walkways matter more than the climb alone.
❗ Luggage and large bags are not allowed in the complex. Bags and personal belongings are checked at the entrance, so allow some extra time before your time slot.
What not to miss on your visit
The terraces: our favourite part of the Duomo
On the Duomo terraces, you can admire the sculptures and spires almost at eye level. You can make out details that are difficult to appreciate from the square, then look up across the rooftops of Milan. On a clear day, the mountains appear in the distance. We enjoy this walk among the architectural details just as much as the panoramic views.
The climb on foot involves around 250 steps. The lift saves you this effort as far as the first level, but you still need to climb stairs to reach the upper terrace. On the standard route, you also come down by the stairs: a lift ticket therefore does not give you a step-free route.
For the best light, we recommend visiting towards the end of the day, close to sunset.
Of course, this is also a popular time with other visitors. If you would rather avoid the crowds, aim to arrive at opening time, at 9 am.
With a young child, a baby carrier may be more practical: on the terraces, pushchairs must remain folded and cannot be used.
The terraces may close in bad weather, so avoid leaving them until the last hour of your stay. Another thing to plan for, especially with children: there are no toilets on the rooftops.
Inside the cathedral
Inside, the towering columns, vaults and large stained-glass windows reveal the cathedral’s full scale. After the pale marble of the exterior, the light is completely different: take time to look up and admire the colours of the stained glass.
Allow around 30 to 45 minutes for an initial look around the interior, and longer if you are using an audio guide or want to study the artworks in detail.
At the back of the choir, look out for the statue of Saint Bartholomew Flayed, created by Marco d’Agrate around 1562. What looks like draped fabric over his shoulders represents his own skin: the muscles and nerves are sculpted with astonishing precision. This detail makes much more sense with a guide’s explanation.
If you enjoy architecture, we recommend visiting the cathedral’s interior too: the atmosphere and light are very different from those on the terraces.
The cathedral museum
The Duomo Museum is on the ground floor of the Royal Palace, Piazza del Duomo 12, next to the cathedral. Its appeal lies in the chance to see original works up close that have been removed from the cathedral for protection, some of which were positioned too high up for their details to be appreciated.
Statues, stained glass, tapestries and models complement your visit to the cathedral. We would leave the museum until last, depending on how much time and energy you have left. Allow around 45 minutes to an hour if you would like to explore the collections at a leisurely pace.
The museum and the church of San Gottardo are closed on Wednesdays. On the last Sunday of the month, admission to both is free with a booking, which can be made from the preceding Tuesday. This does not include free entry to the cathedral or the terraces.
Should you include the archaeological area?
The archaeological area is a separate space beneath the cathedral. Here you can see, among other remains, those of the baptistery of San Giovanni alle Fonti and the former basilica of Santa Tecla, which were part of the religious complex in Late Antiquity.
If we were short on time, we would skip this section to spend longer on the terraces and inside the cathedral. If you are interested in Milan’s ancient history, allow around 20 to 30 extra minutes. Admission costs €5 on top of a cathedral ticket, unless your ticket option already includes it. It is not included in the standard Combo ticket.
History of Milan Cathedral
Construction of the Duomo in Milan began in 1386, on the site of earlier churches. The following year, the Veneranda Fabbrica del Duomo was established to oversee the building work. It is still responsible for conserving and restoring the cathedral today.
The Candoglia marble gives the Duomo its pale, pinkish tones. The choice of this material and the Gothic style brought craftspeople from several regions of Europe. Construction continued for centuries: the Madonnina, the golden statue at the top of the main spire, was installed in 1774, while major work to complete the façade took place in the early 19th century.
The Duomo now has more than 3,400 statues, inside and out. Restoration work continues to preserve them and the building, so some sections may be surrounded by scaffolding when you visit.
Why is Milan Cathedral called the Duomo?
In Italian, duomo refers to a city’s main church, usually its cathedral. The word comes from the Latin domus, meaning ‘house’, used here in the sense of the house of God. So its name does not mean that the building has a large dome, even though we commonly call it the ‘Dôme de Milan’ in French.
Where is the Duomo in Milan?
The cathedral stands on Piazza del Duomo, in the heart of the historic centre. The Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II and the Royal Palace are right next door. You can walk to all of them in the same day.
A video glimpse of Milan’s Duomo
For your stay in Milan, we recommend the historic centre or accommodation with good metro connections to the Duomo. Staying near the cathedral puts many of the sights in the centre within walking distance.
We hope you have a wonderful trip! Feel free to leave us a comment or a rating below to let us know whether you are planning this visit. You can also ask us questions here or on Instagram.
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