Milan Cathedral Tickets and Tours

In Gothic style, the Milan Cathedral is world famous for being one of the largest and most beautiful Catholic basilicas in the world, measuring 157 metres in length and seating more than 40,000 people inside.

Millions of tourists visit Milan's Duomo every year, here are the best ways to do it:

With this guided tour of Milan's Duomo, you will be accompanied by a guide who will explain all the history, secrets and features of the interior and crypt of this imposing cathedral, although please note that it does not include a visit to the rooftop terrace.

You can book online and make sure you don't run out of places to enjoy this experience.

What's included in this tour

La Scala Theatre and the Last Supper

A good option if you don't have much time, but you don't want to miss the Duomo or the rest of the most emblematic buildings and works of Milan, is to book this complete guided tour of the Duomo of Milan, La Scala Theatre and the Last Supper.

You will learn all about the history and architecture of these monuments from an expert guide. What's more, it's very comfortable, as you'll travel from one building to another in a comfortable, air-conditioned vehicle.

What's included in this tour

With the fast-track entrance to the Duomo of Milan, you will have skip-the-line access to the entire Milan Cathedral complex. You'll tour the main sites on your own: the Church of San Gottardo in Corte, the museum, its main hall or nave and its archaeological area, as well as enjoying the best views of the centre of Milan from the roof of the Duomo which, of course, you will have to reach on foot and climb the 463 steps that separate it from the base.

The Fast Track Ticket to the Duomo of Milan includes skip-the-line entry to the entire Duomo complex with walking access to the Duomo roof.

What is included in this tour

If what you are most interested in seeing at the Cathedral is its impressive rooftop, here is your ticket to the rooftop of the Duomo of Milan, which will give you access to the lift that goes most of the way up to the terrace of the cathedral, with 50 steps to climb on foot. Once there, you will be able to contemplate all the details of the architecture, statues, spires and buttresses of the belvedere.

The lift has a capacity of 7 people, so there may be a short wait for large groups. Please note that this experience involves walking up a flight of stairs, so it is not suitable for people with mobility problems or heart conditions.

As well as having a professional guide on hand to narrate in English and Spanish during the 1 hour rooftop tour, headphones will be provided for groups of more than 6 people (there is a maximum of 25 people on this experience).

What's included

The Milan Cathedral is located in Piazza del Duomo, in the centre of Milan. You can reach it on foot, by metro (lines 1 and 3, getting off at the Duomo stop) or by tram (lines 2, 3 and 4, getting off at the Torino or Dogana stops).

Yes, in the Milan Pass City Card. It is a pass valid for 48 hours or for 72 hours with different proposals to choose from. By purchasing this pass, you will have free access to most of the main tourist attractions of the city, including the Duomo and La Scala.

You will also get discounts on other leisure activities, tours and restaurants. You can choose the standard pass with sightseeing bus or the full pass with free access to public transport.

Visiting Milan without visiting the Duomo is like not visiting the city. When we think of Milan we think of fashion, industry and its Duomo. This overwhelming cathedral, the fifth largest in the world, is the monument par excellence of this cosmopolitan city that is Milan.

Its importance is preceded by its arduous construction. It took almost six centuries to build the Duomo, begun in 1386 as a symbol of the political power of the Visconti family. The result of this titanic work in the heart of Milan is a beautiful cathedral that fuses the Lombard Gothic style with the international style.

A spectacular building with a beautiful pinkish-white marble façade, a rooftop that is the best balcony from which to look out over Milan, an interior of remarkable elements and an upper area dotted with a multitude of pinnacles and towers crowned by statues guarding the city.

Façade

At the highest point of the Duomo stands the Madonnina, the statue sculpted in gilded copper by Giuseppe Perego in 1774 and now a symbol of Milan.

Inside

The interior is large and delicate, with a nail from the Cross of Christ, which is taken out every Saturday around 14th September to be admired.

Rooftop

The roof terrace of the Duomo occupies almost the entire roof of the Cathedral and its accessibility offers unparalleled views of Milan and a close-up view of its magnificent pinnacles and sculptures. Access to the terrace is free if you walk up the 463 steps that separate it from the base, or pay if you use the convenient lift.

Baptistery

In the basement of the Duomo there is a whole archaeological area that shows the traces of the two temples that were located there before it and that were destroyed by fire: the Basilica of Santa Tecla, from 836, and the remains of a large baptismal font from the Basilica of St. Ambrose, from the 5th century, in which this saint is said to have baptised St. Augustine in 387.

Crypt

Where the Chapel of St. Charles Borromeo and his remains are located.

If you found this article about the best ways to visit the Duomo in Milan useful, don't miss this other one about Last Supper by Da Vinci in Milan Tickets and Tours to discover one of the historical and artistic jewels of Milan.

If you prefer to have an overview of the city during your trip, the most comfortable option is to travel around it by tourist bus. I tell you all about it in my article on Milan Hop-On Hop-Off Buses. There are also guided tours and excursions that will show you interesting places, anecdotes and unknown stories of the city. I have summarised the best options in this guide about the best places to visit in the city. Milan Tours.