To visit Milan Cathedral (the Duomo) and climb to its terraces, buy your ticket at ticket.duomomilano.it: €22 for the cathedral and the terraces on foot, €26 with the lift, or €10 for the cathedral and museum. The terraces, about 50 metres (164 ft) up among the Candoglia marble spires, are open daily from 9 am to 7 pm (last entry 6 pm), and until 8 pm on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays in summer.
The Duomo is the centre of Milan: the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II and La Scala are close by. For the rest of your stay, see our Milan travel guide.
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Milan Duomo: key facts
- Hours: cathedral and terraces daily 9 am–7 pm, last ticket 5:50 pm, last entry 6 pm; from June 5 to September 13, terraces until 8 pm on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays; museum 10 am–7 pm, closed on Wednesdays — checked on 16 October 2026 on ticket.duomomilano.it
- Standard price: Duomo + terraces on foot €22; Duomo + terraces by lift €26; terraces only on foot €16; Duomo + museum €10 — checked on 16 October 2026 on ticket.duomomilano.it
- Booking: online ticket with a date; availability calendar (sold out / available); a virtual queue may appear on the ticket site
- Closing day: none for the cathedral; museum closed on Wednesdays; changes possible during religious services (“notices” section of the site)
- Time needed: from 60 min (terraces or Duomo + museum), from 120 min (Duomo + terraces), according to the ticket office
- Prices recorded on 16 October 2026 and subject to change: check before you go.
Terrace tickets: official vs resellers
The Veneranda Fabbrica del Duomo, which manages the cathedral, sells tickets at ticket.duomomilano.it and publishes a list of “authorized resellers” to check before buying elsewhere.
| Official ticket | Full price | Reduced | Access |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duomo + terraces on foot | €22 | €11 | Cathedral, terraces by the stairs |
| Duomo + terraces by lift | €26 | €13 | Cathedral, lift up, walk down |
| Fast-Track Pass | €32 | €16 | Fast-track to the terraces (lift), cathedral, museum, archaeological area, St Charles crypt |
| Stairs combo + Pinacoteca Ambrosiana | €36 | €24 | Terraces on foot, cathedral, museum, archaeological area, Pinacoteca, Holy Sepulchre crypt |
| Terraces only on foot | €16 | €8 | Terraces |
| Terraces only by lift | €18 | €9 | Terraces |
| Terraces Fast-Track | €28 | €14 | Fast-track to the terraces (lift) |
| Duomo + museum | €10 | €5 | Cathedral and museum |
| Culture Pass | €15 | €7.50 | Cathedral, archaeological area, museum, St Charles crypt |
Stairs or lift? The lift only goes up to the first level: to reach the second level of the terraces and to come back down, the stairs are compulsory. The climb on foot has 251 steps according to the ticket office. For €4 more, the lift mainly spares you the effort of the ascent; it does not remove the steps.
Only the official Fast-Track gives skip-the-line access. A reseller promising “no waiting” is generally selling one of these tickets with a margin: check that it is among the authorized resellers and compare with the prices above.
Opening hours and closures
| Place | Hours | Last ticket / last entry |
|---|---|---|
| Cathedral (Duomo) | Daily 9 am–7 pm | 5:50 pm / 6 pm |
| Terraces | Daily 9 am–7 pm | 5:50 pm / 6 pm |
| Terraces, June 5 to September 13 | Friday, Saturday, Sunday 9 am–8 pm | 6:50 pm / 7 pm |
| Duomo Museum | 10 am–7 pm, closed on Wednesdays | 6 pm |
The cathedral remains a place of worship: services may change access. The ticket office refers to the “Urgent Notices” / change notices section of the Duomo website for schedule changes. On Wednesdays, only the “Duomo” ticket without the museum is offered.
Best time to climb: sunset and weather
The terraces are open-air and in white marble: heat, rain and light all matter. We calculated sunset on the 15th of each month at the Duomo’s coordinates and compared it with the last entry to the terraces (6 pm, or 7 pm on weekends from June 5 to September 13).
| Month | Sunset (15th) | Max temp | Rain | Sunset from the terraces? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 17:05 | 7.3 °C (45 °F) | 36 mm (1.4 in) | ✅ sunset visible from the terraces |
| February | 17:49 | 10.0 °C (50 °F) | 38 mm (1.5 in) | ✅ sunset visible from the terraces |
| March | 18:28 | 15.5 °C (60 °F) | 42 mm (1.7 in) | ⚠️ possible if you enter just before last entry |
| April | 20:08 | 19.3 °C (67 °F) | 58 mm (2.3 in) | ❌ terraces close before sunset |
| May | 20:46 | 23.9 °C (75 °F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) | ❌ terraces close before sunset |
| June | 21:13 | 28.1 °C (83 °F) | 67 mm (2.6 in) | ❌ terraces close before sunset |
| July | 21:09 | 30.7 °C (87 °F) | 44 mm (1.7 in) | ❌ terraces close before sunset |
| August | 20:31 | 29.9 °C (86 °F) | 82 mm (3.2 in) | ❌ terraces close before sunset |
| September | 19:35 | 25.5 °C (78 °F) | 73 mm (2.9 in) | ⚠️ possible if you enter just before last entry (weekend) |
| October | 18:38 | 19.0 °C (66 °F) | 82 mm (3.2 in) | ⚠️ possible if you enter just before last entry |
| November | 16:53 | 12.4 °C (54 °F) | 112 mm (4.4 in) | ✅ sunset visible from the terraces |
| December | 16:40 | 7.4 °C (45 °F) | 46 mm (1.8 in) | ✅ sunset visible from the terraces |
Result: from November to February, the sun sets before the last entry, and a late-afternoon slot lets you see the city and the spires in the evening light. In March and October (and on September weekends), it sets between the last entry and closing: enter at the last moment and stay until the end. From April to August, the terraces close before sunset. November is the wettest month (112 mm, 4.4 in): slippery marble and a hazy view, so keep some flexibility. In July the mean maximum exceeds 30 °C (86 °F): mornings are more pleasant on the terraces, which offer almost no shade.
Suggested route
- The cathedral: naves, stained glass, funerary monuments; the St Charles crypt and the archaeological area (baptistery of St John at the Fonts) with a ticket that includes them.
- The terraces: climb by the stairs or the lift, walk among the spires and statues, with a view of the golden Madonnina crowning the cathedral.
- The Duomo Museum: in the Royal Palace, statues and original works removed from the cathedral (closed on Wednesdays).
- The church of San Gottardo in Corte, on the museum route.
Audio guides and the official app complement the visit.
Getting there
The Duomo is on Piazza del Duomo, in the centre of Milan; the Duomo metro station is under the square (the Duomo accessibility page describes the station lift, at the corner of Via Pellico). The central ticket office, DuomoInfopoint, is at 14/A on the square. Destination de Voyage calculation: the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II is about 190 m (623 ft) and La Scala about 410 m (1,345 ft) as the crow flies (Wikidata coordinates).
Accessibility, dress code and prohibited items
According to the Veneranda Fabbrica: free entry for visitors with disabilities and their companions; a manual wheelchair is lent free of charge at the DuomoInfopoint (Piazza Duomo 14/A) against an ID. The cathedral is reached by two 20 m (66 ft) ramps (maximum slope 8%). The terraces are wheelchair-accessible as far as the first terrace (rear-choir area), every day from 10 am to 5 pm, via the south lift. The Feriale chapel, the baptistery of St Stephen and the St Charles crypt are not easily accessible because of steps — checked on 16 October 2026 on duomomilano.it.
Rules stated on the tickets: shoulders and legs covered and no hats in the cathedral; no suitcases, backpacks (Duomo), motorcycle or bicycle helmets, glass or ceramic objects, knives, tripods, food or drinks; strollers not allowed on the terraces on foot; high heels and drones prohibited on the terraces. Large bags can be left at partner left-luggage points nearby.
Common mistakes (official rules)
- Coming in shorts or a tank top: shoulders and legs must be covered in the cathedral.
- Choosing the lift thinking it avoids all the steps: it only goes to the first level, and you walk down.
- Arriving at 6:15 pm for the terraces: last entry is 6 pm (7 pm on summer weekends).
- Planning the museum on a Wednesday: it is closed.
- Bringing a suitcase or backpack: refused in the cathedral.
- Paying for an unofficial “skip-the-line”: only the official ticket office’s Fast-Track gives priority access.
What to see nearby
Exit through the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II towards La Scala, then continue to the Sforza Castle and Brera: our guide to things to do in Milan offers a two- or three-day plan, including Leonardo da Vinci’s Last Supper, which must be booked well in advance.
History
Construction of the cathedral began in 1386 and was only completed in 1932. As early as 1387, Gian Galeazzo Visconti, lord of Milan, created the Veneranda Fabbrica del Duomo to design and build the monument; its first regulations date from October 16, 1387. More than 630 years later, the same institution still maintains and restores the cathedral.
The initial project called for brick. Visconti chose marble and, on October 24, 1387, entrusted the Fabbrica with the Candoglia quarry, in the Val d’Ossola (Piedmont). The blocks came down by water, along the Toce, Lake Maggiore, the Ticino and the Naviglio Grande, to the Laghetto, a few hundred metres from the building site; transport was by water until 1920. The quarry is still worked today for the maintenance of the Duomo.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to climb the Milan Duomo terraces?
€16 on foot and €18 by lift for the terraces only; €22 (on foot) or €26 (lift) with the cathedral. Full prices recorded on 16 October 2026 on ticket.duomomilano.it.
What are the Milan Duomo opening hours?
Daily 9 am to 7 pm, last entry 6 pm; terraces until 8 pm on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from June 5 to September 13; museum closed on Wednesdays.
How many steps are there to the roof of the Duomo?
251 steps for about 50 metres (164 ft) of height, according to the official ticket office. The lift only goes up to the first level.
What should you wear to visit Milan Cathedral?
Shoulders and legs covered, no hats, to enter the cathedral; high heels are prohibited on the terraces.
Can you see the sunset from the Duomo terraces?
Yes from November to February, when the sun sets before the last entry, and just barely in March and October if you enter at the last slot (Destination de Voyage calculation); from April to August, the terraces close before sunset.
When was Milan Cathedral built?
Construction began in 1386 and the cathedral was only completed in 1932. The Veneranda Fabbrica, created in 1387, is still in charge of its upkeep.
Our sources
- Veneranda Fabbrica del Duomo di Milano: official ticket office ticket.duomomilano.it (ticket categories and pages, opening hours, visiting rules) and duomomilano.it (accessibility, regulations), consulted on 16 October 2026
- NOAA (NCEI): 1991–2020 normals, Milan-Linate, taken from our Milan page
- Calculations: NOAA solar algorithm (Europe/Rome time zone, 2027); as-the-crow-flies distances between Wikidata coordinates
- Veneranda Fabbrica del Duomo (duomomilano.it): pages “La Veneranda Fabbrica del Duomo di Milano” and “La Cava di Candoglia”, consulted on 16 October 2026; Wikipedia (article “Milan Cathedral”) for the start and end dates of construction
- Our methodology
Updated November 2026.