Visit the Rooftop Terraces of Milan Cathedral by Stairs or Lift Pass Tickets

Advance time-slot tickets are strongly recommended for visiting the rooftop terraces of Milan Cathedral (Duomo di Milano) — climb around 250 steps or take a short elevator ride for close-up views of its gargoyles, sculptures, and Gothic spires. Dress for the weather.

Italy has many fine cathedrals and churches worth seeing, but the opportunity to easily reach the rooftop makes Milan Cathedral (Duomo di Milano) particularly interesting to visit. Going up to the roof and terraces gives visitors a rare close-up view of many of the statues, pinnacles, spires, gargoyles, and flying buttresses that adorn the largest Gothic building in Italy. Reserve time slots online in advance — tickets often sell out for rooftop access by stairs or elevator.

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Visit the Rooftop Terraces of Milan Cathedral

Climbing up to the roof of Milan Cathedral is one of the major attractions of visiting the largest Gothic church in Italy. It is around 250 steps to the roof (or pay extra to use the elevator) for jaw-dropping views of Milan and an experience that will be remembered long after the interior is forgotten, or confused with that of another Gothic cathedral.

Milan Cathedral has more than 3,400 statues in total. Visiting the roof allows visitors to see many of them at close range, together with 135 spires, 150 gargoyles, 96 giants, flying buttresses, and architectural details that cannot be appreciated from ground level. (Oscar Wilde already complained in 1875 that the art was too high up to see from the Piazza del Duomo.)

Stairs or Elevator to the Milan Cathedral Rooftop?

Whether to use the stairs or the elevator to the rooftop of Milan Cathedral depends on the need to save money and the level of fitness. The stairs tickets are a few euros cheaper, and other than there being around 250 steps, there is no real challenge to using the stairs. The staircases are not claustrophobic and use a one-way system. It takes only a few minutes and is often far quicker than waiting in the queue for the elevator.

It is important to have a time-slot entrance ticket before getting into the long queues at security — buy online or at the ticket shop to the south of the cathedral.

The elevator is fast and, on especially warm days, less sweat-inducing (but it will still be very warm on the roof). Currently, most visitors are expected to use the stairs to descend. Even when normal service is resumed, many find using the stairs to go down faster than queuing for the lift. 

Visitors emerge from the staircase and the elevator at the lower terrace level of the transept. From here, everyone has to use stairs to reach the higher levels, but this is as simple as walking on a promenade in a park.

Visitors unable to manage these steps can still enjoy the accessible lower terrace, although current accessibility arrangements should be checked before visiting. (Officially, wheelchair access is available only as far as the first terrace, normally using the South Elevator between 10:00 and 17:00.) 

On the Rooftop Terraces of the Duomo di Milano

Once on the roof area, visitors are free to roam and enjoy the forest of pinnacles, flying buttresses, and other Gothic architecture and detailing. In contrast to the Duomo in Florence, where a major attraction is to climb to the top of the cupola, or Siena Cathedral, where visitors see mostly the terraces and church interior from high up, it is possible to actually walk on the roof of the nave of Milan Cathedral. (A similar experience is possible at the equally impressive Seville Cathedral in Spain.) 

The roof of the nave is much flatter than the steeply pointed western facade might suggest. The facade was only added in the early 19th century on Napoleon’s orders. (Assuming that the French would pay for it was an expensive miscalculation.) It is easy to go up to the peak of the roof or simply enjoy the views from the Duomo terraces.

The highest spire of the church is topped by a gilded statue of the Madonna (known as La Madonnina). She was added in 1774, with her head at 108.5 m (354 ft), the official height of the church. The roof itself is around half that height. (Visit the Duomo Museum to see a modern, full-size copy of La Madonnina.)

Views from the Roof of the Duomo di Milano

The views of Milan from the roof are magnificent, with the Alps visible on a clear day. The church roof has no information signs, making a guided tour a good option. 

If traveling solo, eavesdrop a bit on the guides to find the sculpture of Mussolini and the boxers at the back of the western facade. The final details of the church were only completed in 1965, and maintenance work continues permanently.

The imposing Velasca Tower, a mid-20th-century office building resembling a medieval guard tower on steroids, dominates the view to the south. Towards the west is the Castello Sforzesco.

Immediately to the north is the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II — Italy’s oldest shopping mall. Here, posh brands Prada and Tiffany rub shoulders with expensive cafes and fast-food outlets such as Burger King. (There is no need to be sniffy; the McDonald’s on Piazza del Duomo makes surprisingly good cappuccino (even late afternoon if you want) at a fraction of the price of the outdoor cafes while still giving stunning views of the Duomo.) 

Further from the center are more modern skyscrapers. The UniCredit Tower, at 231 meters (758 ft), is the tallest building in Italy (if its spike is included). Milan is very much the business and financial center of Italy.

Visitor Information and Tickets for the Rooftop of Milan Cathedral

Opening hours for the rooftop of Milan Cathedral are daily from 9:00 to 19:00, with later closing on selected summer, weekend, and holiday dates. Last admissions are around an hour earlier. 

Online time-slot reservation tickets are now the norm. However, it is still possible to buy Duomo di Milano tickets onsite from the ticket office to the south of the cathedral, if any are still available for the day. Cathedral tickets are usually available, but rooftop access often sells out a few days in advance.

Milan Cathedral tickets are available for rooftop access only (via stairs or using the lift) or as a combination Duomo Pass, which includes the inside of the cathedral and the Duomo Museum — again as Stairs Pass or Lift Pass. Guided tours often use the elevator and skip-the-line access at busy times. Fast-track passes for using the south elevator are sometimes sold in the high season, but some guided tours with similar benefits are hardly more expensive.

Find the Right Access Gates at Milan Cathedral

The rooftop access doors are well signposted. The stairs entrance is on the northern side (Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II side), where the transept and nave meet. The elevators are at the meeting of the transept and apse (choir). Individual travelers usually use the north elevator and tour groups (and fast-track passes) the south, but it depends on maintenance. Signposting to the various entrances is very clear at street level.

The roof is, of course, totally exposed to the elements, so dress according to the weather. On sunny summer days, the heat is very intense, and shade is very limited for much of the day. In the summer months, the best time to visit is first thing in the morning. When it rains, it’s wet — the roof has no additional roof or shelter.

Keep in mind that modest dress is required if visiting the interior of Milan Cathedral too.

→ See Visiting Milan Cathedral for more on the symbol of Milan and Buying Tickets for Leonardo Da Vinci’s Last Supper on how to secure (preferably cheap) Last Supper tickets to see the most famous artwork in Milan.