GoTourist
The white marble façade of Milan Cathedral on Piazza del Duomo

No. 19 Top Landmarks & Attractions 2026

Duomo di Milano

Milan, Italy · City guide: Milan

Milan's vast Gothic cathedral of white marble, crowned by a forest of spires you can walk among.

Open in Maps Apple Maps

Photo: Jakub Hałun, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Overview

The Duomo di Milano is No. 19 in Tripadvisor's Travelers' Choice Best of the Best 2026 ranking of the top attractions in the world. Construction began in 1386 and lasted for centuries: the façade was finished in the early 19th century on Napoleon's orders, and the last details were completed in the 20th century.

Built of pink-veined white marble from Candoglia, the cathedral is decorated with about 3,400 statues and 135 spires. The gilded statue of the Madonnina has stood on the highest spire since 1774. It is the largest church in Italy.

Spires and statues on the roof terraces of Milan Cathedral
Spires and statues on the roof terraces of Milan Cathedral. Photo: Dimitris Kamaras from Athens, Greece, CC BY 2.0, source

Best time to visit

Go early in the morning on a weekday. Late afternoon light is lovely on the terraces. The cathedral is a place of worship, and some areas may be closed during services.

Highlights

  • 1

    Rooftop terraces

    Lifts or stairs lead up to the terraces, where you walk among the spires and pinnacles. On clear days you can see the Alps.

  • 2

    The nave

    Five aisles are divided by massive pillars and lit by tall stained-glass windows.

  • 3

    St Bartholomew Flayed

    Marco d'Agrate's striking 1562 statue shows the martyred saint with his skin draped over his shoulders.

  • 4

    Archaeological area

    Beneath the square are the remains of the baptistery where St Ambrose baptised St Augustine in 387.

  • 5

    Duomo Museum

    In the Palazzo Reale beside the cathedral, it displays original statues, stained glass and models from the cathedral's long construction.

Getting there

The cathedral stands on Piazza del Duomo in the heart of Milan. Duomo station is served by Metro lines M1 and M3. From Malpensa Airport, the Malpensa Express train runs to Milano Cadorna and Milano Centrale. From Linate Airport, Metro line M4 runs into the city.

Practical tips

Tickets
Tickets for the cathedral, the terraces (by lift or stairs), the archaeological area and the museum are sold online and at the ticket office. Buying online saves queuing for tickets; everyone goes through security.
Dress code
Cover your shoulders and knees, and remove hats inside.
Time needed
About an hour inside, plus an hour for the terraces.
Currency
Euro (EUR). Cards, including contactless, are accepted almost everywhere.
Safety
Watch for pickpockets, and for people pressing 'free' bracelets or bird seed on you in the square. The emergency number is 112.
Visa & entry
Italy is in the Schengen Area. Many visitors, including citizens of the US, Canada, the UK and Australia, can stay up to 90 days in any 180-day period without a visa. The EU's Entry/Exit System (EES) now records non-EU travellers' entries and exits at the border, and the ETIAS travel authorisation is due to follow. Check the official EU site travel-europe.europa.eu and your own government's travel advice before you go.

Official information: Duomo di Milano (official website). Check opening hours, prices and entry rules there before you go.

Map

Open in Maps View larger map Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors