Milan Duomo Rooftop Terraces: Stairs or Lift, Which Ticket, When to Go
A roof without shade, and a lift that stops halfway
- Ticket
- €16 by stairs, €18 by lift
- Coming down
- Always by stairs, even after the lift
- Takes
- at least 1 h on the roof
The difference between the stairs and the lift on the Duomo roof is where the lift stops, and the price is a side issue. It takes you to the first level of the terraces, you climb the rest on foot, and you always walk down. Pick the ticket for your knees and your patience, because the walk among the spires is the same for everyone once you are up.
Which Duomo terrace ticket: stairs, lift or fast track
Start from the roof, because that is what most visitors come for. The terrace tickets cover the roof only: €16 by the stairs and €18 with the lift, so the lift costs a little more and saves the lower part of the climb. A cathedral-only ticket will not carry you up there, and buyers often mistake it for a roof ticket.
Fast track terraces cost €28 and buy you a place ahead of the queue, with the lift going up and the stairs coming down. They do not buy a better view. The combined tickets are a different product, with the cathedral, the roof and the museum on one pass, and the top version adds the archaeological area and the crypt. If the roof is your goal, the plain terrace ticket is enough. On the online ticket you choose the day, and the page shows any time rules before you pay.
A cathedral-only ticket does not take you up to the roof; the combined tickets include the museum and the terrace tickets do not. Prices are for adults.
Official ticket
- By stairs
- €16
- By lift
- €18
- Fast track
- €28
- With cathedral
- from €22
Through a partner
- options with a guide or audio guide
- usually costs more than the official ticket
Up on the roof: spires, the Madonnina and the way down
The lift stops at the first level of the roof, and from there about 80 steps lead to the upper terrace. In all you climb about 250 steps if you go the whole way. The descent is always by stairs, even for those who came up in the lift, so the lift helps tired legs on the way up and does nothing for the way back. Whoever takes the stairs both ways at least knows what to expect.
Up there you walk among 135 spires, close enough to see the marble that came from the Candoglia quarry and reached the city by water along the Naviglio Grande. The Madonnina stands on the highest tower, 108.5 metres up and in place since 1774, and a crossed path with 19 steps leads towards it. The roof is not fully accessible for wheelchairs. From the upper terrace the square and the glass roof of the Galleria spread out below you like a map, and the people on Piazza del Duomo shrink to dots. Plan on at least 1 h up there. Then go down the stairs and come out onto the square again. A tidy order is to buy online, ride to Duomo, pass security, join the line for the stairs or the lift, spend your hour on the roof and finish at the Galleria.
When to go, and what to do about the sun
The roof faces south, and at midday in summer there is no shade at all. So the verdict is to go early or in the last hour, when the stone has not yet heated up or has begun to cool. The terraces are open every day, and the last entry comes just before closing, so a late visit has to start on time. Opening hours: 9 am–7 pm, last entry 6:10 pm.
If the weather turns, the roof can close in heavy rain or during works. That is a reason to keep the day flexible and not to leave the terraces for the last afternoon of your trip. Bring water up with you and a hat in summer, because the roof offers no cover while you walk between the spires.
Before you go in: security, clothing, what to leave behind
Entry runs through a security control, and large rucksacks and luggage are not allowed in. Travel light and leave the big bag at the hotel. Metro lines M1 and M3 both stop at Duomo, and the exit puts you on Piazza del Duomo itself, so there is no walk to plan. From the square the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II is only a few steps away.
- Cover your shoulders and knees for the cathedral, because the rule applies at the door.
- Leave the large rucksack behind, because it will not be admitted.
- Wear comfortable shoes with grip for the stairs.
- Bring water and a hat, as the roof offers no shade at noon.
Where to next
Pinacoteca di Brera Milan: Which Ticket, Booking and Which Rooms First
→One ticket, Raphael at the start and Caravaggio near the end
Lake Como · 39 km
→A cathedral and a funicular in the town itself, then a boat up the lake to Bellagio, Varenna and the villas on the shore, all from one base.
How well does Milan suit you?
→Six questions: a score for this place and others like it.
Nomadinho scores out of 100, the same ones behind “Where to go”.
If you like Milan
Three places with the closest scores, from any country.
Before you go
Short answers to what people ask most before setting out.
Is the lift worth the extra cost?
For the knees, yes. For the view, no. The lift takes you only to the first level, you climb about 80 steps beyond it, and you walk down in any case, so the extra money saves effort on one half of the trip.
Does a cathedral-only ticket also cover the roof?
No. For the terraces you need a terrace ticket or a combined ticket. The cathedral alone ends at ground level, and the table above shows what each of the other tickets includes.
What if the roof is closed because of rain?
The roof can close in heavy rain or during works. Choose a day with a steady forecast and keep a second day free if the roof is why you came to Milan. Short stays suffer most here, so a weekend city break should leave one slot open for the terraces.
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