TL;DR

The Duomo di Milano is THE thing to see in Milan; it’s the city’s most iconic attraction and also my favorite of the bunch. It has an incredibly unique history and is architecturally stunning. Plan to spend at least half the day here to experience everything it has to offer and check out the augmented reality tour, Duomo Time Walk, for a truly unique way to experience the cathedral.

About

History

The Duomo di Milano is Milan’s Cathedral and if there’s one thing in the city you absolutely cannot skip, it’s this. Construction of this incredible church began in 1386 and wasn’t fully completed until 1965 (almost 600 years!). It is the largest church in Italy (St. Peter’s Basilica is bigger but technically the Vatican City is its own country) and believed to be the second largest in Europe and third largest in the world.

What to See

When you exit the metro station onto Piazza del Duomo you’re immediately greeted with a large city square built around the Duomo. The front side of the cathedral is the most iconic sight in the city, with its tall and intricately decorated spires and symmetrical doors and windows. It’s one of the most beautiful and truly unique churches in the world.

While visiting the Duomo you’re able to experience both the interior and exterior of the church. Inside there is tons of great art and architecture to immerse yourself in. Outside, you’re able to walk among the spires on the roof of the cathedral, giving you up close views of the incredible architecture as well as some nice views over the city.

How to Visit

Opening Hours & Tickets

The Duomo is open daily from 9am – 7pm, with last tickets being sold at 6pm and last entry allowed at 6:10pm. Some experiences within the cathedral may have shorter opening hours. Additionally, the adjacent cathedral museum is open 10am – 7pm and closed on Wednesdays.

While there are in-person ticket counters at the cathedral, I’d recommend buying your tickets online ahead of time. There are lots of options for different tickets and they can sell out, so if you want to be sure to have the experience you want to have it’s best to buy ahead of time.

The most basic ticket option is the Duomo + Museum ticket which gives you access only to the inside of the Duomo and the adjacent museum. This ticket costs €10 for adults, and €5 for children aged 5- 18 (children under 5 are free). You can also get the “Culture Pass” for access to the archaeological area for €10 (€5 for children).

If you’d also like to experience the terraces of the Duomo, which I recommend doing, you have two options. There is the Combo Stairs ticket, stairs, which costs €22 for adults and €11 for children and allows you to take the stairs up. Alternatively, there is the Combo Lift ticket, which takes you up by lift (elevator) and costs €26 for adults and €13 for kids. Both of these tickets also include access to the interior of the Duomo and the museum. The stairs are moderately difficult but I expect most able-bodied visitors won’t have much trouble ascending them so I’d recommend most people take this route to save a couple bucks.

For those visiting the terraces via lift, there are fast track tickets to bypass the line to get on the lift. The fast-track ticket to access the terraces via lift is €32 for adults and €16 for children.

Virtual Reality Experiences

In addition to these tickets, the Duomo offers two unique virtual reality experiences. The “Duomo Origin Virtual Reality Experience” is a VR experience inside the Duomo Museum. This experience puts you virtually inside a quarry for Candoglia marble, the material that the cathedral is built with. You’ll be able to virtually participate in the excavation of marble and the sculpting of it. I didn’t have a chance to participate in this experience myself so I can’t judge if it’s worth doing or not, but it sounds interesting. The experience lasts 15 minutes and tickets are free, but a €3 ticket to the museum is added automatically when you sign up. Note that your cathedral ticket is not included and must be purchased separately.

I did have a chance to participate in the other virtual reality experience: Duomo Time Walk. This is a 45 minute tour inside the Duomo that costs €5. Although, when you buy the ticket the site automatically adds a ticket to access the Duomo and Archeological Area for an additional €5.

The Duomo Time Walk is an augmented reality experience where you have glasses and a controller. The glasses superimpose images onto various things inside the cathedral, allowing you to experience it in a totally new way. It is particularly cool in the archaeological area because it shows what the archaeological ruins would’ve looked like at the time of their creation.

This is a relatively new experience at the Duomo and when I visited in July 2023 the people working there clearly didn’t know exactly how it worked. They were very kind and helped us when one of the headsets wasn’t working, although it did take a little while for them to figure out the issue themselves. Overall it was a very fun and completely unique way to experience the cathedral and I expect it will only get better as time goes on. I wouldn’t necessarily call it a must-do experience, but it is definitely worth doing if it’s something that interests you.

To get your headset, you’ll enter the cathedral in the main entrance and then go to the booth in the front of the church near the entrance where they sell audio guides. There, you’ll show them your tickets and give them a form of ID to keep (to make sure you don’t steal the headsets) and then they’ll get you set up and ready to go.

Dress Code

It’s important to note that they are strict about the dress code when visiting this church. For women in particular, if you are showing shoulders or have pants that aren’t long enough they will ask you to purchase a cover up from the gift shop. For both men and women, hats are not allowed to be worn inside. Additionally, you’re not allowed to bring in bulky things such as luggage, but I was allowed to bring in a small backpack.

Transit Info

The Duomo is located in the heart of Milan and is very easy to access via public transportation. The 1 and 3 metro lines go to the Duomo station, which dumps you right outside the cathedral. There are additionally several bus and tram stops nearby that get you within a short walk of the cathedral.

TL;DR

Possibly the oldest church in the city, this Basilica is most notable for being the final burial site for several christian martyrs. The hours are somewhat limited so make sure to account for that when you plan your visit.

About

History

The Basilica of Saint Ambrose is one of oldest churches in the city of Milan, having been built in the year 379. Its current Romanesque look is the result of a 12th century reconstruction. It is believed to be built on the burial site of several christian martyrs at the request of Saint Ambrose.

What to See

While the exterior of the church is interesting, the real attraction here is the interior of the church. The most interesting things to see inside are two skeletons believed to be the remains of the martyrs the church was built to commemorate. Additionally there are several displays with information on the history of the church as well as interesting art and architecture.

How to Visit

Opening Hours & Tickets

The church is open to visitors between 10am – 12pm and 2:30pm – 6pm daily except Sundays. On Sundays it is open to visit between 3pm – 5pm, provided there are no liturgies in progress. To check for closures, visit the basilica’s website.

This church is free for all visitors, you’re welcome to just walk in as long as it is during the visiting hours. There is a €1 fee to enter the Shrine of San Vittore. If you wish to see this make sure to bring the necessary coins, as this fee must be paid on site.

Guided Tours

There are occasionally guided tours available to reserve, although the information online is inconsistent as to when they happen. The basilica’s own website says that they are every Sunday at 3:30pm, but the official ticket website only shows availability for Saturdays and Sundays (alternating weekly) at 3:30pm. The price for tours is €10. I didn’t have a chance to take this tour, but if you’re particularly interested in the history of these kinds of places I’d definitely check out the ticket website ahead of your visit as it sounds like a cool experience.

Transit Info

The Basilica di Sant’Ambrogio is slightly outside the central area of Milan, but is still easy to access. The S. Ambrogio metro station on the 2 metro line is just a 3 minute walk from the church. There are also a couple of bus stops nearby. It is roughly a mile walk from the Duomo which is roughly the center of the city.

TL;DR

Another extraordinarily old church, this Basilica is best known for its well-preserved Byzantine mosaics. As with the Basilica di Sant’Ambrogio this church closes for a few hours during the middle of the day so be sure to account for that in your plans.

About

History

Along with Basilica di Sant’ Ambrogio, Basilica di San Lorenzo is one of the oldest churches in the city. This church was built between the late fourth and early fifth century. The circumstances of its creation are uncertain and there are multiple theories surrounding the origins of the church.

What to See

The inside of this church is decorated with marble and impressive mosaics, including a set of fourth century Byzantine mosaics located in the Chapel of Saint Aquilino. Along the walls of the church are a set of informational posters that take you through the extensive history of the church. This helps put in perspective just how ancient this church is and gives you a great appreciation for the history of the place you are standing.

Additionally, you can take a set of steps beneath the floors of the church to get a look at the original foundations of the structure. If you’re by yourself, be aware that it is a little bit dark down there and I found it slightly creepy, but it was cool to look at!

How to Visit

Opening Hours & Tickets

The church is open to visitors on weekdays between 8am – 12:30pm and 3pm – 6:30pm. On weekends you can visit between 9am – 1pm and 3pm – 7pm.

It is free to enter the church but there is a €2 fee to enter the Chapel of Saint Aquilino, which must be paid in cash at the entrance of the chapel. I recommend visiting this chapel while you’re here because it houses the oldest and most interesting set of mosaics in the church.

Transit Info

Basilica di San Lorenzo is located just a short 5 minute walk from the Vetra station on the M4 metro line. It is also roughly a 10 minute walk from the S. Ambrogio (2) and Missori (1) stations, and there are several tram stops nearby.

TL;DR

One of Milan’s most iconic sites, this shopping gallery is architecturally stunning and home to an assortment of top-end brands. Even if the shopping is out of your price range this is still a fun place to visit and a great place to take some photos.

About

History

The Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II is the oldest active shopping gallery in Italy and is considered a major landmark of the city. The gallery is housed in a four story double arcade in the center of the city and is named after Victor Emmanuel II, the first King of Italy. It was designed in 1861 and built between 1865 and 1877.

What to See

The shopping plaza contains lots of high-end brands such as Prada, Gucci, and Louis Vuitton as well as a collection of highly decorated restaurants and high-end boutiques. Unless you’re a real fashionista I wouldn’t recommend shopping here, however it is a great place to visit, take photos, and experience the glamorous atmosphere. The architecture is truly stunning.

How to Visit

Opening Hours

The gallery is open-air, albeit with a roof, so you can enter at any time of day. That being said, just because you can walk through doesn’t mean the shops will be open so if you want to shop somewhere in particular make sure to check the hours beforehand.

Transit Info

Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II is located on the Piazza del Duomo, adjacent to the Duomo itself. This makes it easily accessible via metro as you can just get off at the Duomo station on the 1 and 3 metro lines and you’ll be right by the entrance.

TL;DR

Navigli is a beautiful neighborhood centered around a canal with bars and restaurants that provide an upbeat atmosphere. Come here at sunrise or sunset to get beautiful photos.

About

What is It

Navigli isn’t a singular attraction, but rather a fun neighborhood outside the city center that is worth a visit. The highlight of the Navigli neighborhood is the canal that runs through the center of it, giving the neighborhood a slightly Venetian feel.

What to See

This neighborhood is a beautiful place to walk around and take photos and is particularly beautiful at sunset. It is also known for its nightlife and the streets along the canal are lined with bars and restaurants that are buzzing with energy.

How to Visit

When to Go

Navigli can be visited anytime of day at no cost. I’d highly recommend visiting at sunrise or sunset for the best photo opportunities as the lighting over the canal is particularly great for photos.

Transit Info

The neighborhood is located in the southeastern section of the city. It is adjacent to the P.TA Genova metro station which is on the 2 metro line. There are also tram and bus stations at either end of the main strip of the neighborhood.

TL;DR

Come to this church to see one of the best ossuaries in Europe. There is a whole chapel built out of bone that is completely free to visit and it is one of the coolest sites to see in Milan!

About

History

San Bernardino alle Ossa is a historic church best known for the ossuary located in a small side chapel which is adorned with human skulls and bones. The church was destroyed by fire in 1712 but was rebuilt and dedicated to the Saint Bernardino of Siena; the reconstruction was completed in 1776.

The ossuary was first created in 1210 because the adjacent cemetery ran out of space so a room was built to house the bones. Originally it was a separate structure but in 1269 the church and room were connected. This ossuary is believed to be the inspiration for the Chapel of Bones in Evora, Portugal. The bones likely came from patients who died at a nearby hospital.

What to See

The interior of the main church is worth a quick look around, but the ossuary is the must-see feature of this church. The walls are covered top to bottom with stacks of bones and skulls, and additional bone decorations adorn the structure. It is truly a unique place to visit and you don’t want to miss it.

How to Visit

Opening Hours & Tickets

The church is open to visitors on weekdays from 8am – 6pm, Saturdays from 9:30am – 6pm, and Sundays 9:30am – 12pm. The church and ossuary are both completely free to enter.

Transit Info

San Bernardino alle Ossa is located less than 10 minutes walking from the Duomo, making it easy to access from the Duomo metro station on the 1 and 3 metro lines. There are bus and tram stops near the church that can get you closer to the metro station. Since it’s so close to the Duomo, I recommend visiting them on the same day and just walking from one to the other.

TL;DR

This castle is built on the remains of historic fortifications and is now home to a large museum with an extensive collection of art and artifacts.

About

History

The Sforzesco Castle is a 15th century castle built by the Duke of Milan, Francesco Sforza. It was built on top of the remains of some 14th century fortifications and was later renovated and enlarged. During the 16th and 17th centuries it was one of the largest citadels in Europe. Its most recent major renovation came between 1891 and 1905, giving the complex its current form.

What to See

Today the castle houses a collection of museums and art exhibits that you can spend hours exploring. Additionally, the grounds themselves are beautiful and a great place for photos. Behind the castle is Parco Sempione, a public park that is supposed to be great for walking around and relaxing. Unfortunately, when I visited, the park was closed due to recent storms.

How to Visit

Opening Hours & Tickets

The grounds of the castle are open daily from 7am – 7:30pm. The museums are closed on Mondays but open the rest of the week from 10am – 5:30pm.

You can visit the castle grounds for free with no ticket, but you do need a ticket to visit the museums inside. These tickets can be bought in person or online for €5, or €3 for visitors aged 18-25 or 65+. There is free entry for people under the age of 18. I’d recommend buying your tickets online as you’ll be able to skip the ticket line once you get there.

If you’re a person who really enjoys visiting museums this is a definite must-do as there are a lot of exhibits and a great variety of things to see and learn about. Even if museums aren’t really your thing, it’s so cheap that you get your money’s worth even if you only spend an hour here.

Tips

According to the website, you can buy audio guides for €5. These must be bought in person and I’m not sure if those with an online ticket can skip the normal line to buy an audio guide. If I were to go back I’d probably buy the audio guide as I was getting tired of reading everything by the end of my visit.

Also important to note is that all the descriptions next to the contents of the museums are in Italian. If you don’t speak Italian, there are laminated sheets of paper with translations on them left on podiums in each room of the museum. They’re not always immediately visible so make sure to look out for them if you don’t want to spend the whole visit translating things on your phone.

Transit Info

The Sforzesco Castle is located on the northern end of the central part of the city. It’s a quick walk from both the Lanza (2) and Cairoli (1) metro stations. There are also tram and bus stops nearby.

TL;DR

This cemetery is home to some of the most beautiful tombs and gravestones I’ve ever seen. It’s a great place to walk around and its website gives you more information about some of the most notable graves.

About

History

The Monumental Cemetery is one of the largest cemeteries in the city and is particularly notable for the abundance of artistic tombs and monuments. It opened in 1866 and was built to consolidate a number of smaller cemeteries that were scattered around the city.

What to See

When visiting the cemetery you will be surrounded by a variety of unique graves and tombs that are great works of art and architecture. Many of the most significant or interesting graves have more information available on the cemetery’s website, which can give you insight into the art and history of that particular tomb.

How to Visit

Opening Hours

The Monumental Cemetery is open daily except Mondays from 8am – 5:30pm. It is free to visit and open to the public so no tickets are needed.

Transit Info

This cemetery is located in the northern part of the city and actually has its own metro stop. The Monumentale station is on the 5 metro line and is right outside the entrance of the cemetery. The Garibaldi FS station, which is on the 2 and 5 metro lines is also a quick walk from the main entrance.