History · Milan · Italy
8 historic sites to see in Milan
The places that tell the story of how the city came to be.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: John Picken, CC BY 2.0
Quick answer
Start with Duomo di Milano and its rooftop terraces, The Last Supper and Sforza Castle. Together the 8 picks below take roughly 11–13 hours across 3 areas; 1 is free.
Key facts
- Places in this guide
- 8
- Free entry
- 1
- Time to see them all
- 11–13 hours
- Areas
- Centro Storico, Magenta and Sant'Ambrogio and Brera
Historic sites in Milan
Religious site · Centro Storico
1.Duomo di Milano and its rooftop terraces
The highlight is the walk across its roof terraces among the pinnacles, beneath the gilded Madonnina statue, reached by stairs or lift.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Iconic
- Architecture
- Views
- History
- Photo spot
Gallery · Magenta and Sant'Ambrogio
2.The Last Supper
To protect the fragile painting, visitors enter in small groups for about 15 minutes. The Renaissance church next door, with its tribune attributed to Bramante, is free to visit.
- Time needed
- 15 minutes inside, 45 minutes total
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Iconic
- Art
- History
Castle · Brera
3.Sforza Castle
The star is Michelangelo's unfinished Rondanini Pietà, the last sculpture he worked on, displayed in its own hall. The courtyards are free to walk through on the way to Parco Sempione.
- Time needed
- 1.5–2 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Art
- Kids
- Architecture
Architecture · Centro Storico
4.Teatro alla Scala
Its museum displays costumes, instruments and portraits, and, when there is no rehearsal, lets you look into the red-and-gold auditorium from a box.
- Time needed
- 1 hour for the museum
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- After dark
- Couples
- Rainy day
Gallery · Brera
5.Pinacoteca di Brera
A glass-walled restoration lab lets you watch conservators at work.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Art
- Rainy day
- History
Gallery · Centro Storico
6.Pinacoteca and Biblioteca Ambrosiana
Pages from Leonardo's Codex Atlanticus are shown in rotation.
- Time needed
- 1.5 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Art
- History
- Rainy day
- Off the beaten path
Religious site · Magenta and Sant'Ambrogio
7.Basilica of Sant'Ambrogio
It is one of the oldest and most atmospheric churches in the city.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- History
- Architecture
Museum · Magenta and Sant'Ambrogio
8.Leonardo da Vinci Museum of Science and Technology
Its biggest exhibit is the Enrico Toti submarine, which can be visited on a guided tour.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Kids
- Rainy day
- History
Grouped by area
| Area | Places | Time needed |
|---|---|---|
| Centro Storico | Duomo di Milano and its rooftop terraces, Teatro alla Scala and Pinacoteca and Biblioteca Ambrosiana | 2 hours + 1 hour for the museum + 1.5 hours |
| Magenta and Sant'Ambrogio | The Last Supper, Basilica of Sant'Ambrogio and Leonardo da Vinci Museum of Science and Technology | 15 minutes inside, 45 minutes total + 45 minutes + 2–3 hours |
| Brera | Sforza Castle and Pinacoteca di Brera | 1.5–2 hours + 2 hours |
Booking and timing
Of these 8, 1 free, 2 low cost, 5 mid-priced. Book ahead for Duomo di Milano and its rooftop terraces, The Last Supper and Teatro alla Scala. The longest visit is Leonardo da Vinci Museum of Science and Technology; group the rest by area to save travel time.
- Duomo di Milano and its rooftop terraces: Buy combined cathedral and rooftop tickets online to skip the ticket queue, especially at weekends.
- The Last Supper: Tickets are released in batches and sell out weeks or months ahead; book on the official site as early as possible or join a guided tour.
- Teatro alla Scala: Opera and ballet seats sell out early; book on the official site when the season goes on sale.
How to fit them into 3 half-days
Grouped by area and kept to about four hours each, so you walk more than you ride.
- Half-day 1 (Centro Storico): Duomo di Milano and its rooftop terraces → Teatro alla Scala → Pinacoteca and Biblioteca Ambrosiana, at least 5 hours.
- Half-day 2 (Magenta and Sant'Ambrogio): The Last Supper → Basilica of Sant'Ambrogio → Leonardo da Vinci Museum of Science and Technology, at least 3 hours.
- Half-day 3 (Brera): Sforza Castle → Pinacoteca di Brera, at least 4 hours.
The quietest months for queues
- January: highs of 6°C (43°F), about 6 rainy days, quiet crowds. Cold and often foggy; winter sales fill the shops and museums are quiet.
- August: highs of 29°C (84°F), about 7 rainy days, quiet crowds. Many Milanese leave around Ferragosto, so some shops and restaurants close, but hotel prices fall.
- February: highs of 9°C (48°F), about 6 rainy days, moderate crowds. Cold with sunny spells; Fashion Week raises hotel prices for several days.
The neighbourhoods they are in
- Centro Storico — The Duomo, the Galleria, La Scala and the main shopping streets
- Brera — Cobbled artists' quarter of galleries, boutiques and candlelit restaurants
- Magenta and Sant'Ambrogio — Elegant residential streets around The Last Supper and Sant'Ambrogio
More of Milan
Questions travellers ask
+Where should I start in Milan?
Duomo di Milano and its rooftop terraces. Begun in 1386 and finished only in the 20th century, Milan's cathedral is one of the largest churches in the world, with 135 spires and thousands of statues in pink-veined Candoglia marble.
+Which of these are free in Milan?
Basilica of Sant'Ambrogio.