What to see at Piazza Duomo
Six stops within a few minutes' walk of each other: from the Cathedral to the Galleria, via two museums few visitors bother with.
Milan Cathedral
Construction began in 1386 and wasn't finished until the 19th century: Italy's largest Gothic cathedral, with 135 spires, over 3,400 statues and the gilded Madonnina on top. The five-nave interior holds 15th-century stained glass and the treasury in the crypt of San Carlo Borromeo. Admission is paid, with free access the first Sunday of the month during certain hours (check locally).
Duomo Rooftop Terraces
Climb among the spires on foot (250 steps) or by lift. On clear days the view from up here reaches the Alps and the Apennines. This is where the line grows longest on the square: a ticket with a reserved time slot avoids it almost entirely.
Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II
Connects Piazza Duomo to Piazza della Scala under an 1877 iron-and-glass dome. Home to historic boutiques and the Camparino in Galleria. Under the central octagon, the bull mosaic: spinning three times on your heel over it is said to bring good luck.
Duomo Museum
A short walk from the cathedral, inside the Royal Palace: it houses statues, Flemish tapestries and the original stained-glass windows removed during restorations. Far less crowded than the Cathedral itself, and useful for understanding eight centuries of construction.
Royal Palace (Palazzo Reale)
Once the seat of Habsburg and then municipal government, today it hosts international-level temporary exhibitions of modern and contemporary art. The programme changes often, so it's worth checking what's on before you go.
Teatro alla Scala
A 5-minute walk from the square, towards Via Manzoni. The Teatro alla Scala Museum can be visited even without a ticket for a performance, with views of the hall from the boxes.
Want to skip the lines?
The Cathedral and Terraces can be booked with a reserved time slot: the difference is most noticeable between April and October.
See tickets and experiencesCurrent exhibitions at the Royal Palace
The exhibition programme changes every few months, with modern and contemporary art retrospectives steps from the Duomo.
See the current exhibitionDesign Week, Fashion Week, Christmas Markets
Milan's calendar is marked by major events: Salone del Mobile and Design Week in April, Fashion Week in February and September, Christmas markets in December.
See what's onNavigli aperitivo and evening tours
An aperitivo along the Navigli canals or an evening tour of the centre is the most natural way to close out a day of sightseeing.
See evening experiencesRun a business in Milan?
Restaurants, tour operators, shops: if you'd like to be featured in this section or in "What to See", get in touch.
Spazio riservato agli operatori locali del territorio.