Lift or stairs?

Where does the Duomo lift go?

To the first level of the terraces, about 31 metres above the square. The central terrace above it is reached only by stairs.

The Fabbrica's rules (article 2.8) say it in three parts: the lift takes you to the first level, the second level is reached exclusively by stairs, and the descent from the terraces is exclusively by stairs. The visit route is one-way.

The first level is a walkway round the whole roof, past the flying buttresses, to the inner side of the facade. From there two steep flights lead to the central terrace, about 1,530 square metres of sloping marble over the main nave, according to the official terraces page. That is where the Great Spire and the gilded Madonnina stand above you.

How many steps are there to the top of the Duomo?

About 250 on foot from the ground. With the lift, a few dozen: operators say 50 to 75 after the lift. The way down is on foot either way.

Side by side:

Counts vary with the source, because the stairs come in stages and people stop counting at different landings. Veditalia tells its guests there are "around 75 stairs in order to reach the top of the Cathedral" after the lift; Wanderinitaly says "nearly 50 steps". Both are right for their route. On foot, guides and travel sites put the full climb at 250 to 256.

Are the Duomo stairs narrow or scary?

Narrow, yes: a single-file marble spiral with walls on both sides. Scary, rarely. The roof itself has high parapets, but the central terrace is a sloping roof with open views.

The staircases are tight enough that two people can't pass, which is why the route runs one-way. The Fabbrica's rules (article 2.3) warn that some areas are steep and slippery and that not every staircase has a handrail. Nobody is rushing you, though: the line stops and starts, and there are landings.

Heights are the bigger question. The walkways are fenced by carved marble balustrades, but the views drop straight to the square. One guest on the audio-app ticket put it plainly in the title of a five-star review: "Stunning but not advisable if you hate heights." She added: "After the rooftop lift you need to ascend stairs to another floor above and then a lot more to get back down [...]". Claustrophobia is less of an issue; the stairs open onto air every few turns.

Which entrance do you use for the Duomo terraces?

The north side, facing the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, for both the lift and the stairs. Fast-track tickets use the far south end of the facade.

The Fabbrica's access update puts the terraces entrance on the north side of the cathedral, on the Galleria side of the square. The stairs start where the nave meets the transept; the lift is further back, towards the apse. Holders of the seasonal Fast-Track tickets use the door at the far south end of the facade, with their own security lane.

Security comes first at every door: a metal detector and an open-bag check. Arrive 15 minutes before your slot. Your booked time is the time you start the climb, and staff can refuse entry more than 30 minutes either side of it. The dress code and security guide lists what you can't take up.

About an hour on the roof with a licensed guide, the lift up and nearly 50 steps to the top. Groups of 20 at most.

★ 4.2 · 1 hour 10 min · from $57

Explore the rooftop terrace tour → Tour details

How long is the queue for the Duomo lift?

From nothing to half an hour. The lift carries seven people at a time, so the line builds from late morning on weekends and in summer.

Both Veditalia and Wanderinitaly warn their guests that the lift holds seven and that there may be a wait for it, even on a guided tour. A pre-booked ticket skips the ticket office, not the lift line. The stairs line moves quicker because it never stops for a car to come back down.

Three ways to shorten it: take the 9 am slot, go on a weekday, or take the stairs and save €4. The late afternoon is calmer too, and on the 2026 late-opening evenings the terraces stayed open to 8 pm; see the 2026 hours post.

Can wheelchair users or people with limited mobility visit the terraces?

Wheelchair users can reach part of the first terrace, the area behind the choir, by the south lift between 10 am and 5 pm, with a companion. The central terrace is stairs only.

The Fabbrica's accessibility page gives the details: daily from 10 am to 5 pm, by the South lift (the North lift if the South one is out of service), limited to the back-choir area of the first terrace. The South lift car measures 77 by 106 cm with a 78 cm door. A companion is required, and both the visitor with a disability and one companion enter free.

None of the guided rooftop tours here is wheelchair accessible: they all use the regular route with stairs to the top. For visitors who walk but tire easily, the lift plus a slow climb works, and the landings give you somewhere to stop. Prams must go up folded.

Lift or stairs with kids, older visitors or bad knees?

The lift, for all three. It cuts the climb to a few dozen steps, though the way down is still on foot.

Going down is often harder on knees than going up, and that part is on stairs for everyone. One guest with a bad knee wrote after a Wanderinitaly tour: "I was extremely concerned about handling the steps and holding a group up, as I have a bad knee. But, I did fine." Another, on the terrace tour: "At 75 I climbed up to the rooftop had to stop for breath at the last about 20 steps but it was an achievement for me."

Children under 12 must be with an adult on the terraces, and under-6s go free. Most children love the roof; the ones who struggle are toddlers who want carrying on a spiral staircase. There are no toilets on the roof or in the cathedral, only in the Duomo Museum, so plan a stop first.

Can you take the lift back down from the Duomo roof?

No. The descent is always on stairs, on a one-way route that brings you back to the square.

This catches out more visitors than anything else on the roof. The lift is up-only, by rule. A guest on the rooftop tour summed it up: "Numerous spiral steps to descend." Take it slowly, keep a hand on the wall where there is no rail, and wear shoes with grip: the marble is polished by centuries of feet.

If going down a long stair is not possible for someone in your group, they should stay on the ground. The cathedral, the museum and the archaeological area are all on the Culture Pass without the roof.

Frequently asked questions