Castello Sforzesco
Castello Sforzesco
4.5
9:00 AM - 5:30 PM
Tuesday
9:00 AM - 5:30 PM
Wednesday
9:00 AM - 5:30 PM
Thursday
9:00 AM - 5:30 PM
Friday
9:00 AM - 5:30 PM
Saturday
9:00 AM - 5:30 PM
Sunday
9:00 AM - 5:30 PM
About
Duration: 2-3 hours
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The area

Address
Neighborhood: Centro Storico
The pulsating core of Milan is in Centro. Duomo Square is enclosed by the gothic cathedral, the historic icon of Milan. However, shopping is what draws most crowds to this area. The classy and versatile Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II with luxury boutiques and high quality restaurants will turn any shopping or lunch expedition into a royal experience. Head to the rooftop of the flagship La Rinascente to enjoy the view of the animated square with a panorama of the Duomo. The Corso Vittorio Emanuele II is the street for high-end shopping. Brands of all kinds and street artists attract the attention of all visitors; while at Via Santa Radegonda 16, Luini Panzerotti is a much appreciated street food shop providing unimaginable culinary experiences. If shopping takes its toll on you, consider visiting Castello Sforzesco, a 15th century castle housing several museums. Those looking to relax can go to Parco Sempione, where nature provides respite from the energy of this dynamic and international city.
How to get there
  • Lanza • 4 min walk
  • Cadorna • 4 min walk
Reach out directly

See what travelers are saying

  • IrishTraveller0
    Dublin, Ireland156 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Good value, lots to see
    Good value at €5, loads to see and lots of variety. Easy access from carioli metro. It is a one way system and extensive so can be a long trip around depending on interests. Free lockers in basement. Small cafe.
    Visited November 2023
    Traveled with friends
    Written November 2, 2023
  • Discover54148577865
    27 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Lack of English.
    A lovely castle with some great history - I think. It’s been laid out as a museum and there are lots of galleries with artefacts and pictures. Unfortunately for the non Italian visitors there is very little information in English. All the other sites we visited in Milan had duel language information but there was very little here.
    Visited October 2023
    Traveled as a couple
    Written November 3, 2023
  • rajkk
    New Delhi, India271 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Nice place to visit.
    We unfortunately did not have much time, nonetheless it is a worthwhile place to walk around and take in the views of an imposing and impressive structure. There are quite a few museums to see if one spends time here. Great place to take photographs. Has a nice little shop to buy souvenirs for back home. If in Milan, deserves one visit at least.
    Visited January 2024
    Traveled as a couple
    Written January 11, 2024
  • Alice
    Atherton, California5 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Amazing open fortress.
    Very cool place to walk around. It is right in the city center. Sforzesco Castle makes an amazing impression. It looks majestic from outside. A really big piece of history. Absolutely beautiful architecture, was filled with lots of historical artifacts and artwork.
    Visited December 2023
    Traveled as a couple
    Written January 17, 2024
  • lousally
    104 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Must See Place but go first ...
    This is a must see place. It's huge and very impressive. Allow plenty of time. The gardens are actually just a park, but the arch is very impressive. Our only bugbear (and this applied to many of the attractions we went to) was the acute shortage of toilets! Having asked, I was directed outside, "down there, through the arch", then had to ask again "across the courtyard and you'll see a door", did all that (good 5 mins) and had to ask a third time and was directed to a little wooden door in the corner of a huge courtyard which had no signposts and was a semi-outdoor toilet. Big queue (of course), no loo paper, no hand towels, dryer didn't work. Come on Italy, for goodness sake sort this out. UK leaves you standing here, we'd have toilets on every floor (inside) at an attraction like this. Goodness knows what it's like in the summer months. Thousands of visitors and this is all you can offer in terms of toilet facilities. Sort it out please!
    Visited January 2024
    Traveled with friends
    Written January 23, 2024
  • SB01
    Sonning Common, United Kingdom927 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Absolute Bargain for €5
    How can this be only €5? Huge historic castle full of artistic treasures. Be prepared to walk up a lot of stairs, but it is worth it. Particular highlights for us were the modern glass collection, the incredible triple necked medieval guitars (Jimmy Page take note) and the decorative objects. In the negative column are a bit of a lack of amenities and the total absence of a clear route through the endless galleries. No doubt we missed something. The route takes in a tiny bit of the ramparts, so there are good views over the castle.
    Visited February 2024
    Traveled as a couple
    Written February 24, 2024
  • Djordje M
    Belgrade, Serbia1,246 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Great for morning walk together with park Sempione
    Really exceed my expactations, and look way better than in photos, videos or trip suggestions online. Beatiful architecture, peace of art, lot of details, and nice gardens around it. Really worth to spend a day together with park Sempione
    Visited March 2024
    Traveled with family
    Written March 20, 2024
  • wiseguy1282005
    Hong Kong, China6,490 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Annoying selling hand strap
    It would have been a great place since the place is free and great to look at. We saw those people who forced tourists to buy their hand strap. We lost interest in going into details for the museum, etc. Overall, it is a good place for taking photos and relaxing without the above situation.
    Visited March 2024
    Traveled as a couple
    Written April 1, 2024
  • GeneralShamu
    New York City, New York1,174 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Stroller Friendly Visit
    Came here in the afternoon to explore the castle and the various museums. We were pleasantly surprised that it is entirely stroller (and therefore wheelchair) friendly. There are public restrooms on site that are not exactly the cleanest but are entirely usable. There is also a baby changing/wheelchair restroom separate to this.
    Visited April 2024
    Traveled with family
    Written May 2, 2024
  • R K L
    Seattle, Washington3,874 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Too much to appreciate...
    This 14th century medieval fortress was impressive for its sheer size and interesting just to stroll around. However, it now contained an overwhelming number of separate museums and cultural institutes which made it impossible to navigate or completely experience. The one museum we made certain to seek out and visit contained the unfinished Pieta Rondanini by Michelangelo. He had purportedly been working on it a week prior to his death in 1564. There was otherwise just too much to appreciate.
    Visited January 2024
    Traveled as a couple
    Written May 20, 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.

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Popular mentions

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Vanessa S
Porto Alegre, RS25 contributions
1.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2020 • Solo
The castle has a lot of museums inside, and many of the pieces on display are beautiful. The problem is that the museums are very disorganized, and that destroyed the experience for me. First, I had to stand in two lines to get a ticket. Then, in the first three rooms there were lines to get in as well! The reason for this was that everyone had to sit and watch a video in one of the rooms, and the staff would only let one small group at a time. It took so long to get through the first museum, and when it was finally done the next group came in. Then I had to listen to the loud audio all over again while I was trying to read information about the pieces I was seeing. At this point I had been inside the museum for 1 hour and a half and I was finally done with the lines; I just wanted to appreciate what was on display. The next museums were chaotic as well. The signaling is bad and I had to keep asking where the next museums were. Another thing that bothered me is the fact that sometimes the pieces don't follow a timeline or anything close to that. In one room you are seeing pieces from the 20s, and in the next there are artifacts from the year 1000. It's impossible to find out what you would like to see in advance and not waste time there. When I gave up the museums I went to see the Michelangelo exhibition only to find out that it wasn't worth it at all. I really wish I had spend my precious time in Milan elsewhere.
Written February 16, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

David B
El Barco de Avila, Spain704 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2022
The Sforzesco castle is another must see in Milan. The building and courtyards can be viewed outside without cost, but I would recommend the series of museums inside the palace. You buy one ticket for all the museums - and as I am over 65, the cost was only 3 euros. Tickets can be bought at the main ticket office or at the entrance to Michael Angelo´s Pietat and we went for the second option. We arrived early and saw the statue, which is beautifully shown in isolation and with total freedom. We then went into the museum of antique art to be found in the historic rooms of the palace. There are some extraordinary pieces here as well as rooms such as the castle chapel. Unfortunately Leonardo´Sala delle Asse was closed for restoration (which looks like it will last a long time). There is then a museum of furniture, a picture gallery, a museum of musical instruments and another of ceramics. Tremendous value, but be warned once in the circuit it can be quite hard to find an exit!
Written October 10, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Ryan S
Cardiff, UK1,123 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2020 • Couples
A fascinating castle located in Milans biggest and most well-known park (parco sempione). This is a must see attraction when visiting Milan. Located about a 10 minute walk from the cathedral. The walls of the castle are very epic and you cannot miss to walk around the castle to see all of this structural masterpiece. To walk around inside the grounds of the is free. The only thing you have to pay for is the museums that are located inside the castle grounds. I think this is the third best attraction in milan and i highly recommend.
Written August 14, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Dirk W
Antwerp, Belgium214 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2020
Castello Sforzesco, a castle on the outskirts of the city that you can visit for free. The entrance for the museums present can of course be paid, but we just don't feel like it. Instead, we take a healthy walk in the adjacent park, where we also encounter a beautiful "Arc de Triomphe" on the other side.
Written November 17, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Denise R
Raleigh, NC67 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2020
We went to see the special exhibits to celebrate the 500th anniversary of Leonardo's death and were thrilled. I did get advance tickets for the first slot of the day and was glad I did as the lines form fast. Seeing the Sala delle Asse is a once in a life time experience - and the multimedia presentation was terrific. (Although hard to read the English text and watch the show.) But's that a minor critique. Grateful to have had the chance!!!
Written January 26, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for your visit and the enthusiastic review! Continue to follow our exhibitions and events on official website and come back to visit us! Sincerely
Written January 29, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

2020worldtraveler2020
Los Angeles, CA1,003 contributions
2.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2022
Buyer beware: this is not worth the price of admission.

On a hot day, this castle is very difficult to visit with not a lot of shaded areas within the castle walls (going indoors is the key). You can get the feel of the architecture without buying a ticket. But we bought tickets anyway, to go to the Michelangelo "Museum"--which is a total rip-off: one room, with one piece (an unfinished statue in the middle of a small room). This basically became the joke of our entire Italy trip from then on. Would recommend to stay away!
Written February 16, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

D. Browning Gibson
539 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Sep 2022 • Solo
This is anything but a run-of-the-mill museum. I walked around the entire castle the day before my visit, eyeing its construction and seeing if there were any good external photo opportunities. There were.

The entire day of my visit was spent wandering the internal courtyards, going in and out of different museum collections, and taking time out for a break and lunch onsite. The castle's history is as interesting as the stories of the numerous items it houses today.

Castello Sforzesco easily rivals Duomo di Milano as a destination on any tourist's Milano itinerary. It has such a wide variety of exhibits that almost anyone will find something of interest, unlike is often the case with a museum dedicated to a specific topic.
Written October 13, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Jeanne maria Griffin
Rome, Italy55 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Nov 2021 • Solo
The castle complex with its multiple courtyards was breathtaking in its scope and majesty. I particularly liked the old Visconti ruins adjacent to the main structure. I visited the enormous museum with its frescos and most complete collection of armour and weaponry I have ever seen. I would give it five stars had I not had an encounter with a security guard who was quite rude to me and embarrassed me. He was a foreigner who clearly didn't understabd how to treat a paying customer. But it is an amazing historical monument in the bustling modern city of Milan.
Written December 25, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

David
Lille, France1,915 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2020 • Solo
In line with most historical and heritage buildings, the Castle museums are closed on Monday but you can still walk through the castle grounds.

Bathrooms are still open on Mondays as well.

Worth combining with a trip to Sempione Park.
Written August 11, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Laurence E
Calne77 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2020
A great place to chill as well being packed with museums of all kinds. We fluked a concert rehearsal for the evening show inside the grounds and sat listening to the full orchestra and soloist for 40 minutes. Wondeful.
Written August 3, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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Castello Sforzesco - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

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