Seeing Da Vinci’s famous Last Supper in Milan is a must If you’re planning to visit northern Italy. It’s arguably among the top 2 things to see in Milan, along with the city’s magnificent Duomo.
But, a visit to L’Ultima Cena or Cenacolo Vinciano (as called in Italian) requires more planning than you might think. Visitors are limited and Last Supper tickets sell out in advance!
So in this guide, I will share everything you need to know to successfully visit Leonardo da Vinci’s Last Supper masterpiece.
How to See the Last Supper in Milan
Even if you are in Milan for just 2 days, I highly suggest you find time to see Leonardo Da Vinci’s Renaissance masterpiece! The Last Supper is one of the most famous works of art ever created.
The Last Supper painting was commissioned by the Duke of Milan, Ludovico Sforza, to adorn the area where his family’s mausoleum was to be. Painted between 1495-1497, it is located on one of the walls in the refectory of Santa Maria delle Grazie. The Church and its convent, along with the Last Supper painting, have been recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Leonardo Da Vinci’s genius is without question. However, whether you consider yourself an art connoisseur or not, this is a piece of art that draws you in like the Mona Lisa, Monet’s waterlilies, or The Birth of Venus by Botticelli. Aside from the contrast in the expressions between Jesus and his disciples, the painting is rich in detail which makes it difficult to pull away when your visit is (so quickly) done.
All this to say that despite some of the challenges in getting Last Supper tickets, it’s more than worth your time, energy, and flexibility to reserve tickets during your time in Milan.
Where is Da Vinci’s Last Supper Located?
It can be confusing because when you look up on the internet, you might find something called the Last Supper Museum. This is actually the refectory, the convent room at Santa Maria delle Grazie in which the mural is located. Besides Da Vinci’s Last Supper, the room also has some panels with info about Leonardo and his artwork.
In fact, the main reason why it is difficult to get the Last Supper tickets is the fragile state of the famous mural because of where and how it was painted.
The Last Supper is not a fresco, but it was painted by Da Vinci directly on the wall of the refectory. However, Leonardo painted using the same techniques as he would have with a canvas painting so that he could easily make corrections along the way as his vision evolved.
But not treating the wall before painting turned out to be a bad decision because the painting actually started to degrade even before Leonardo finished it.
Combine this with the age of the Last Supper painting and the history that it survived through, including World War II bombings, and this explains why a limited number of visitors are allowed inside the refectory each day.
The Last Supper has undergone long, arduous restorations with the most recent taking 20+ years, completed in 1999. And for the ongoing protection of Leonardo’s work, visitors can only stay for a short time to limit the number of environmental particles that add to the damage the painting has weathered over the centuries.
How to Get to the Last Supper in Milan
The Santa Maria delle Grazie Church is in Piazza Santa Maria delle Grazie, about a 20-minute walk from the Duomo and a 10-minute walk from the medieval Sforzesco Castle.
To get there, you have different options, depending on where you are in the city and how much you are willing to spend. While a taxi is always an option, I would suggest using the metro or walking to Piazza Santa Maria delle Grazie if you think you are close enough. Milan’s metro is quick and easy to navigate.
The metro stops closest to Santa Maria delle Grazie Church are Conciliazione (reachable by M1 or the red line if you are looking at a Milan metro map) and Cadorna (reachable by M1 or M2, the red and green lines). M1, the red line, is also the same metro line as the stop for the Duomo.
Once you are at either of those metro stops, it’s a 5-10 minute walk to the Last Supper location. Just remember to arrive at least 30 minutes before your chosen time slot to collect your entrance tickets and bring an identity document so that you can verify you are the person on the reservation.
When Do Last Supper Tickets Go On Sale?
The Last Supper tickets in Milan usually go on sale about 2-3 months in advance, and they sell all incredibly fast! The official website will announce the date when the next block of tickets is set to go on sale.
A very small, set number of people are allowed to visit the Last Supper per 15-minute slot. These numbers are tightly controlled to preserve the condition of the painting and the 15-minute time limit is strictly enforced.
So if seeing the Last Supper is at the top of your Milan list of things to do, advance reservation is a must.
You will need to check the official site to know at which date and time the tickets for the next months will be sold. Be aware that dates at times are for Central European Time which is 6 hours ahead of Eastern Standard Time in the U.S.
The best way to get Last Supper tickets is to plan ahead and decide when you want to visit as early as possible, especially if you need several tickets and/or have little flexibility with the days and times you can visit.
How to Get Milan Last Supper Tickets
There are several ways you can get entrance tickets for the Last Supper in Milan. Below, you will find a detailed description of all your options so you can make the best decision for your travel plans.
Buy Tickets on the Official Website
Booking the Last Supper tickets from the official website is the cheapest way to get them, although it does come with its challenges. The website lets you reserve a ticket for an independent visit or a guided tour for up to 5 people only. If you need more tickets, they will need to be booked with separate reservations by more than one person, assuming there are tickets available for that many people at the same time and date.
From the homepage of the website, you can switch the language from Italian to English.
Scroll down until you see the “Tickets Available On” section. It will have a calendar, along with a filter to look for dates with at least a specific number of tickets.
Choose the date that works for your plans and then choose the time slot you prefer. After this, you’ll be redirected to the page that shows what types of tickets are available for that day. For individual, self-guided visits, you are looking for the word “ingressi” (entry in English) along with the prices for tickets. The regular “full fare” ticket should be the first one listed.
If you see this, then just above where it says “ingressi,” you’ll the option to “sign in or register.” You’ll need to register (assuming most visitors don’t already have their own login) and answer the data and privacy questions in order to complete the purchase of your tickets.
If you only/also see an option for “Bigliettto di ingresso + Visita guidata/Ticket + Guided Tour,” these are available tickets for the Last Supper Museum’s own guided tour. Keep in mind, these are only offered in English at specific times of the day. The homepage lists the times that tours are given in English on a given day so check carefully and choose that time slot option if it exists.
Other important things to keep in mind when getting Last Supper tickets from the official website are:
- A maximum of 5 tickets can be bought together.
- Tickets are full name specific, and it will be almost impossible to change the names of the tickets’ owners (as specified on the website),
- Tickets are not refundable under any circumstances.
When you’re making the reservation, the website will ask you for the official name on the reservation. This name doesn’t need to be the same person who is paying for the tickets. However, the official name on the reservation is the person who must be present and show their identity document (along with everyone else entering with tickets on the same reservation).
Also, if you think your plans could change or you’d like the option of a refund should something unforeseen happen, then I suggest you book your tickets through a third-party tour operator (like the ones mentioned below) with cancelation protection.
Book a Last Supper Tour in Milan
Booking a third-party guided tour can be a fantastic idea if you don’t want to bother with navigating the official website. It also comes with some protection because you’ll have cancelation/refund options should your plans change. While traveling, I book activities and tours through Get Your Guide specifically because I can get a full refund up to 24 hours before the start of the activity.
And lastly, if you’re hoping to get tickets for a trip that’s happening soon, a tour option will give you a greater chance of finding the date and time you need. Not to mention, you’ll get to visit the Last Supper with a knowledgeable guide who will enhance your visit by giving context to Leonardo da Vinci’s work and the Renaissance.
Tour guides handle the logistics at the ticket office, although you still need an identity document, like a passport, on you in order to go inside. In addition, some tour options also include other sights in Milan besides the Last Supper allowing you to bundle your purchase and maximize your time.
On this bestselling Da Vinci’s Last Supper Tour, you will discover the beautiful church of Santa Maria delle Grazie and The Last Supper. The expert guides who lead this tour will share stories and details about Da Vinci’s life and work while explaining more about the creation of the Last Supper within the Renaissance.
Personally, I loved this activity because the guide shared details about the painting that I would have never seen on my own with just the short 15 minutes allotted to visitors to admire the painting.
This Da Vinci’s Last Supper Tour with City Walking Tour is another great option if you’d like to explore Milan with a guide. After the in-depth visit to the Basilica Santa Maria delle Grazie and to the Last Supper, the group will embark on a guided city walking tour.
You will admire the exterior architecture of some of Milan’s most gorgeous sights, including the Duomo, La Scala, and Sforza Castle, while the guide tells about the history and culture of Milan and its landmarks. Tours typically finish outside the Duomo. Depending on the time, you could coordinate your tickets to go inside and up to the Duomo’s rooftop once the tour has finished.
Another great idea would be to join the Last Supper and Sforza Castle Guided Tour. With an expert guide, you’ll learn about Castello Sforzesco (name in Italian) and explore some of the oldest parts of the city before finally spending time at Santa Maria delle Grazie Church to see Leonardo Da Vinci’s incredible Last Supper.
How to Get Tickets for the Last Supper Last Minute…(Lots of Luck Needed!)
For the best chances of success, booking your Last Supper tickets well in advance is the way to go if you want to see Leonardo Da Vinci’s masterpiece while in Milan. However, if you’ve planned a last-minute visit to Milan, you might still be able to get your tickets for the Last Supper, even if the official website says that they are sold out.
Before proceeding any further, I must point out that third-party guided tours often have some availability because they pre-purchase tickets well in advance. It’s important to remember this because there is no guarantee the methods below will work. In fact, more often they don’t work because (if at all) there are only a handful of tickets that become available last minute and quite by chance.
But if you’re willing to roll the dice, then here’s how to check for last-minute Last Supper tickets.
The first thing you can try to do is to call the number you find on the official website. If you are calling from outside Italy, dial +39 02 92800360; if you are calling from an Italian landline, call 800 990 084 (for free).
The ticket office opens at 8 am, and you should try to call as soon as possible. Once you’re connected to the ticket office, you can ask for an English-speaking operator, who will book your desired tickets for you, if any are available.
It is possible to pay via credit card over the phone, and you will receive a booking number which you will have to present to the ticket office on the day of your visit to get your tickets.
Another method to get last-minute tickets for the Last Supper is to show up at the ticket office on-site and ask if they have tickets available. Tickets reserved by guides and third-party vendors might be returned to the ticket office should they go unsold. These tickets are offered to walk-in visitors on a first-come, first-served basis. This is also known as getting really lucky.
To improve any odds you might have, be sure to turn up at the ticket office shortly after it opens at 8 a.m. and ask for the tickets. If you are lucky, you’ll be able to get your Last Supper tickets. Also, this is the cheapest option, given that you won’t need to pay the 2€ reservation fee.
Assuming you are lucky and there are last-minute tickets available, remember that you won’t be able to choose your time slot. You’ll be limited to the time(s) that are available.
Get Last Supper tickets for (Almost) Free
Last but not least, there is the possibility to visit the Last Supper almost for free. On the first Sunday of the month, the majority of the historical and cultural sights in Milan can be visited for free or by paying a tiny amount. The Last Supper is no exception. You will only need to pay the 2€ reservation fee.
However, you will still need to book the tickets via the official website or by phone, and as you may already imagine, these tickets disappear quickly!
Visiting the Last Supper in Milan: What to Expect
So, you’ve got your tickets to see the Last Supper painting! Fantastic. 🙂
As you get close to Santa Maria delle Grazie, look for signs pointing you in the direction of the “Cenacolo Vinciano,” the Italian name for the Last Supper. The signs will all be in Italian, not English, so don’t expect to see the words, “Last Supper.”
To get your ticket, arrive at the Cenacolo’s ticket office at least 30 minutes before your visit, show them the payment receipt, and collect your ticket. Please note, as indicated on the official website, arriving at least 30 minutes before the visit to collect the tickets is mandatory. If you show up late, your ticket may no longer be valid.
The ticket office is to the left of the Santa Maria delle Grazie if you are facing the church’s entrance. There is a wrought iron fence and gate and a sign that says, “Biglietteria Ticket Office.”
Be prepared to store away any large bags or backpacks, as well as any food or drink. These things are not allowed inside while you view the painting. There are storage lockers available if you need them.
You can take your camera with you. Photography is allowed as long as you turn off your flash.
Last Supper in Milan: Bottom Line
Leonardo da Vinci’s Last Supper painting is definitely worth visiting on a trip to northern Italy! After all, it’s one of the greatest masterpieces of all time.
Yes, getting Last Supper tickets will take a bit of an effort to coordinate the ticket availability with your Milan itinerary. But the Last Supper is a one-of-a-kind piece of history and art that will leave you in total awe of Da Vinci’s genius.
So, what are your questions about getting Last Supper tickets in Milan?
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