Updated in September 2026, this Sforza Castle guide covers ticket prices, opening hours, parking or transport, accessibility and what to see.
Sforza Castle, known in Italian as Castello Sforzesco, is a 15th-century Renaissance castle in the centre of Milan, now home to nine civic museums. In August 2026, the museums briefly stayed open until 19:30 as part of a national pilot scheme, though standard hours have since resumed. As of September 2026, museum admission costs €5.00, and the Sala delle Asse, the room painted by Leonardo da Vinci, remains closed for restoration, a detail some older guides do not reflect.
Quick facts
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Opening hours | Courtyards: daily 7:00–19:30, free. Museums: Tue–Sun 10:00–17:30, closed Monday. |
| Ticket prices | Museums: adults €10.00; reduced €5.00; under 18s free |
| Address | Piazza Castello, 20121 Milan, Italy |
| Nearest transport / parking | Metro M1 to Cairoli (at the main entrance) or Cadorna; paid street parking near Parco Sempione |
| Typical time needed | 1 to 2 hours |
Sforza Castle opening hours
The courtyards and Piazza d’Armi are open every day, from 7:00 to 19:30, with free access to the public.
The museums open Tuesday to Sunday, from 10:00 to 17:30, and are closed on Monday. Last entry is at 16:30 in every section. The museums also close on 25 December, 1 January and 1 May.
Some galleries close temporarily for restoration or exhibition changes. Check the official opening hours page before visiting, since hours and closures can change with little notice.
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- 🏰 Enjoy a guided visit to Sforza Castle and learn more about Michelangelo’s Pieta Rondanini.
- 🍕 Make your own pizza and gelato at a Milan cooking class.
Sforza Castle ticket prices
Standard museum admission costs €10.00. A single ticket covers all nine permanent collections on the day of purchase.
- Adults: €10.00
- Reduced (18–25 year-olds; over 65s): €5.00
- Under 18s, licensed tourist guides, journalists and disabled visitors: free
- Free for everyone: the first and third Tuesday of each month from 14:00, and the first Sunday of every month, all day
Opening hours and ticket prices were checked on the official website and last updated in September 2026. Check the official site for the latest figures before you travel.
The castle is included in the Tourist Museum Card, a 72-hour pass costing €12.00 that also covers Milan’s other civic museums, including the Museum of the Twentieth Century, the Natural History Museum, and the Civic Aquarium.
How to get to Sforza Castle
Metro line M1 stops at Cairoli, directly opposite the main entrance, and at Cadorna. Metro line M2 stops at Lanza and Cadorna, near the castle’s side entrances.
Several tram and bus routes also serve the area, including trams 1, 2, 4, 12 and 14, and buses 43, 57, 61, 70 and 94. Cadorna station additionally connects to Milan’s suburban railway network, useful for visitors arriving from outside the city or from Malpensa airport.
Parking at Sforza Castle
Sforza Castle stands inside Milan’s Area C, a congestion charge zone active on weekdays, so driving in during charging hours incurs a fee. Street parking directly around Piazza Castello is limited, and much of it is reserved for residents or disabled permit holders.
Paid parking is more readily available around Parco Sempione, on the blue-lined bays, a short walk from the castle. Public transport remains the most straightforward option for most visitors.
How long to spend at Sforza Castle
Visiting only the free courtyards takes around 30 minutes. Most visitors spend 1 to 2 hours covering one or two museums, and closer to half a day for the full collection.
Accessibility at Sforza Castle
The castle is largely accessible to visitors with mobility impairments. Courtyards and many museum areas have ramps and lifts, and accessible toilets are available near the main entrance.
Tactile paths and audio guides are available for visitors with visual or hearing impairments, usually on request or advance booking. Entry is free for disabled visitors and one companion.
Inside Sforza Castle
The castle stands on the site of the Visconti family’s 14th-century Castello di Porta Giovia. In 1450, Francesco Sforza, the new Duke of Milan, began transforming it into a lavish ducal residence, with contributions over the years from Filarete, Bramante and Leonardo da Vinci.
Later centuries saw the castle serve as a military fortress, a Spanish garrison, and finally a barracks, before a major restoration led by the architect Luca Beltrami between 1890 and 1905 restored its present appearance, including the rebuilt Filarete Tower.
Today the castle houses the Pinacoteca, with paintings by Canaletto, Correggio, Tiepolo, Mantegna and Bellotto, alongside the Museum of Ancient Art, home to Michelangelo’s unfinished final sculpture, the Pietà Rondanini. The Egyptian section of the Archaeological Museum, the Museum of Musical Instruments, and the Museum of Furniture and Wooden Sculptures are also on site.
Beyond the standard museums, special guided itineraries run by the concessionaire Ad Artem open areas usually closed to the public. The Merlate Panoramiche walkway follows the castle’s defensive ramparts, while the Strada Coperta della Ghirlanda explores an underground passage linking the outer walls. Both require advance booking, at an extra cost.
Two areas are currently off-limits: the Sala delle Asse, decorated with Leonardo da Vinci’s painted tree canopy, is closed for restoration, and the Prehistory and Protohistory section is also temporarily unavailable. Check the official site for updates before planning a visit around either room.
Practical visitor tips
| Aspect | Tip |
|---|---|
| Timing | Visit on a weekday morning, and avoid the free entry days if you dislike queues. |
| Crowds | Free-entry Tuesdays and the first Sunday of the month draw the longest queues; arrive at least 15 minutes early. |
| Layout | The nine museums are spread across several floors, so plan your route before setting off. |
| Entry process | Even for free entry, a ticket must be collected, either online or at the ticket office. |
| On-site logistics | Dogs and other animals are allowed only in the open-air courtyard areas. |
Frequently asked questions about Sforza Castle
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Is Sforza Castle suitable for children? | Yes. The courtyards, armoury and musical instrument collection appeal to most age groups. |
| Do you need to book tickets in advance? | No for the standard museums, though the special guided itineraries require booking. |
| Is Sforza Castle open on Mondays? | The courtyards are open, but the museums are closed every Monday. |
| Are bags allowed inside? | Small bags are permitted; larger items may need to be left at the cloakroom. |
| Is the castle wheelchair accessible? | Largely, yes. Ramps and lifts serve most areas, with free entry for disabled visitors. |
Things to do near Sforza Castle
- Parco Sempione: Milan’s largest central park, directly behind the castle.
- Arco della Pace: a triumphal arch at the far end of Parco Sempione.
- Pinacoteca di Brera: a major art gallery a short walk into the city centre.
- Duomo di Milano: Milan’s cathedral, roughly a 15-minute walk away.
- Triennale Milano: a design and architecture museum on the edge of Parco Sempione.
Alternative attractions
- Certosa di Pavia: a Carthusian monastery with elaborate Renaissance façades, around 40 minutes by car.
- Rocca di Angera: a Borromeo family castle overlooking Lake Maggiore, with a large doll and toy museum, around 1 hour by car.
- Castello di Vigevano: a Sforza-era castle and piazza in a nearby Lombard town, around 45 minutes by car.
- Castello Visconteo, Pavia: a 14th-century Visconti castle with a civic museum, around 40 minutes by car.
- Rocca Scaligera, Sirmione: a moated medieval castle on Lake Garda, around 1.5 hours by car.
More Lombardy travel
Other Lombardy travel guides on Planet Whitley include:
- How fast are the direct Milan to Verona trains?
- Can you get tickets to see the Last Supper on the day?
- La Scala Theatre Museum, Milan: Practical guide for first time visitors.
- Key information for visiting the Leonardo da Vinci Museum of Science and Industry in Milan.
- Castello di Vezio visitor guide: How to get the best out of this Lake Como castle.
