How to skip the lines at Da Vinci’s the Last Supper in Milan

One of the most celebrated works of respected Italian artist Leonardo da Vinci, the Last Supper at Santa Maria delle Grazie is truly a masterpiece. Completed between 1495 to 1497, the oil painting was commissioned by the Duke of Milan at the time, Ludovico Maria Sforza. The painting depicts Jesus with his 12 apostles having supper right after he announces that one of his apostles will betray him, as described in the Gospel of John. Over the years, the painting has deteriorated, even after multiple restoration projects. However, it is still among the most iconic paintings in the world, visited by 1200 people every day. Due to the high number of visitors, slots of 15 minutes are allotted in groups of 25 people. There are no tickets to visit the Last Supper at the venue as it is a church. To get hassle-free access on your visit to see the Last Supper, it is advised to book Skip The Line tickets.

Wait Times - What to Expect at the Last Supper?

The Last Supper is a popular attraction in Milan for obvious reasons. However, Santa Maria delle Grazie being a church limits the number of people inside the premises. Tickets go live on the website and on-call four months in advance. Groups of 25 persons are allowed inside the church to view the Last Supper for 15 minutes. The officials are extremely strict with these timings, and they are not flexible. Slots are filled immediately once they go live, so you have to be quick with your bookings. It is advised to book combo deals or skip-the-line access that give you priority entry to see the Last Supper along with other attractions in the city of Milan.

5 ways to skip the line at The Last Supper

1. Book your tickets in advance

The tickets for the Last Supper are available four months in advance due to the high volume. Plan your trip to Milan and the Last Supper well in advance, or you might not get to see the painting. You can book tickets directly from the website, on-call or get combo tickets with other popular attractions in the city. However, ensure that you do it on time, as the Last Supper has over 1200 visitors every day, divided into 15-minute slots for groups of 25 persons. After booking, plan your itinerary for the day around the slot allotted to you, as the timings are not flexible.

2. Early noon and off-season

June, July and early August are the peak season for tourism in Milan. You will find a lot of crowds during this time, even to visit the Last Supper. Finding an available slot will also be a task. It is best to plan your visit during the off-season, between November to January. Just carry warm clothes to beat the winter. Weekdays are also generally less crowded than weekends. Find an available slot during weekdays. Early noon hours, between 8:15 AM to 12:00 PM, are the best for visiting. It is closed on Mondays, so plan your itinerary accordingly. If you want to get quick access and get done with your visit on time, it is suggested to plan your visit well in advance.

3. Choose a guided tour

Guided tours are the best option when you visit a new city and want to understand its history. The Last Supper has many guided tours, including other attractions in the city. A professional English-speaking guide will explain the history behind all the places included in your tour, including the Last Supper. Guided tours also give you priority access to the convent of Santa Maria delle Grazie. You can also get to visit other paintings and treasures from the Renaissance era at Sforza Castle Museum, Scala Museum and Bramante's Tribune. Guided tours are well-planned, with every visit timed perfectly according to opening hours. You don't have to worry about planning an itinerary yourself. The guided tour of your choice will do it for you.

4. The Skip the Line Access

The best way to avoid huge queues to visit the Last Supper is to get Skip the Line entry to Leonardo da Vinci's masterpiece. You also get a half-day guided tour of the city of Milan, where you can see the Duomo di Milano, Sforza Castle, La Scala Theatre, Vittorio Emanuele II Gallery and other popular attractions of Milan. It comes with a Skip the Line admission for all the places included in the tour, along with an expert English-speaking tour guide. The tour lasts for three and a half hours, with 1-hour of exploring Milan on foot. If you opt for this tour, you don't just get priority access. Hotel pickup (for the morning tour) and free access for kids below the age of three are offered as well. The tour starts with the Last Supper and ends with a visit to the La Scala Theatre. The ticket is valid for 24 hours. If you get tired, you can resume the tour the next day.

5. Get combo deals

Getting combo deals is another way to ensure that you won't have to be stuck in long queues. You can view paintings and treasures from the Renaissance era with Renaissance Treasures Guided Walking Tour of Milan. You get Skip the Line access to the Last Supper along with other attractions like Sforza Castle, Milan's Sistine Chapel, Bramante's Tribune and nearby attractions. It comes with an experienced English-speaking guide that will tell you all about the history and fun facts about all the places included in the tour. Another option is Leonardo's Vineyard + Last Supper combo tickets, where you can see the beautiful gardens of Casa degli Atellani. Here, you will get an audio-guided tour in five different languages. Combo entry tickets help you save a lot on entry tickets and get more value for your money.

Skip the line at The Last Supper - Deconstructed

Being a world-renowned painting of one of the most celebrated Italian artists, people from all across the world come to visit the Last Supper. The demand for tickets is so high that they go live four months in advance. You can avoid the huge queues by getting Skip the Line access to the Last Supper. It gives you priority entry to see the painting. If you get combo tickets or guided tours, you will be able to explore different attractions in Milan even more efficiently.

The Last Supper inside the Santa Maria delle Grazie can only be viewed for 15 minutes. Entry is allowed for groups of 25 at once. Once you have booked your slot, you must reach the church 20 minutes prior to the time allotted to you. With Skip the Line access, you can directly enter the church, see the Last Supper for 15 minutes and explore other places around the area.

Recommended Skip The Line Last Supper Tickets

Best time to visit The Last Supper

The Last Supper, being a 15th-century masterpiece, attracts people from over the world all around the year. June, July and August are usually busy months in Milan. Avoid planning your trip to the Last Supper during this time. The museum is closed on Monday, so plan you visit on other days. Early noon hours between 8:15 AM to 12:00 PM are the best to visit. You can enjoy the winters in Milan between November to January if you plan your visit to the Last Supper during these months.

Skip The Line The Last Supper Reviews

The Last Supper Handy Tips

• Santa Maria delle Grazie is a church and a convent. Men and women visiting the church, even if it's just to see the Last Supper, are required to cover their knees and shoulders.
• You will only be given 15 minutes to see the painting. These timings, once a slot is allotted to you, are not flexible. Arrive 20 minutes prior to your slot timing for a hassle-free experience.
• It is allowed to take pictures of the painting but do not keep your flash on. However, taking videos of the painting is not allowed.
• Opt for an audio guide, as there is no information about the painting inside the church. The audio guide will tell you the history behind the painting and some interesting facts from the time it was painted.
• The museum where the Last Supper is located is closed on Mondays. It is best to avoid weekends as you might not find a lot or might face a lot of crowds. Plan your visit between Tuesday to Friday.