Milan Photo Spots

Milan is a dizzying whirlwind of centuries-old stately architecture, world-renowned restaurants, and unbeatable shopping. Not only is Milan known as the fashion capital‌ of Italy, but it’s also considered to be one of “The Big Four,” right up there with Paris, New York, and London. 🥖🗽🇬🇧 We easily connect people with trusted photographers for fun photo shoots and have captured over four million memories worldwide. The magic of Flytographer is both the experience and the photos. Explore the city with a fun, talented photographer and get wall-worthy photos to relive your trip, forever. Today, we asked our local photographers to show us around all the very best places to take photos in Milan.

But remarkable fashion is far from all that Milan has to offer. Milan also has an extraordinary culinary scene and is packed with stunning architecture, from the medieval Sforza Castle to the regal Duomo Cathedral. 

TLDR

1. Piazza del Duomo: At 17,000 square metres, it’s one of the largest squares in all of Italy and the perfect place to start exploring.
2. Piazza Cordusio: A square in central Milan famous for its numerous Neoclassical, Art Nouveau, and eclectic buildings, banks, and post offices. 
3. Castello Sforzesco: One of Milan’s most famous landmarks, this castle now houses several illuminating museums. 
4. Brera District: An artsy and elegant neighbourhood known for its fabulous shopping, small boutiques, and quaint cobbled streets.
5. Navigli District: Easily one of the trendiest and most beautiful places in Milan, the Navigli District has a lively nightlife thanks to its many bars and nightclubs.

Photo: Flytographer in Milan. Paria and partner celebrate an engagement in Milan with an engagement trip photoshoot in Piazza del Duomo.

1. Piazza del Duomo

The Piazza del Duomo is the main square of Milan and, at 17,000 square metres, it’s one of the largest squares in all of Italy. It has been the commercial centre of Milan for over seven centuries—and it’s also the perfect spot to start exploring this city dripping in history. 

The square is packed with architecture from several different historical periods but is dominated by the Gothic facade of the Duomo di Milano (Cathedral of Milan) to the east. You’ll also find the Vittorio Emanuele II Gallery and Palazzo dei Portici Settentrionali to the north, the Caminati Palace to the west, and the Palazzo dei Portici Meridionali, Palazzo dell’Arengario, and the Royal Palace of Milan to the south. 

In other words, this massive square is loaded with history as well as tons of fantastic places to take photos in Milan! There are a number of guided tours, or you can go exploring on your own for that elusive best photo. 📸

Photo: Flytographer in Milan. Jocelyn and partner capture memories in Milan with a vacation photoshoot in Piazza del Duomo.

2. Piazza Cordusio

The Piazza Cordusio, also known as Piazzale Cordusio, is a square in central Milan famous for its numerous turn-of-the-19th-century Neoclassical, Art Nouveau, and eclectic buildings, banks, and post offices. While many of these have relocated, the square still holds several notable buildings, including the Palazzo delle Assicurazioni Generali, the Palazzo del Credito Italiano, and the Palazzo delle Poste. 

The square also holds the Cordusio metro station and is the starting point of the sophisticated and gorgeous pedestrian walkway, Via Dante, which leads to the striking medieval Castello Sforzesco (Milan Castle). 🏰

But if you get tired of these must-see‌ architectural wonders, there’s also plenty of shopping, bars, cafes, and gelato‌! 🍨 Plus, Via Dante is full of elegant shops and chic restaurants, so you can shop till you drop for a picture perfect outfit and experience all these beautiful places to take photos in Milan! 🛍️📸

Photo: Flytographer in Milan. Carrin and partner capture memories in Milan with a couples photoshoot in Piazza Cordusio.

3. Castello Sforzesco

The Castello Sforzesco, also known as the Sforza Castle‌ or Sforzesco Castle in Italian, is one of the most famous places to take photos in Milan. Originally built as a fortress in the 14th century, the castle has gone through many changes and restorations over the years thanks to being involved in several wars, from the Golden Ambrosian Republic to the Napoleonic Wars to World War II. 

Most recently, the castle now houses several illuminating museums, such as the Museum of Ancient Art, the Museum of Musical Instruments, the Archaeological Museum of Milan, and many more. The entrance ticket includes all the museums, but if you’d rather save your money to spend on an Aperol Spritz‌ and in Milan’s many chic fashion shops, the central courtyard is free and open to the public. 🍹

Photo: Flytographer in Milan. Suzi and partner capture memories in Milan with a vacation photoshoot at Castello Sforzesco.

4. Brera District

Located halfway between the Quadrilatero d’Oro and the Sforzesco Castle, the Brera District is an artsy and elegant neighbourhood known for its fabulous shopping. Its quaint cobbled streets are lined with beautiful 18th-century buildings as well as small boutiques full of handicrafts, cosmetics, and clothes created by budding new designers. 

Don’t miss the Pinacoteca di Brera, an art gallery that’s home to some incredible collections of paintings, from Caravaggio and Rafael to Rembrandt and El Greco. 🎨

If you’ve shopped until you’re ready to drop, have a meal at the gourmet restaurant L’Osteria di Brera, famous for its seafood dishes and excellent wine selection. 🦀🐠🦑🥂

After dinner, take a walk along the Via Madonnia until you reach the Piazza del Carmine, where you’ll find the church of Santa Maria del Carmine. Constructed in 1446, it’s one of the oldest churches in Milan’s city centre and was the favourite burial place of Milanese aristocrats during the 15th century (hence all the tombs inside the church). 

Photo: Flytographer in Milan. Linette and family capture memories in Milan with a family photoshoot in the Brera District.

5. Navigli District

Did you know that Milan used to be a city full of rivers and canals? The Navigli is a system of interconnected canals once regulated by a state-of-the-art system of locks that were partially designed by none other than Leonardo da Vinci. 

Today, only two canals remain uncovered, and you can find them by taking a day trip‌ to the picturesque Navigli District, which is packed with some of the best photo spots‌ in Milan. 

In addition to the beauty of the canals, you’ll also find plenty of charming shops and art galleries, as well as restaurants and cafes when you want to get off your feet and take a selfie with your deliciously Italian Aperol Spritz‌. 🍹✨

Easily one of the trendiest and most beautiful places to take photos in Milan, the Navigli District has a lively nightlife thanks to its many bars and nightclubs. You’ll find plenty of outdoor tables along the canals, or you can have a drink directly on the water on a floating barge. Just hang on tight to your camera! 

Photo: Flytographer in Milan. Lisa and partner celebrate a honeymoon in Milan with a honeymoon photoshoot in the Navigli District.

Capturing Memories in Milan

Full of history, art galleries, world-renowned restaurants, and some of the best shopping in the entire world, Milan is not a spot to be missed—and a definite bucket list destination for every fashionista out there! 💅

Milan is so full of sights that we had to include a few honourable mentions:

• Piazza Mercanti
• Columns of San Lorenzo
• The Santa Maria delle Grazie (where Leonardo Da Vinci painted The Last Supper)
• Porta Nuova
• Lake Como
• Bosco Verticale (Vertical Forest)

Flytographer pairs you with travel photographers so you can have a professional photoshoot wherever your next adventure takes you. We have talented photographers located in Milan and all of the major destinations in Europe, including London, Paris, and Rome‌.