A Photographer’s Lifestyle Guide to Milan, Italy

Milan is a city full of surprises. It’s fast-paced and stylish, but also full of quiet corners and hidden places to explore. Historic buildings stand next to modern architecture in fast–changing neighbourhoods, and you can find art, fashion, and everyday life unfolding on every street. Wander along the canals, check out second-hand markets, or take photos of cool signs and walls full of street art and character. There’s always something interesting to see. Milan is a place to take your time and enjoy the little things, always with a camera in your hand.

Navigli is one of the most iconic and picturesque neighborhoods in Milan, famous for its canals, vibrant nightlife, and bohemian atmosphere. The charming canals lined with cafes, boutiques, narrow cobblestone streets, and colorful buildings provide excellent opportunities for architectural shots, especially at golden hour. It’s also perfect for long exposure shots or night photography, capturing the bustling nightlife or the peaceful reflections in the water. Photo by tsingtao

Navigli, Milano MI, Italy

Brera is one of Milan’s most charming and artistic neighborhoods, known for its bohemian atmosphere, historic streets, and cultural landmarks. It blends art and fashion, making it a favorite for both locals and visitors. Often compared to Montmartre in Paris – artistic, sophisticated, and full of character, it’s a great place for street photography and portraits. Photo by cryboy

Brera, 20121 Milano MI, Italy

Emma Canepari’s laboratory, Speed Photo, has been supporting analogue photography since 1989, and has been a key reference point for analogue photographers in Milan for years.

Via degli Imbriani, 55A, 20121 Milano MI, Italy

Porta Venezia is one of Milan’s most vibrant and diverse neighborhoods, known for its mix of history, culture, shopping, and nightlife. It’s a lively district that blends elegant 19th-century architecture, a thriving LGBTQ+ scene, and multicultural influences. Photo by mariaelenacirillo

Porta Venezia, Milan, Metropolitan City of Milan, Italy

The Duomo di Milano, is a stunning Gothic cathedral that defines the city’s skyline. The area is the cultural, touristic, and commercial center of Milan, making it one of the busiest and most iconic parts of the city. This is the perfect backdrop for experimenting with the Splitzer lens attachment! Photo by wearejustamomentintime

P.za del Duomo, 20122 Milano MI, Italy

Located in the heart of the city, next to Piazza del Duomo, the 19th-century Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II is one of the world’s most beautiful and historic shopping galleries. The elegant glass and iron roof, mosaic floors, and grand arches make it an excellent location for capturing classical architecture and experimenting with different light effects and multiple exposure compositions. Photo by martichivas

20123 Milan, Metropolitan City of Milan, Italy

Fondazione Prada is a contemporary art and cultural institution dedicated to promoting and supporting the arts, architecture, and culture. Founded by the Prada fashion house, the venue blends modern glass-and-steel elements with historic industrial structures. Photographers drawn to geometry, light, and urban landscapes will find plenty of inspiration. Photo by duzdim

L.go Isarco, 2, 20139 Milano MI, Italy

One of the most important cultural institutions in Milan, Triennale Milano hosts exhibitions on art, design, architecture and fashion, along with theater performances, live shows, concerts, talks, and discussions. Perfect for minimalist or conceptual still-life shots featuring iconic Italian design indoors, while its outdoor areas offer urban textures suited to creative portraiture. Photo by steamyandor

Viale Emilio Alemagna, 6, 20121 Milano MI, Italy

Museums, Art, Photography and Culture in Milan

We’ve curated a list of our favorite museums, art galleries and cultural landmarks in Milan to give you an exhaustive guide to the best creative hot-spots to visit on your trip.

MUFOCO – Museo di Fotografia Contemporanea – Cinisello Balsamo, Milan
MUFOCO is Italy’s only public museum entirely dedicated to contemporary photography. It is located in Cinisello Balsamo, just outside Milan, and focuses on modern and contemporary photographic art, visual culture, and multimedia projects.

MUDEC – Museo delle Culture di Milano – Tortona District, Milan
Located in the Tortona district, a trendy area known for design and creativity, MUDEC is a hub for ethnographic collections, contemporary exhibitions, and cultural events.

STILL – Ticinese District, Milan
STILL is a photography gallery and creative space located in the Ticinese district of Milan. Founded by photographer Denis Curti, it serves as a hub for contemporary photography, fine art prints, and cultural events.

Triennale – Sempione, Milano
Housed within the Palazzo dell’Arte, Triennale is one of the most important cultural institutions in Milan. It hosts exhibitions on art, design, architecture, and fashion, along with theater performances, live shows, concerts, talks, and discussions.

Galleria Carla Sozzani – Corso Como, Milan
Galleria Carla Sozzani is located in the vibrant Corso Como district, a trendy and fashionable area known for its high–end shopping, art, and design. The gallery was founded by Carla Sozzani, a prominent figure in the fashion and design world.

Fondazione Prada – Milan
Fondazione Prada is a contemporary art and cultural institution dedicated to promoting and supporting the arts, architecture, and culture. Founded by the Prada fashion house, it is renowned for its innovative exhibitions and groundbreaking architectural design.

Street Photography & Lomography Film Community Scene in Milan

The wealth of knowledge and experience that comes from the Lomography Community is simply unrivaled. In this section we share some of our community’s top–tips about the city of Milan. This includes their favorite locations for visiting and photographing and some invaluable tips on shooting in analogue. We will also showcase some of our most inspiring Milan-based LomoHomes and Partners.

Navigli
Navigli is one of the most iconic and picturesque neighborhoods in Milan, famous for its canals, vibrant nightlife, and bohemian atmosphere. The district takes its name from the Navigli canals, a series of waterways that were historically used for trade and transportation, but now serve as beautiful scenic areas perfect for leisurely strolls and evening outings. We recommend going there at golden hour with color negative film loaded in your camera, to capture the reflections of the sunset.

Via Lincoln
Via Lincoln, often referred to as Milan’s "Rainbow District," is a hidden gem featuring a row of colorful houses that stand out amidst the city’s more muted tones and make it a unique location for street and architectural photography.

Porta Venezia
Porta Venezia is one of Milan’s most vibrant and diverse neighborhoods, known for its mix of history, culture, shopping, and nightlife. It’s a lively district that blends elegant 19th-century architecture, a thriving LGBTQ+ scene, and multicultural influences. Built during the Art Nouveau and Futurist eras, it embodies the best of what Milan has to offer: art, green spaces, cuisine, culture and diversity. Here, you can find stunning Art Nouveau buildings and Villa Invernizzi, famous for its pink flamingos.

Brera
Brera is a very charming and artistic neighborhood in Milan, known for its bohemian atmosphere. It blends art, fashion, and upscale living, making it a favorite for both locals and visitors. It is often compared to Montmartre in Paris – artistic, sophisticated, and full of character.

Duomo & Galleria Vittorio Emanuele
Duomo is the historic heart of the city, home to its most famous landmark, the Duomo di Milano, a stunning Gothic cathedral that defines the city’s skyline. The Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II in Milan is one of the world’s most beautiful and historic shopping galleries. Located next to Piazza del Duomo, it is a stunning 19th-century shopping arcade known for its grandeur and elegance.

Villa Necchi Campiglio
This elegant 1930s villa, surrounded by a wonderful garden, offers beautifully preserved Art Deco interiors. A refined location for photographers interested in architectural details and timeless aesthetics.

Cover Photo by steamyandor

Anything missing?

Got a favorite photo gallery, hidden photo spot or local tip we haven’t covered in this city guide? Help us make this the best analogue travel companion! Send your suggestions to travel@lomography.com and we’ll take a look.

Explore Stunning Photos from This City Amongst 17+ Million of Photos Uploaded

Tips from Lomography Magazine

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German singer ANNAMA reveals her relationship with the analogue world. Read the interview and see all the photos taken on Lomography Color Negative 800 film and with the Lomo'Instant Wide camera by Loris Signoretti.
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The Challenges and Joys of Making a Dream Come True
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Luca Ortolani: in Milan with the New Petzval 58 Bokeh Control
written by lomosmarti on 2017-11-09 #gear #people

Luca Ortolani is a talented portrait photographer with a really captivating style. He took the New Petzval 58 Bokeh Control along with him around the cities of Milan, where he realized some nice glamour shots.
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After our previous feature on Italian tattoo artist Luca Font's amazing work, he returns to share some Lomo'Instant Square portraits he took of his friends!
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We recently sent a roll of the new LomoChrome Color '92 Sun-kissed film to Riccardo La Valle, Italian photographer and director of photography. Read this interview to find out what he thought of the new formula and check out his results!
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A Day with Livio Ricciardi: in Milan with the Lomo'Instant Automat Glass
written by ludovicazen on 2024-06-08 #gear #people

In this second article to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Lomo’Instant family, Livio Ricciardi takes us along on a day in Milan with the Lomo'Instant Automat Glass!

Top Photography Events & Exhibitions

Mario Giacomelli – The Photographer and The Poet

2025-05-22 – 2025-09-07 · Milano, Italy

From May 22 to September 7, 2025, at Palazzo Reale in Milan, the 100th anniversary of Mario Giacomelli’s birth will be celebrated with an exhibition featuring over 300 original photographic works, including vintage prints, period photographs, documents, and archival materials. Cover photo: Mario Giacomelli, Io non ho mani che mi accarezzino il volto (1961 – 1963) © Archivio Mario Giacomelli.

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