Twenty years after the original premiered, The Devil Wears Prada 2 is back in theaters, reclaiming the roles that made them icons of contemporary cinema and the people’s favorite. The plot presents the digital Runway universe, but the locations tell a parallel story equally as interesting for any traveler: filming happened in Manhattan, Milan, and the surroundings of Lago di Como.
And unlike many productions that build cardboard versions of the cities in a studio, this movie used real locations with a geographic fidelity that makes each scene a concrete travel reference. Here are all of them…
NEW YORK: MANHATTAN AS THE MAIN STAGE
New York was the epicenter of the production, with most of the filming happening in Manhattan. And unlike the first movie, which captured the frantic rhythm of a recently-hired assistant, the sequel shows a city that Andy Sachs knows like the palm of her hand: the same buildings, the same sidewalks, but from a completely different point of view.
The places that appear onscreen and that are worth visiting:
- 🏢1221 Avenue of the Americas — the same Midtown building that served as the exterior of Elias-Park Publications. Anne Hathaway was seen here during filming.
- 🏛️American Museum of Natural History — the sequel used this iconic building on Central Park West as the location of the fictional Met Gala, one of the most important moments in the plot.
- 🌉 Brooklyn and Long Island — for daily-life scenes, far away from the editorial glamour of the center, but iconic in both movies.
MILAN: WHERE THE MOVIE TAKES FASHION SERIOUSLY
In Milan, they filmed at la Piazza del Duomo, la Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, la Piazza della Scala, la Pinacoteca di Brera, il Teatro alla Scala, and il Palazzo Parigi Hotel. It’s not a random list of tourist locations; it is a journey through spaces that define the city’s visual and cultural identity.
What makes this filming moment particularly fascinating is a detail that cannot be repeated. During Milan Fashion Week, Meryl Streep and Stanley Tucci went to the Dolce & Gabbana Spring/Summer 2026 fashion show and sat in the first row, completely in character. The fashion show was filmed and included in the sequel, with the official confirmation from Dolce & Gabbana’s press office. The line between fiction and the real world completely vanished that afternoon.
The most relevant places to visit:
- 🏛️Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II — the main access to the gallery was completely closed off during filming. One of the most elegant constructions of the European 19th century, with mosaics, glass vaults, and an energy that no other commercial gallery in the world replicates.
- 🎨Academia di Brera — the Runway fashion show was filmed here, in the fine arts school.
- 🍽️Il Salumaio di Montenapoleone — Andy and Emily have lunch here with Donatella Versace. A familiar restaurant since 1957, discreetly located in a Renaissance patio between Via Montenapoleone and Via della Spiga.
- ⛪Santa Maria delle Grazie — the gala dinner in the movie was filmed here, in the 15th-century Dominican convent where you’ll find The Last Supper.
LAGO DI COMO: THE THIRD ACT OF THE TRIP
The Villa Balbiano, a 16th-century palazzo located directly on the lake in Ossuccio, appears in the movie as Benji Barnes’ villa, played by Justin Theroux. It is the setting for the most exclusive scenes by the water with panoramic views and historic architecture, also in House of Gucci by Ridley Scott.
The production’s design team added a new garden and a sculpture gallery specifically for this project. What you see onscreen is an improved version of something already extraordinary. You can’t miss Prague on your trip to Europe!
Lago di Como doesn’t need the movie to justify your trip. But having it as a visual reference offers an extra layer of context to every corner: you know exactly where you’re standing and what happened there.
HOW TO BUILD YOUR ROUTE
Denizen
A route that combines Manhattan, Milan, and Lake Como requires planning, and it’s exactly the type of trip where your Royal Holiday membership can make a difference. Through Royal Travel, you can book flights, transportation between cities, and accommodation, with the help of someone who knows your membership and how to optimize every day of the itinerary.
Use your Vacation Credits for accommodation and learn about TravelXtra to visit more places. Remember that the reservation must be made in advance in Santa Maria delle Grazie to see The Last Supper. And for an afternoon in the Galleria, or simply an hour in a Brera café with no set plans.
The spring and the start of fall are ideal seasons to visit Milán and Lake Como: nice weather, impressive photographic lighting, and a less-crowded atmosphere than the summer.
Discover more destinations on our website, and check with your Holiday Advisor to build your route in one or all three destinations.