No Time Like the Present to Visit these Epic Bond Locations

Daniel Craig’s final outing as James Bond has been a long time coming. No Time To Die was supposed to be released early in 2020 but the global pandemic made it impossible to release such a high-profile film in cinemas. Other films were also delayed due Coronavirus, but it was Bond that became something of a punchline due to multiple failed attempts to release the 25th instalment in the long-running franchise. Craig even joined in on the act with a cheeky advert recently implying that the film was “worth the wait”.

With travel also being on hold for most of the last 18 months, fans keen on seeing the film and visiting the locations from their favourite series have been frustrated. The good news is that the imminent release of the movie will add a whole host of new destinations to an already impressive list of Bond locations to visit, and we’ve picked out the best right here including some you can visit with our immersive group adventures.

The trailer for No Time To Die has been viewed millions of times and only serves to get us more excited for the new movie. The standout location from the first batch of footage we saw was Matera – close to Puglia – and the ancient stone city has become popular with travellers and filmmakers alike in recent years. The city is in the quiet region of Basilicata, Southern Italy, but is like nowhere else in Italy. People still live in houses carved into the rocks here and, due to it feeling largely untouched by modern trappings, it has emerged from a serious financial slump last century to become one of the hottest travel destinations in the world. Filmmakers love it here because they can recreate ancient locations such as Jerusalem and Persia. We’re not sure what 007 has in mind for his Italian trip, but we doubt he will be taking things as slowly as most locals do.

We’ve picked out a couple of places to stay in Puglia where part of the film was shot, but if you want to follow in the burning rubber tracks of Bond’s Aston Martin, then our exclusive Southern Italy TRIP by Culture Trip will let you spend a night in the stone city!

No matter where his latest adventure takes him, Bond will always find himself in London. His office is based here and most of the films feature at least one scene shot in town. If you want to look the part, then make sure you head to the fancy shops in Mayfair before booking a stay at one of the high-end hotels close to MI6 headquarters in Vauxhall.

Here’s an interesting Bond location that is often overlooked purely because of its unassuming nature. Sölden (sometimes written in English as Soelden) is in the Tyrol region of Austria and featured heavily in Spectre (2015) with the iconic mountaintop restaurant Ice Q converted into a medical facility in the movie. There was a memorable chase sequence shot here too and you can even see some vehicles used in this scene on the mountain today. 007 Elements is the main reason to visit if you’re a fan of the franchise as the exhibition space has been carved into the Gaislachkogl Mountain and houses some incredible Bond memorabilia.

Bond has always had a strong connection with Jamaica. The Caribbean island is the birthplace of 007, with author Ian Fleming writing the novels the series is based on here. We saw scenes shot here in Live and Let Die (1973) as well as in the first film adaptation, Dr. No, so it’s fitting that the new film also heads back home.

One of the other great locations associated with Craig’s tenure as James Bond is Mexico City. In Spectre, 007 is seen on an unofficial mission during the Day of the Dead celebrations in the city. It’s an exhilarating chase sequence that will get you in the mood for adventure, and the vibrant location is just as much fun if you’re a casual visitor.

Planning a trip to Mexico City? Then book Culture Trip’s five-day Mexico City tour, where you’ll be guided through the best the city has to offer by our local insider.

A favourite of many Bond’s through the ages, Istanbul‘s glamourous mix of Asian, European and African cultures make it a perfect spot for globetrotters and super spies alike. Sean Connery first took the character to Turkey in From Russia with Love (1963) and subsequent actors have spent many hours running through the bazaars and enjoying spectacular views of the Bosphorus.

Want to experience your own adventure in Turkey? Our exhilarating TRIP from Istanbul to Antalya will see you hot-air ballooning over Cappadocia and climbing the wild Taurus Mountains.