For many years the James Bond franchise has entertained and inspired us to see more of the world. From cosmopolitan cities to breathtaking landscapes, our favourite spy has been to many stunning locations. To celebrate the 60th anniversary of the first official James Bond film, we’ve listed some of our top '007' travel destinations, which you can experience on our guided holidays.
Egypt
‘The Spy Who Loved Me’, which is considered to be Roger Moore's best Bond film, takes place in Cairo and sees '007' fight one of the film franchise's most famous villains - Jaws. On our holidays to Egypt, we’ll enjoy guided excursions to the Pyramids of Giza, Luxor and Valley of the Kings. Learn more about these incredible sites in our Top Places To Visit In Egypt blog post.
Monaco
The famous phrase ‘Bond, James Bond’ was first uttered in ‘Dr No’ at a casino in Monte Carlo in Monaco and was also used in some scenes in ‘Goldeneye’. One of the smallest countries in the world, Monaco has a special setting and a Mediterranean climate which makes it a fairy-tale place that joins mountains and sea. Get a taste of glitz and glamour on a day trip to Monaco, as part of our Cannes & the Côte d’Azur holidays.
Udaipur, India
Udaipur is known as the “Venice of the East” and it's a remarkable city built around Lake Pichola. The floating palace is featured in ‘Octopussy’ and visitors can enjoy a boat cruise on the serene and beautiful Lake Pichola on our India - Splendours of Delhi, The Taj Mahal & Rajasthan tour, as well as visiting Jaipur and Jodhpur.
Venice, Italy
It’s no surprise Bond has visited “La Serenissima” numerous times, it features in ‘From Russia with Love’, ‘Moonraker' and ‘Casino Royale.’ One of the highlights of our Lake Garda holidays is a trip to Venice, an archipelago of 118 islands connected by enchanting canals and bridges. We’ll discover famous landmarks such as the bustling St. Mark's Square, the stunning Gothic building of Ca’ d’Oro, the imposing marble Palazzo Ducale and the Ponte di Rialto.
Istanbul, Turkey
Istanbul was featured in ‘The Word Is Not Enough’ and ‘From Russia with Love’, where James Bond visits the iconic Hagia Sophia to retrieve top secret documents. Formerly known as Constantinople, the city was seen as the capital of the world in the Middle Ages given its strategic location as a central trading place. Istanbul has been hugely influential throughout the centuries having played host to Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman Rulers. On our holidays to Turkey, we’ll enjoy a guided tour of Istanbul, taking in highlights like the Blue Mosque, Topkapi Palace and the Grand Bazaar. If you need some ideas on what to do in your spare time, then read our Top 8 highlights of Istanbul blog post for inspiration.
Iceland
Although ‘Die Another Day’ may not have been Pierce Brosnan’s best Bond film, some of the scenes were shot in spectacular Iceland. The ‘Land of Fire and Ice’ has numerous natural wonders and breathtaking beautiful landscapes. From the Blue Lagoon to spouting geysers, it is a mesmerising country just waiting to be explored. On our Iceland Holidays, we’ll visit during the winter months, when it becomes even more enchanting and there’s a better chance to experience the Northern Lights.
Rio De Janeiro, Brazil
Jaws, one of the most iconic Bond villains returns in ‘Moonraker’, where he fights Bond on top of a cable car at the Sugarloaf Mountain. From relaxing on Copacabana beach to seeing Christ the Redeemer, Rio de Janeiro is a wonderful and colourful city to explore. This is just one of the many highlights of our Brazil & Argentina holiday, where we’ll also explore Iguazu Falls and Buenos Aires. Discover two of South America's most dynamic countries on this once in a lifetime trip with us.
Japan
The majority of ‘You Only Live Twice’ is set in Japan, a country with a unique blend of ancient traditions and modern culture. On our Japan holidays, we’ll experience a Tea Ceremony in Tokyo, explore the ancient city of Kyoto, enjoy a geisha performance, take the bullet train, see sika deer in Nara Park and much more.
Meteora Monasteries, Greece
Located in Greece, Meteora is known as the Garden of Rocks and here you will find six monasteries at the top of these rock pillars. In ‘For Your Eyes Only’ Bond has to make a daring climb to the top to retrieve a stolen missile system from the villain, Kristatos. Fortunately, you don’t need to do any climbing to visit this incredible UNESCO site as part of our Discover Athens, Thessaloniki and Alexander the Great’s empire holiday.
Vienna, Austria
James Bond enjoys a visit to the Wiener Riesenrad, in ‘The Living Daylights’. It’s a Ferris Wheel in the Wurstelprater Amusement Park and, along with St Stephen’s Cathedral, The Hofburg and Schönbrunn Palace, is one of Vienna's most famous attractions. Take a Vienna City Break and in the winter, you can explore its wonderful Christmas markets, check out our blog post on 5 reasons to fall in love with Vienna for some ideas on what to see in the 'City of Music.'
Do you want to travel in the footsteps of James Bond and visit these iconic destinations? Book your guided holiday with us online now - Nobody does it better…than the Travel Department!
