Seven Unique Locations to Follow in James Bond's Footsteps
1. Golden Eye Villas (Jamaica)
Golden Eye is a handful of secluded villas near Ocho Rios, on the north coast of the island. It was in one of these villas where Ian Fleming created the character. Jamaica only appears as a setting in the first film, Dr. No (Sean Connery as Bond, 1962). The beach from which Ursula Andress emerges in her white bikini with a knife at her waist is at Laughing Waters and attracts a million visitors a year. It is one of the best backdrops on the island for snorkeling.
2. Venice (Italy)
Agent 007 has visited various cities and regions in Italy in six of the 22 films, including the latest, where action takes place in Siena during the famous Palio race. He has been in the city of canals three times.
3. Piz Gloria Restaurant (Switzerland)
Situated at an altitude of 2,970 meters, near Mürren (in the photo), it was the world's first rotating restaurant (1969) and the icon from On Her Majesty's Secret Service, the same year and the only film of George Lazenby as 007.
4. Casino de Montecarlo
Aside from having a license to kill, 007 also plays and wins in casinos (the first novel, Casino Royale, inspires and titles the 21st movie). The most elegant in Europe, the one in Monte Carlo, is only visited in GoldenEye (Pierce Brosnan, 1995). The roads of the French Riviera are Bond territory during spectacular car chases.
5. Taj Lake Palace (India)
Octopussy (Roger Moore, 1983) is a beautiful and mysterious woman (Maud Adams) who lives in the Taj Lake Palace in Udaipur, one of the most spectacular hotels in the world, a summer palace situated on a 1.6-hectare island in the middle of Lake Pichola. Visiting it entirely is only possible if you are a hotel guest (from 500 euros for a double room).
6. Paradise Island (Bahamas)
The Bahamas are another legendary destination associated with the hero. They appear in Thunderball (Sean Connery, 1965) and pose as Madagascar in Casino Royale (Daniel Craig, 2006), where Bond enters a dangerously high-stakes poker game filmed at the One&Only Ocean Club on Paradise Island. This hotel offers guests the chance to stay in the James Bond suite starting at 6,158 euros per night.
7. Ha Long Bay (Vietnam)
Southeast Asia has been a regular setting in 007 films. Vietnam's Ha Long Bay appears in Tomorrow Never Dies (Pierce Brosnan, 1997) and in The Man with the Golden Gun (Roger Moore, 1974). Another Asian location from the latter film, Thailand's Phang Nga Bay, features the original Ko Tapu or James Bond Island, which was renamed after the film.