Looking to give your next travel adventure a sophisticated twist? Then James Bond, of all people, might provide the inspiration you need. Among many other things, 007 is a man of the world, an individual who finds himself in all corners of the globe just through the course of his profession.
You can take the good parts of his adventures — the destinations — and leave out the less-than-welcome components, such as doing battle with supervillains. There’s a long list of Bond-related destinations across the world, which means you’ll have your summer holidays sorted for some years to come. Here are some places worth visiting.
Wandering Through Istanbul
Istanbul is one of the world’s great cities. Packed with history and culture, it’s a city unlike any other on the planet. It’s been featured in numerous James Bond movies, the first being From Russia With Love way back in 1963. He returns to Istanbul in The World Is Not Enough and Skyfall, where he finds himself in the city’s Grand Bazaar as he pursues a mercenary.
You can take a James Bond of Istanbul that’ll take you to all of the main shooting locations in the city. However, you don’t necessarily need to make the James Bond connection formal. This is a city that’ll handsomely reward a wandering visitor, so feel free to simply step out for a stroll and see where the evening takes you.
Hit the Monte Carlo Casino
Is there a more James Bond-esque destination than Monte Carlo? This ritzy corner of Monaco is full of glitz and glamour, offering visitors the chance to temporarily step into the shoes of Britain’s most famous secret agent. Bond’s favoured Monte Carlo hangout is the world-renowned Monte Carlo Casino, which has been featured in several 007 movies, including Never Say Never Again and Goldeneye. For the full experience, head inside and sit down at one of the many tables available to the public. Just keep in mind that this casino is more serious than most, so players must know what to do at the table. Playing a few games of poker online before a trip can help bring you up to speed with the rhythm of the game before you walk through those famed doors; ideally, play a site that offers a couple of different poker variants, since they play a couple of versions in Monte Carlo. Packing some formalwear will have you looking the part; this is an establishment where wearing a tuxedo wouldn’t look out of place.
Skiing in the Alps
Looking to get away from the city, and into the great outdoors? Then the Alps might be just the James Bond experience you’ve been looking for. As we’ve seen time and time, Bond is a more than capable skier (because of course he is), and there’s nowhere he likes to shred more than the Alps. He’s found himself in the Alps “on assignment” a fairly impressive six times, beginning with On Her Majesty’s Secret Service and ending (for now) with Spectre. In truth, you can visit any of the major skiing resorts in the Alps and have a Bond-worthy experience, but for the best of the best, look at Chamonix.
Exploring James Bond’s London
You don’t necessarily need to head to a foreign land to get the James Bond experience. As Britain’s most famous spy, there are plenty of domestic shooting locations that are worth visiting, especially in London.
Some of the well-known Bond filming locations in the city include:
- SIS Building (MI6 headquarters)
- Westminster Bridge
- The National Gallery
- Somerset House
- Whitehall
All of these sites can be visited for free (well, from the outside at least). For a paid experience, head to Rules Restaurant in Covent Garden for dinner. Aside from being featured in Spectre, this restaurant has the distinction of being London’s oldest restaurant that’s still in operation. It opened its doors way back in 1798, which makes it as British as James Bond is.
