A guide to the locations of James Bond in Fleming’s novels and on screen.
James Bond was never meant to stay in London for long. Ian Fleming sent him to casinos, hotels, islands, border towns and dangerous corners of the world, often drawing on places he knew himself.
The films took that further. Jamaica, Istanbul, Switzerland, Portugal, Italy, the Bahamas and dozens of other locations became part of Bond’s appeal, sometimes playing themselves and sometimes standing in for somewhere else.
This page brings together our guides to the locations from the novels and films. Whether you’re planning a trip, checking a reference or simply following Bond across the map from home, you’ll find them here.
This guide covers three types of James Bond location:
- Novel locations from Ian Fleming’s books
- Filming locations used in the Eon films and selected non-Eon productions
- Real-world Bond landmarks, including places closely associated with the franchise
Locations from the books
Ian Fleming rarely left Bond in one place for long. The novels take him from Royale-les-Eaux and Istanbul to Jamaica, New York and Japan, mixing real places with fictional settings shaped by Fleming’s own travels, reading and wartime experience.
Only Moonraker keeps Bond entirely in Britain, with the action centred on London, Kent and the southeast of England.
The guides below cover the novels published so far, with more being added over time.
Filming locations
The films inherited Fleming’s taste for memorable locations and expanded it further. Jamaica was the obvious starting point for Dr No, reflecting the author’s own connection with the island, and the production returned there for Live and Let Die and No Time to Die.
Over the decades, Bond’s travels have taken audiences to every inhabited continent. Istanbul, Monte Carlo, London, Scotland, Norway, Morocco, Italy and the Bahamas all belong to the screen version of Bond’s world, sometimes playing themselves and sometimes standing in for somewhere else.
The guides below cover selected locations from the pre-Craig films, including places visited by Sean Connery, George Lazenby, Roger Moore, Timothy Dalton, and Pierce Brosnan.
Daniel Craig filming locations
The five Daniel Craig films took Bond to some of the franchise’s most memorable locations, from the Bahamas and Montenegro to Rome, Norway, Jamaica and Matera.
The guides below cover every film in the era, tracing the production from Casino Royale through to No Time to Die.
On location
Travel has always been one of the great pleasures of Bond. These articles follow 007 onto the ground, comparing the real streets, buildings and landscapes with the versions that appear on the page or screen.
- Matera: retracing the opening sequence from No Time to Die
- Mission Report: Goldeneye
- Mission Report: Goldeneye – the return
- OHMSS: Lisbon
- Diamonds Are Forever: Amsterdam
- Die Another Day: Cádiz
- Mission Report: In the Footsteps of 007
From the casinos of Royale-les-Eaux to the streets of Matera, location has always been central to the appeal of James Bond. Whether your interest lies in Ian Fleming’s novels or the films they inspired, we hope these guides help you discover more of 007’s world.
Frequently asked questions
Are James Bond locations real?
Some are, some aren’t. Ian Fleming mixed real places with fictional ones such as Royale-les-Eaux, while the films often used one location to stand in for another. Part of the fun is discovering where fiction ends and reality begins.
Can you visit James Bond filming locations?
Many of them can still be visited today. Cities such as Matera, Istanbul and Venice are easy to explore independently, while other locations are private property or have changed significantly since filming took place.
Where did Ian Fleming write the James Bond novels?
Ian Fleming wrote the Bond novels at Goldeneye, his home on the north coast of Jamaica. He spent part of each year there, writing in the mornings before enjoying the island that inspired so much of Bond’s world.
Where was No Time to Die filmed?
The production travelled widely, with filming taking place in Matera, Norway, Jamaica, London and the Faroe Islands, which doubled for Safin’s island. Our dedicated guide explores each location in more detail.
What is the most famous James Bond filming location?
There is no single answer, but among the best known are Piz Gloria in Switzerland from On Her Majesty’s Secret Service, the Casino de Monte-Carlo, the MI6 building at Vauxhall Cross, and the ancient streets of Matera featured in No Time to Die.
Explore more Bond
Share this article
