James Bond is back (you can read our full No Time to Die review here), and we all know what means: near-death experiences in a variety of improbably spectacular destinations. As ever, the location work is guaranteed to spark a sense of wanderlust in even the most hardened homebody. They’re always to die for, and James Bond always gets within an inch of doing just that – this time in Jamaica, Italy, Norway and Scotland. Oh, and not forgetting franchise debutants the Faroe Islands.
If watching Bond 25 has you reaching for your passport, here’s where to go to follow in the footsteps of Daniel Craig, Rami Malek, Lashana Lynch, Léa Seydoux et al. Consider this your ultimate Time Out travel guide to the movie.
‘No Time to Die’ locations you have to visit
Atlantic Road, Norway
If you’re an aficionado of the Dangerous Roads website – and anyone with a car and a death wish really ought to be – you’ll probably already know about this spectacular eight-kilometre stretch of tarmac hugging Norway’s north coast. No Time to Die traverses this seriously Asgard-looking corner of the world in a scene that may or may not link to the movie’s Faroe Islands sequences (see below). And for a more Oslo-centric Bond pilgrimage, head to the Langvann lake in Nordmarka. It’s around 40km outside the capital and seems the likely location for the bit where Rami Malek’s baddie, Safin, takes a machine gun to an icy lake.
What to expect: An easy journey from the nearby city of Molde, followed by a drive along the edge of the world, with a series of dizzingly undulating bridges carrying you from island to island. Bad weather – or Bond villains – can render it borderline terrifying, so pick your moment.
Where to stay: Cabins, mountain lodges and campsites are plentiful in this remote corner of Scandinavia. But would 007 camp? Naaah. He’d probably head to the nearby island and fishing village of Håholmen to brood with a Heineken. The Håholmen Havstuer hotel can help with rooms, sea views and boat transfers.
Matera, Italy
James Bond loves a few things: dry mixed drinks, bespoke suits… He also really loves Italy – at least for work trips. No Time to Die is the fourth time Daniel Craig-era 007 has visited the country, and this time it is the Unesco-protected medieval town of Matera in southern Italy that’s taking centre stage. Bond gets into a fair bit of bother here in the movie as he traces the fate of Léa Seydoux’s Madeleine Swann. This hilltop jewel has served as a movie surrogate for Ye Olden Times in The Passion of Christ, Mary Magdalene and Wonder Woman, but judging by the trailer, No Time to Die will yank it into the twenty-first century in a splurge of gunfire, screeching tires and dead henchmen.
What to expect: In short? Rustic charm and off-the-beaten-track vibes, plus regional cuisine big on hot peppers, lamb and juicy belts of lagane pasta. Other movie locations are available in Italy, of course, but if you’ve seen Rome and Venice, Matera is a perfect slow-holiday destination for Bond nerds. And it’s only 30km from another key No Time to Die location: the Gravina aqueduct from which Bond will hurl himself in the film.
Where to stay: Matera is famous for the hundreds of caves that honeycomb the surrounding hillsides and ravines, which locals lived in as recently as the 1950s. If grotto chic is your thing, head for Sant’Angelo Luxury Resort in the centre of town, the Sassi, and check into one of the comfy cave rooms for a genuinely unique night’s kip.
Kalsoy, Faroe Islands
It’s sort of surprising the Faroe Islands haven’t been a Bond backdrop before: the landscapes in this part of the world are that dramatic. You might know them as rocky outcrops in the North Atlantic; 007 knows them as somewhere a baddie might sequester a world-ending weapon. The 18 volcanic islands are filled with vertigo-inducing cliffs, pinstriped lighthouses and sheep flocks galore (they outnumber people two to one).
What to expect: Precipitous crags, audacious hiking trails and lots and lots of puffins. Sure, they might end up on your plate, but the cuisine is mostly fermented mutton and fish, with the odd bit of blubber thrown in for good measure. The islands are also a great spot for spotting the Northern Lights – one good reason for visiting in the depths of winter.
Where to stay: For traditional exteriors twinned with a stylish Scandi interior, try Gásadalsgarður, which doubles as a sheep farm. Or if you want to feel a tiny bit closer to civilisation, opt for the grass-roofed Hotel Føroyar in compact capital Tórshavn (population 13,000).
Port Antonio, Jamaica
James Bond was born in Jamaica, at the home of author Ian Fleming. His villa doesn’t actually feature in No Time to Die, but the film begins with the reluctant spy relaxing near his creator’s hideaway in Port Antonio. This franchise adores a knowing wink to a previous instalment, and you may recall Jamaica was where Honey Ryder emerged from the sea in Dr No.
What to expect: Wander into the rainforest and gaze at waterfalls cascading into river pools, or sail through the reeds on a bamboo raft. It’s a much quieter spot than a lot of Bond’s travel destinations, so lap up the sunshine and forget about the daily grind, why don’t you.
Where to stay: There are some very luxurious options for a lazy week in Port Antonio. Geejam has a real 1960s vibe (remind you of anyone?) and even comes with its own recording studio, in case you feel the urge to attempt a new Bond theme. Alternatively, venture into the rainforest and stay in Kanopi House, tucked deep within the banyans.
Cairngorms, Scotland
Driving loch-side is almost always a fraught task for 007, and here he is, speeding along Loch Laggan as a Land Rover careers down the hillside behind him. No matter – Bond is used to alarming interpretations of the Highway Code. His last outing to Scotland saw him reckon with his past at childhood home Skyfall, and witness the death of Judi Dench’s M. This time, he’s a little further east, in the Cairngorms national park: a beautiful location for a spot of dangerous driving and demon confronting. (Don’t drive dangerously on your visit, pls.)
What to expect: Pine forests, glittering lochs, rare wildlife. Start at Aviemore, and enjoy the on-the-nose Scottish symbolism of faltering stags and peaty Scottish drinks. This town has a ski resort, too, so pack your Union Jack parachute and go full The Spy Who Loved Me by taking to the slopes.
Where to stay: For a group trip, it’s got to be this brooding farmhouse. If you’re looking for a base that screams ‘espionage’, though, book this camouflaged log cabin, which conveniently disappears into the hillside.
Read Time Out’s review of No Time to Die here.
From Dr No to Spectre: Every Bond movie ranked.
