The Christmas location loved by celebs that has major link to James Bond set

007 fans will know that Austria has been the setting for multiple must-see James Bond movies - but not everyone knows that it appeared secretly in scenes for the 1987 movie The Living Daylights.

According to the script, the location was Bratislava, now the capital of Slovakia - but in reality, the filming location was Vienna. Viewers were gripped by suspense as they watched Timothy Dalton as Bond staging an escape from an opulent concert theatre, little imagining the real-life place where the action happened.

Back then, Bratislava was still part of Czechoslovakia, which was in the grip of communism at the time, so they filmed at the Austrian Volksoper instead, which still exists today. It proudly puts on around 300 performances of opera, ballet and musicals every year in the city known the world over for leading when it comes to classical music: Hansel and Gretel is among the current screenings.

Meanwhile, Bond can also be seen leaving an opulent building during the film which we can reveal is Vienna's best-known palace, Schonbrunn. Nowadays, it's one of the Austrian capital's most famous tourist attractions, boasting a jaw-dropping Rococco interior and a surrounding estate with awe-inspiring gardens.

There's no need to be content catching glimpses of these locations on-screen. If they've whetted your appetite, Vienna has compiled all of the Austrian Bond moments, as well as many more from around the world, into an exhibition fans won't want to miss. 007 Vienna, held at the METAStadt Exhibition Grounds, is a huge collection of original 007 cars, watches and unique gadgets from across various films, and all gathered in one place.

Viewers can get up close and personal with the Aston Martin DB5 from No Time To Die, the Jaguar C-X75 from Spectre and the autogyro Little Nellie from You Only Live Twice to name just a few.

Whether it's the very latest movies or ones dating back to the 1960s, this is a complete collection - and fans of bling will enjoy a glimpse of Bond’s sparkling vintage Omega watch from the final scene of Spectre.

There's never been a better time for Bond fans to book that flight, as it's currently running but won't be there past February 9, 2025.

Winter is the perfect time to visit Vienna, as almost nowhere is quite so quintessentially Christmassy.

Picture yourself perched in a horse and carriage ride, with a gleaming white blanket of snow crunching under the horses' hooves and flakes swirling through the air like an atmospheric scene from a movie, as you traverse opulent city streets.

The twinkling lights and piping hot festive snacks at the city's world-famous Christmas markets will warm hearts right through to January 6 in some locations, including the Schonbrunn Palace, which allows visitors to combine sightseeing with shopping.

One of the best hotels in Vienna is the Hilton Plaza, a luxurious 1920s-themed building with a stunning black and white Art Deco lobby; the grand address is centrally located and within walking distance of a huge number of major attractions, including the Volksoper.

It's barely five minutes walk from the Sigmund Freud Museum, for those who are curious about psychology, while the Hofburg Palace telling the story of famed 1800s Empress Sisi is within 15 minutes, as are world-famous art galleries.

Multiple bus stops are within a 30-second walk, an Underground station is less than two minutes walk away and there's a busy tram network too, so for anywhere you can't reach on foot, the immediate area of the hotel will have you covered.

Further afield, unmissable attractions include the aforementioned 007 Vienna and the art-filled Belvedere Palace in a beautiful suburb, the latter being perfect for Klimt fans.

During the winter peak season of January and February, Strictly fans shouldn't miss the chance to attend one of Vienna's signature balls, in the city where the waltz was first invented.

Then food-wise, the Hilton Plaza's retro bar and restaurant Émile is great for sampling a generous slice of the schnitzel for which the country is famed; there's also a happy hour in the Executive Lounge every late afternoon where peckish guests can fill up on beers, wines and hot snacks from the buffet for free.

What's more, while Vienna might just be the best city in Europe to experience a winter season, Austria's capital is equally likely to delight all year round.