Glamorous Greek Island of Spetses, the Setting of Daniel Craig’s Knives Out

The star of Daniel Craig’s Knives Out sequel is on the Greek island of Spetses, which—with its glamorous mansions, hiking trails, and secluded beaches—provides the setting of the Netflix movie.

Spetses is an upscale affluent island of the Saronic Islands, where production for Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery took place in the summer of 2021 during the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions.

The Greek island that has escaped mass tourism is the perfect place to enjoy a wonderful walk, as the distinctive architecture, cobble streets, and fragrant gardens packed to the brim with jasmine and bougainvillaea, make it a joy to discover on foot.

An unusual aspect of Spetses is that no private automobiles are allowed within the town limits. The most common modes of transportation are walking, horse-drawn carriages, bicycles, mopeds, and motorcycles. Only taxis and delivery vehicles are allowed in the downtown area. Ferries and high-speed hydrofoils arrive regularly from the Athenian port of Piraeus.

“Amazing experience” shooting Knives Out in Spetses

In discussing his experience shooting his new film in Greece, the Bond star had nothing but positive things to say about the country.

“I mean, it was an amazing experience,” Craig said at the BFI London Film Festival.

Spetses boasts the imposing and magnificent Poseidonion Grand Hotel. The hotel was first built in 1914 and was the brainchild of Sotirios Anargyros in the style of the Negresco Hotel in Venice and the Carlton in Cannes.

The hotel was completely renovated in 2009, with special attention to the architectural fixtures of the building and has since won an impressive array of international awards. The locals refer to it as “our acropolis.”

A couple of minutes from the hotel is the house of Sotirios Anargyros, which was built in 1904. The mansion is guarded by two Egyptian sphinxes—an exotic note rarely seen on a Greek island.

Spetses also boasts the the Bouboulina Museum. Lascarina Bouboulina is one of the few female heroes of the Greek Revolution and notably one of the most renowned women in the history of Greece. Furthermore, the Xatzigiannis-Mexis Museum, which is housed in the superb mansion of Hatzigiannis Mexis, one of the notables who played a leading part during the fight for Greek independence.

The coastal route to the Old Harbour (Palio Limani) is a gem of architecture. One can marvel at the Captain’s mansions, perched high from the cobbled road and surrounded by beautiful gardens with intricate stone patterns—dolphins and anchors being the favorite designs.

A selection of boutique hotels, sophisticated restaurants, and marinas filled with yachts from all over the world are just some of the more cosmopolitan attractions of this island.

With its rich history and culture, museums, beautiful beaches, crystal-clear waters, and cosmopolitan nightlife, Spetses is the perfect location for a short-break or long vacation throughout the year.

When English novelist and screenwriter Anthony Horowitz first visited the town of Spetses, he described it as “charming, unlike anywhere I’ve visited in Greece, starting at ground level, with mosaics fashioned out of colored pebbles.”

It is against this setting that Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery was filmed. The film is a follow-up to the 2019 hit Knives Out. The new film sees Daniel Craig reprising his role as detective Benoit Blanc.

The plot surrounds tech billionaire Miles Brown, who invites his friends for a getaway on his private Greek island. When someone turns up dead, Detective Benoit Blanc is put on the case.

The rest of Glass Onion’s ensemble cast includes Edward Norton, Kate Hudson, Jamie Lee Curtis, and Janelle Monae.

Spetses was also the setting for another recent Hollywood movie, The Lost Daughter, featuring Olivia Coleman and Dakota Johnson.

The Lost Daughter, a psychological drama about motherhood, was directed by American actress and filmmaker Maggie Gyllenhaal. The movie, released for streaming on Netflix, was Gyllenhaal’s feature film debut as a director.