Tourists looking for an unforgettable experience like no other come to Sydney, one of the most beautiful cities in the world. Located in the Southern Hemisphere, Sydney is known for its beaches, wildlife, harbors, and the iconic Sydney Opera House.
Every adventurer and explorer should include Sydney on his or her bucket list because of the number of festivals and events (Mardi Gras, Sydney Film Festival). In addition, Sydney has its own zoo, gardens, suburbs, and restaurants, all of which contribute to this once-in-a-lifetime experience.
About the Sydney Opera House
One of the most recognizable buildings in the world, the Sydney Opera House is a performance hall named after opera, a distinctive European singing style. The building was designed by Jorn Utzon and declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2007.
Sydney Opera House is synonymous with both the city and the country of Australia because of its iconic style. There are over 8.2 million people visiting the Sydney Opera House every year, which makes it one of the world’s most popular tourist attractions. Performing arts, such as music, dance, and theatre, are all represented at the Sydney Opera House.
Best Time to Visit
Early in the morning or late at night are the most ideal times to visit the Sydney Opera House to avoid crowds.
Take a Sydney Opera House tour first to admire the inside of the building, then take a walk outside to explore the grounds.
Sydney’s landmark is an especially gorgeous place to explore at sunset.
It is probably best to avoid visiting the Sydney Opera House on hot summer days, rainy days, and school holidays in January when it gets really crowded.
Sydney Opera House Tour
Everyone visiting Sydney should consider a backstage tour of the Sydney Opera House. For good reason, this is one of the most popular tourist activities in Sydney. We thoroughly enjoyed our tour experience and learned a lot about this fascinating and iconic building and its history.
You can walk around the base and get close to the facade, especially at dusk, but you must also take the inside tour to fully appreciate it. During your Opera House tour, you’ll be provided with headsets so you won’t miss anything.
With its striking sail-like facade, which changes depending on the season and the time of day, the building beckons to be photographed from every angle.
On the Opera House tour, groups are kept to a maximum of 12. Our guide was very knowledgeable about the architecture of the Opera House. We learned about the architect Jorn Utzon, the dramas and conflicts that occurred, the huge construction challenges that were overcome, the public’s reaction, and the ultimate triumph of this UNESCO-listed landmark.
The tour provides plenty of opportunities to take photos and uses a variety of media to tell stories. You will have an opportunity to see some of the performance spaces on the tour, but this will be determined by the season and schedule at the time of your visit.
Our guide was very knowledgeable about the architecture of the Opera House, showed us video clips about the building’s design and history, and shared inside jokes about past shows and their famous performers.
Operating Hours and Tour Fee
The standard Opera House tour runs every day of the year. There is a very generous schedule of 1-hour tours that start at 9 am and leave every half hour through till 5 pm every day of the week.
Entry is $43 AUD ($27.44 USD) for adults and $23 AUD ($14.88 USD) for children. You can check current prices here.
There is also a longer 2-hour tour options that include meals.
Reserve Your Tickets
We were surprised to discover how easy it is to get a tour through some of the rooms, corridors, and theaters.
Tours take place daily and almost all day long. You can book your tour online and you can choose a time and date. You can pay with a credit card, and then collect the tickets at the information desk on the first floor of the building on the day of the tour.
Venues and Restaurants
Venues
On average, 2000 plus events are held annually at six performance centers in this beautiful building. There is a wide range of performances at these venues, such as operas, rock concerts, and seminars.
The Concert Hall is the largest venue inside the Sydney Opera House, while the Utzon Room is the smallest. Additionally, there is the Joan Sutherland Theatre, the Playhouse, the Drama Theatre, and the Forecourt.
Restaurants
There are three main restaurants at the Opera House.
- Bennelong Restaurant
Located on Level 1 of the Sydney Opera House, the Bennelong restaurant serves modern Australian cuisine, so you can enjoy the flavors of Australia on your plate. - Portside Restaurant
Under the Colonnade on the Broad Western Walk, Portside faces the Harbour Bridge. The Portside restaurant offers a private dining experience with uninterrupted views of Sydney’s skyline.
There is a lunchtime opening at 11.30 am, and a dinner time opening at 5 pm each day at Portside. Restaurant options include a-la-carte, kids’ meals, and grab-and-go (ideal for pre-theatre dinners). - Opera Kitchen & Bar
On the Lower Concourse level of the Opera House, the Opera kitchen is one of Sydney’s most popular dining spots. Open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner daily, it offers a seasonal menu.
Sydney Opera House Shows
In a typical year, the Sydney Opera House presents more than 2,000 shows, including more than 300 operas. Other shows include stand-ups, rock shows, orchestras, ballet performances, art and culture lectures, theatre, dance, and international concerts.
The performances usually start at 7.30 pm and go on for about 2 to 3 hours. There is an interval or two where you can drink at the bar while enjoying Sydney Harbour views. Throughout these performances, English subtitles are projected on a screen above the stage.
Visit the “What’s On” page on the Sydney Opera House website to see what will be playing during your visit.
Sydney Opera House Photos
