Sydney Opera House
About
The Sydney Opera House is the most photographed landmark in Sydney and a global architectural icon, designed by Danish architect Jørn Utzon and completed in 1973 on Bennelong Point along the harbour. For travellers asking Sydney which country, it stands in Australia, and Sydney in which state, it is in New South Wales. Its sweeping precast concrete sails are clad in more than a million white and cream Swedish ceramic tiles, shimmering against the harbour skyline. Although construction ran ten years over schedule and far beyond budget, leading to Utzon’s resignation, the finished masterpiece has been UNESCO listed since 2007. Today it stages around 1,800 performances annually across multiple venues including the Concert Hall, Opera Theatre, Drama Theatre, Playhouse and Studio, making it central to cultural life for Sydney people. The Forecourt steps and Northern Terrace promenade are free to explore, while interior access requires a tour or performance ticket, one of the top things to do in Sydney within the wider Sydney area.
Highlights
What makes this place special
Mrs Macquarie's Chair Viewpoint
A prime harbourside viewpoint sits one kilometre east inside the Royal Botanic Garden, offering the classic angle that frames both the Opera House and Harbour Bridge together. It is about a 15 minute walk from the main entrance.
Concert Hall Tour
An hour long guided tour reveals backstage corridors, world class acoustics and the Utzon Room, the only interior completed to the architect’s original design and restored in 2004. Check Sydney time in advance to align tours with performance schedules.
Things to Know
- •Exterior free 24/7, best photos from Mrs Macquarie's Chair across the harbor
- •1-hour guided tour 50 AUD adult
- •Backstage tour (early AM) 200 AUD
- •Bars and restaurants accessible without a ticket
- •Opera Bar terrace at sunset is the classic harbor view
