Sydney Opera House
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To go to Sydney and not go to the opera house would be a disservice to yourself. The architecture is jaw-dropping, and they offer a wide variety of performances to suit any taste. We also went on a guided tour of the opera house, which I would recommend because we got to learn some history and see all of the theaters.
A trip to Sydney is not complete until you visit the Sydney Opera House. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is so iconic! The moment I booked my trip, I immediately made plans to visit. I wasn't able to see a performance, but I did take the Backstage tour. They offer a variety of tours including an Architecture tour and a Taste of the House tour. They also offer a Mobility Access tour for visitors with limited mobility. Tours are offered in multiple languages. The Backstage tour is one of the more expensive tours, but it is absolutely worth it! If you enjoy the performing arts, treat yourself and get a ticket. I booked a ticket directly through the Opera House website. The tour groups are small (I think there were about 15 people in the group). The tour is 2.5 hours long. It's offered daily and has an early start time of 7 am. The tour starts at the stage door entrance on the Covered Concourse. Do not go to the guided tours area near Opera Bar (unless you have a ticket for the General tour). Connor was our tour guide and he was awesome! He was really cool and knowledgeable and I enjoyed his hybrid American/Aussie accent. We saw everything from stage props, dressing rooms, multiple auditoriums, rehearsal spaces, the orchestra pit, service elevators, sound equipment, etc. Photographs are allowed in some areas depending on what shows are on. At the end of the tour, we enjoyed a group breakfast in the Green Room. We were able to order breakfast before the tour started. I had an almond croissant which was delicious! For my entrée I ordered the Healthy Breakfast which consisted of avocado, boiled egg, tomatoes, spinach, and sourdough toast. The meal was good, but could have used some seasoning. I also had a cup of coffee. I love that breakfast was included with the tour. Though I didn't get to see a performance at the Sydney Opera House, I am so glad that I booked this tour. This was by far, one of my favorite activities that I did on my trip of a lifetime! Review #1000!
... we bought tickets to see Gatsby.... We weren't expecting that type of show to be at the opera house.... My friend booked the tickets without any research... she thought she was booking The Great Gatsby... .... Anyway, we decided to sit back and enjoy the show and where we were in the world.. After Gatsby we enjoyed music and the atmosphere in an outdoor concert....what a beautiful place...
The Sydney Opera House somehow manages to live up to the hype and exceeded it. You can see it in photos a thousand times, but standing there in person with the harbor breeze and the city buzzing around you is a completely different experience. Even if you don't go inside for a performance, the walk around the building is worth the visit alone. Every angle feels iconic, and the views of the Harbour Bridge make it one of the best photo spots in Sydney. I went during the late afternoon and stayed through sunset. Whether you're into architecture, the arts, or just checking off bucket-list landmarks, the Sydney Opera House is a must.
what a beautiful experience! obviously a great spot for pics. I highly suggest grabbing tickets to whatever u can to experience it. Definitely eat at the opera house bar 1st.
Took a guided tour through the Opera House which was such a fun experience. We had a great guide who gave us tons of details. We got to stop in a few of the rooms too, however due to ongoing events, we weren't allowed to photograph some of those areas since live sets were up. A beautiful spot and definitely a must visit.
Had the most wonderful experience with the staff handling my tickets during Vivid Sydney. There is no doubt that a visit to Sydney would be incomplete without seeing the Opera House. We were lucky that Vivid Sydney was taking place during our visit to Sydney. However, as our outbound flight from JFK was canceled due to inclement weather, our new flight would arrive a day later, resulting in missing the event that we purchased tickets for. Nonetheless, the staff at the Opera House jumped in and got us into another show during our visit since the tickets were non-refundable. The gesture was much appreciated and helped to salvage our visit to Sydney.
Why fly all the way to Sydney just to see the Opera House?: Its better to see SOH and take in a show! We saw Rent, a 90's Broadway musical. Rent is multi-Tony award winning, and follows a group of poor, young artists living in NY's East Village. The artists were navigating love, poverty, creativity, and the HIV/AIDS epidemic during the late 1980s and early 1990s. The actors were mainly local, and inc an Aboriginal actor & Filipina actress. The performance was electrifying! It touched upon topics I could relate too bc I grew up in the period covered. The actors were so talented. As with all musicals, they not only have to be able to act, they have to be able to sing & dance too. The choreography and music tied the story all together for a standing ovation at the end. I highly recommend taking in a show at world famous SOH vs just sight seeing. I have seen performances in London, Broadway, SF & LA, and SOH is world class. In addition, the staff is super nice, and there are many places to eat & drink b4 and after. Lastly, there is lots to see near SOH at night.
Sydney Opera House is the most iconic landmark that most foreigners identify Australia with. It's beautiful in photos, but seeing up close is even more magnificent. I've been inside multiple times. I've been on a venue tour to learn about the architect and the history of the opera house. I've watched a three-hour opera, a R&B performance, and most recently an alt rock concert. It's incredible each time, regardless of music genre or show. I've also had drinks at the Bennelong restaurant too, and the views are so spectacular from the inside looking out. Sometimes they have events outside the opera house on the steps. During Vivid Sydney (around mid May to early June in the southern winter), they have a diverse line up of artists and shows. In 2024 when I went, Inside Out 2 had a premiere event outside, and I was a few feet away from Amy Pohler. There's also have a special art projection show on the sails too! Highly recommended to catch a show here if you get a chance because it's a gorgeous venue with a great history.
Iconic setting for every photo of Sydney. Besides a zillion pics and walking and ferrying around the outside, we did a backstage tour and attended performances in two different theaters. The backstage tour was fantastic. Marcus was our guide and he rocked. We stood on stage, hung in orchestra pits, walked past catwalks, primped in dressing rooms, pretended we were stage managers, and had breakfast in the staff cafeteria. We even saw them setting up for the show we would see later that night. Marcus knew a ton about the roles required in putting on a performance. He had tons of fun stories. The group size was maxed at 12 and it starts early to get in and out before the work behind the scenes starts. Such a great tour. We saw Mountains, a movie that hosted the Australian Chamber Orchestra and Rent. Two different theaters. It was cool that we stood among the props and sets of Rent the day before we saw the show. The shows were quite different in style and audience members but equally well done and fun to see. We got there early and enjoyed a glass of wine on the patio before the show. Such great views of the city and fun to see the building/sculpture from the inside out.
Sydney Opera House is an amazing experience. Take a tour and experience history, drama and comedy all in one. The tour guide will provide you with stories and facts that you can't get anywhere, hear or know from anywhere or anyone else. The views from inside in various parts of the buildings are spectacular and learning about the architecture is spectacular. If you're lucky, you'll get to see the set up or practicing of a performance or play happening that night.
The Sydney Opera House is extraordinary!!! So beautiful and so iconic!!! Pictures do not do this landmark justice. To be inside and take a tour to hear how it all began is 100% worth your while!! Seeing it day from night is completely different but no less beautiful. And the harbor that surrounds it is magnificent as well!! Several theatres inside can showcase different events at one time. Just to visit it, is a special and amazing experience for sure!!! So highly recommend!!!
This is an amazing architecture. Would be wonderful to come and hear a concert. Can you imagine the forethought of Premier Cahill? The competition to put in your design? The Danish designer who got fired. Cost over run? The engineer! Amazing. Now it is Unesco Heritage site. We took the elevator up to the next level. Great air conditioning inside. Even the restroom has style, wavy sink. 5 stars for having at least 16 stalls for women. Went somewhere popular at the Fish Market and they only have a total of 6 for millions that go there.
I mean what is there to say of this iconic venue. This place has been on my bucket list since I made one. The architecture is pretty cool as we've all seen pictures of it. I am fortunate to have a fantastic musical showing like Miss Saigon playing while I was visiting. I first seen the musical about 20 years ago and enjoyed it so much seeing it at the Opera House. I also got a chance to see a jazz-inspired classical violinist-led concerto with a full 50+ piece orchestra. I ended up seeing 2 different performances and they both were just awesome to see. The acoustics were so good in both venues. There was even a drone show at the Harbour right in front of the Opera House on the night I went to see Miss Saigon and watched from the patio area before the show. The Opera House itself is made up of at least 3 venues to see shows. There are several bar areas with snacks available inside the area. There are restaurants with great picturesque Harbour views nearby. I was lucky that each time I went to the Opera House area, the weather was perfect. In the daytime it was sunny with perfect comfortable temp and at night it was cool with a slight breeze on one of those nights. I'd like to go back one day and see some other shows. read more
Sydney Opera House One of the most iconic structures in the world, we visited on October 21, 2023, a day after the 50th Anniversary of the opening. I tried to get a reservation for a tour of the Sydney Opera House for 2 months prior to being in Sydney, but could not get anything. We spoke to our hotel concierge and he gave me a direct link for reservations and suggested to keep trying to get reservations as they add tours frequently, depending on demand. So as we completed the Sydney Bridge Climb, which I highly recommend, we went online and were able to get a tour 3 hours before it started at 3:30pm. Highly recommend the tour, so much information about the multiple venues that comprise the Sydney Opera House. Did you know: There are more than 1 million roof tiles covering approximately 1.62 hectares sitting over the structure. They were made in Sweden. The original cost estimate to build Sydney Opera House was $7 million. The final cost was $102 million and it was largely paid for by a State Lottery. read more
The Sydney Opera House is a UNESCO World Heritage Site given its modern architecture. It's one of the iconic symbols of Sydney. Designed by Danish architect Jørn Utzon and completed in 1973, its iconic white sail-like shells make it one of the most photographed buildings in the world. The structure's innovative use of pre-cast concrete shells pushed the boundaries of engineering of its time. Situated on Bennelong Point, it hosts thousands of performances annually. Absolutely beautiful. read more
8 months ago
Iconic Sydney landmark, can't miss up the chance to take the picture with the 'sails' in your background. A great time to go is for sunrise, you'll have to place to yourself...you and the other early risers and runners. Access to the grounds via the Botanical Gardens is closed until 7:00 am. Madame Butterfly was showing when I was there. People were all filled up, and some not. All looked like they were enjoying their time I thought that the screen show Badu Gili was overrated. The show is a silent film oriented on the east side of the Syndey Opera House. It's only six minutes, so if you miss it at sunset, then you could make it at 7:00, 7:30, or 8:00 pm. - it's only 6min...and the start times weren't always prompt. Around the Opera House you will find plenty of eats, access to public transportation via Circular Quay, and gift and gelato shops. I always make it a point to stop here when I visit Sydney, as this city icon is as famous as the Eiffek Tower and Golden Gate.l read more
3 years ago
What's that saying? Never meet your heroes... Something like that. This building is iconic. You can't think of Sydney (heck maybe even all of Australia) without thinking or picturing this place. It is a must place to visit and see in person and take a our or watch a show if you're so inclined. We did not watch a show (I would be the only person in my party with any remote interest in that.) The tours are expensive and quite frankly, in my opinion, not worth it. Walking up, I was surprised that the building wasn't white. It's very interesting to see how different it looks up close versus seeing it from a distance and in pictures/on tv. The area around the Opera House is nice, with a lot of eateries and bars. The best views of the Harbor Bridge are on the decking next to the Opera House itself. The best pictures of the Opera House are from one of the ferries for sure. Not going to lie, the best part was the lethargic seal sitting on the steps into the water. He was there every time we came by. I actually wondered if he was real for a hot sec. read more
As one of the most iconic architectural wonders in the world--I feel very lucky to have seen the Sydney Opera House in person and even got to watch a show inside of it. It is indeed very wondrous and I could spend hours at a cafe overlooking the building. I happen to come during the Vivid event and it was awesome to see the opera house light up. If you love traveling and seeing the world, this is definitely a bucket list item that needs to be checked off! "Located on the foreshore of Sydney Harbour, it is widely regarded as one of the world's most famous and distinctive buildings and a masterpiece of 20th-century architecture." - Wikipedia read more
A must when visiting Sydney! There are so many shows to choose from. The Venue is absolutely beautiful. There is a beautiful view of the Sydney Harbour Bridge. We went to see a contemporary dance, "Silence and Rupture". Afterwards, we grabbed some appetizers and drinks in the outside patio. Live music was playing and they were awesome bands. My favorite band was a duet R&B band. They have cute dogs on "Seagull Patrol" that scare the seagulls from stealing your food. They are so adorable and it is cute to see them in action. We Ubered over here so we did not have to deal with parking and we can enjoy drinks. There are also ferries nearby to get you to the Opera House safely. read more
Great venue! Sound was wonderful. We saw a performance of Andrew Lloyd Wright's Sunset Boulevard. We loved the orchestra, the singing, and the acting. The plot was a bit weird, but the overall experience was stellar! read more
1 year ago
Iconic, it's the first thing you picture when someone mentions Sydney, Australia. I had a great view of it from the hotel. It's hard to miss it from almost anywhere in Circular Quay. I walked by it several times during my stay and also took the tour. Next visit I buy a ticket to a performance. On the tour I discovered 2023 is the Opera House's 50th birthday. And they have been planning quite the celebration for a while. The tour was full of so much information. It was in the mid-1950s, Australia and a man from Denmark, Jørn Utzon, began to created the building sculpture. Amazing stories of all the different people it took to plan, build and finish the icon. It's not just one large concert venue. But is the house two larger halls and several smaller venues. Up close I was surprised the the exterior tiles aren't really white. But two different tiles of a very light tan. Certain ones are flat and others shiny. The interior has mostly be left with the raw cement and iron works the created the large shells. So it very interesting to see how the industrial textures meet the finishing touches in the concert halls and smaller rehearsal spaces. On site there are eight different dining options and bars to enjoy a snack or meal at. read more
1 year ago
My friend and I went to watch Cinderella! The production was great! We added the dinner option and enjoyed all the wine they paired with the meal. Loved crossing a wonder of the world off! read more
We went through metal detectors & bags larger than a purse had to be checked. Comfortable theater with stadium seating & fabulous acoustics. The Opera House is as special & beautiful on the inside as the outside. Two days ago we purchased tickets to the Peoples Choice Concert. The Sydney Symphony Orchestra performs favorites for three nights. Our concert is 2 hrs long with a :20 intermission. We heard Bach, Mozart, Beethoven,Strauss,Tchaikovsky ... We were permitted to take photographs. The conductor began by acknowledging the aboriginal people here before the concert hall. The concert hall holds 4,000 and every seat was taken. What seems to be in International is call ladies room line, there were a lot of stalls like a very long line. Saturday evening, while we were in the main hall, there was a musical in the playhouse, a one woman performance in the studio, a ballet in the dance hall & an outdoor rock concert. read more
I've always heard "you must go to the Sydney Opera House if you ever visit Australia", so I went (not for a performance). While I was not "blown away" by its architecture, it is unique, has nice views, and has a lot of history behind this iconic structure. Be prepared to climb up and down the stairs and what an amazing view! read more
Didn't go on a tour so was limited to seeing the opera house from different angles on the outside and just the bar area on the inside. But still super happy that I got to step foot inside and that I got to see this attraction in-person after seeing it so many times on TV. read more
1 year ago
A truly historic landmark that you have to visit when in Sydney. Pictures do not do it justice. When you get up close it looks like dragon scales. Opens around 9am and there is plenty of shops, restaurants and other stops to visit. What an amazing destination. read more
No visit to Sydney is complete without a visit to the iconic opera house. On this visit we had tickets to Madama Butterfly and opted for the pre-show dining experience as well. It's a short walk to the opera house from the circular quay subway station as you pass various shops and restaurants and then take an escalator down to a lower level walkway with more restaurants that leads right to the opera house. Arrive punctually for your pre-show dining, and you'll be escorted to the dining room set up in the theater lobby. There is a preset menu with choice of salads and entrees (menu posted in advance on the website). The meal also includes a glass of sparkling wine. The service and food were excellent and definitely restaurant quality. There are several theaters inside the opera house, and the opera was presented in the Joan Sutherland theater. A lovely large theater with several digital screens containing translations of the Italian opera. Overall, it was a wonderful experience. My only complaint is that restrooms were somewhat few and far between and were rather small. read more
You obviously cannot fly halfway across the world and underneath it and not visit one of the most famous landmarks in Australia. The Opera House did not disappoint. There are so many spots for photo ops and you cannot believe just how intricate the design is. Most of my photos are outside but you can go inside even without tickets for a show. They offer guided tours and there are lots of things posted around that you can read in order to take in some of its history. The acoustics are pretty incredible and there are multiple theaters inside. IF I ever get the chance to go back one day, I'd love to see a show or a rock concert there. read more
1 year ago
We did a backstage tour with breakfast in the Green Room with Bruce Barnett. He was very entertaining and knowledgeable. He was patient with our constant questions and even let us sing on the opera stage! He was also conscious about our physical limitations and took our every need into account. Bruce was very personable and made our visit worth a standing ovation! read more
Did a tour of the Opera House and saw The People's Choice Concert. We went through metal detectors and had to check my backpack. The tour takes you through the theatres of the Opera House as well as going backstage. The acoustics are very good and the views from the lobby are mainly of Sydney Harbour and it is beautiful especially at night. read more
This place was on my bucket list, couldn't wait to check this out on my visit. The first time I saw the Opera House was from across the harbor..such a sight. I signed up for the tour and it was amazing. Expressionist is the architectural style and it took 47 years to complete. There was a huge contest to find out how would design it, a danish architect won, Jorn Utzon...unbelievable... The opera house is right on the Bennelong point in the Sydney Harbor... breathtaking views of the bridge and water. With six different theaters, concert hall is the largest, seats were close together but love the history. Also, the largest mechanical tracker action organ in the world is here, 10,000 pipes... we even heard it played on our tour! I think my favorite was learning about the "shells" the roof structure, that chevron pattern is amazing.. so pretty when the sun reflects off it! There was a nightly light show featured on the roof with music... get there early for a good seat. Even after a day of sightseeing I would always find my way back here. Great place to have a drink, watch a sunset. read more
The outside up close doesn't look the way I would have thought. You can see the details of the tiles that make up the arches of the opera house and from the pics of it. I thought the arches would look like the smooth sails I have seen from far away pics. It's not so up close. It was fun to see so many people all over the park surrounding the opera house and it's great being right on the water. It's so big it's hard to get a close up of it and get the full sense of the building. read more
3 years ago
This iconic building symbolises the spirit of Australia! It's made up of wonderful theatres, spaces and restaurants that are impeccable and beautiful. Now let's go back down memory lane! October is springtime in Sydney, Australia, and the weather can be unreliable. But by mid-afternoon on 20 October 1973, a bank of ominous grey clouds had given way to bright blue skies and wafts of cotton-ball cumulus. A strong breeze was blowing, however, as Queen Elizabeth II stepped from a ceremonial Rolls Royce with the Duke of Edinburgh, and ascended a dais to declare Sydney's architecturally stunning new opera house open. Wearing a silken dress of duck-egg blue and matching hat - 'not unlike an inverted sail of the opera house', one observer commented - the monarch gripped the pages of her script tightly as wind buffeted the platform. The speech itself was not without irony: 'I understand that its construction has not been totally without problems,' the Queen said, referring to the majestic edifice before her. How long did it take to construct the Sydney Opera House? Construction began in 1959, but was dogged by delays and cost overruns, many caused by the complexity of Utzon's design. Originally scheduled to end in 1963, the build was eventually completed ten years later. Did you know Yet Sydney Opera House remains hugely popular with the public, nearly 11 million of whom visit it annually. And architecturally it is now a recognised classic. 'One of the indisputable masterpieces of human creativity,' was UNESCO's verdict in declaring the building a World Heritage Site in 2007. 'Not only in the 20th century but in the history of humankind.' read more
7 years ago
2 years ago
First, these tours are quite crowded. Ours had at least 40 people (including one fussy toddler). If you want to avoid crowds, I recommend the early morning, longer behind the scenes tour. The upside of this is that our tour guide was informative and knowledgeable. He really relayed the opera house's past and present--from its conception, the politics involved in its erection, and the opera house's mission today. We did view a short, interesting film on the architect. We also saw three or four theaters and their sets. We learned a lot about how the sets work and the lengths the technical crew go to in order to make a production happen. We all had headphones so we could hear the guide well. He did such a good job that I wish I could remember his name. Some people have so complained they expected to see more and have more access. This tour is about 24 American dollars. That's reasonable to me. If you want fewer people, a tour that's longer than an hour, and more behind the scenes info, purchase the extended VIP behind the scenes tour. read more
3 years ago
8 years ago
The icon for Sydney, Australia! When I finally saw it from the Royal Botanic Gardens, I was in awe of wonders! Glowing with charm and a view to definitely see inside and outside! If you are toned-death, like me, I appreciate musicians and vocal singers because I can't do what they do! I enjoy their musical talents and the history of this building. The exterior architecture reminds me a bit like turtle shells, but styled up! I'm digging the layout and it suits the harbor area. It's bold and seems guarded when at sea! read more
2 years ago
4 years ago
A must visit when in Sydney, of course. Sometimes they light up the opera house at night for special events. Worth every little bit of hype! read more
It's a manmade wonder of the world- how could you not give it five stars?? A) It's super exciting in person. You get chills seeing something in real life that you've seen in pictures for years. B) The background is awesome. Sydney Harbor- bright blue water filled with an insane number of sea creatures (there was a news article while I was here about a seal that washed up onto the Opera House steps and was hanging out there). C) The inside has great acoustics (saw two shows here) and there's also a beautiful private dining room. D) There's an amazing bar, outside, beneath the Opera House on the water. It's magical, with lights reflecting off the water. read more
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