Sydney Opera House
The Basics
The Sydney Opera House is a highlight of any city tour or harbor cruise, and it’s well worth an up-close look, too. It’s best explored as part of a guided tour, either a guided walking option that hits highlights of the building's history and architecture or an in-depth tour that goes backstage to concert halls, green rooms, and studios usually off-limits to visitors.
Given that this is a functioning performance venue, visitors can also experience the Opera House by attending a show, whether pairing a theater performance with dinner as part of an evening package, or dining along the waterfront before a night of ballet.
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Things to Know Before You Go
Attending a performance at the Opera House is a must for music, dance, and theater fans.
Public areas of the complex are wheelchair accessible, and accessible show seating is available for all performances; seats must be pre-booked and availability is limited.
Tickets for tours and events often sell out, so it’s best to book in advance.
Unless visiting on a guided tour, travelers are unable to access the Concert Hall and Joan Sutherland Theatre foyers or performance spaces.
The Opera House complex contains restaurants, bars, cafés, shops, and outdoor plazas.
How to Get There
Located on Bennelong Point at the waters of Sydney Cove and Farm Cove, the Sydney Opera House is just a few minutes’ walk from Circular Quay and its ferries, trains, and buses. The site is also easy to spot from around Sydney Harbour and from the Sydney Harbour Bridge.
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When to Get There
Shows and performances run year-round at the Opera House, and with more than 2,500 of them taking place each year, you’re likely to find one during your visit. For a special experience, time your trip for the Vivid Sydney festival, when the Opera House exterior becomes the canvas for colorful light displays.
Other Sydney Harbour Attractions
Although the Sydney Opera House is perhaps the most recognizable Sydney Harbour attraction, there are many more to explore. Don't miss the Circular Quay, from where ferries depart for various Sydney destinations; climb atop the Sydney Harbour Bridge from some truly bird's-eye, panoramic views; or take a dip in the waters off Sydney Harbour's many beaches.
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- Sydney Harbour
- Overseas Passenger Terminal (OPT)
- Sydney Harbour Tall Ships
- The Rocks
- Justice and Police Museum
- Museum of Contemporary Art
- Circular Quay
- Sydney Harbour Bridge
- Fort Denison
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- Pylon Lookout
- White Bay Cruise Terminal (WBCT)
- Customs House
- Sydney Conservatorium of Music
- Susannah Place Museum