Sydney Opera House Official Guided Walking Tour
Sydney
Viator
Price A$43
Min age 0
Rating 4.63 / 5 [2305 ratings]
Tour supplied by:
Travel bucket list idea:
Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Bucket List Experience
Credit Shutterstock.com/byvalet
With its scalloped white roofs, instantly recognisable anywhere in the world, Jorn Utzon’s architectural masterpiece – now a UNESCO World Heritage Site – is rightly regarded as one of the greatest buildings of the 20th Century.
Rather than a single auditorium, the Opera House is a complex of performance spaces hosting music, theatre, ballet and, of course, opera. Book a seat for one of the performances or take the behind-the-scenes tour of this enchanting Sydney icon.
Jorn Utzon’s modern expressionist design was selected from 233 entries in a competition, held in 1957 by the state government, to design a suitable performing arts venue. The proposed cost was AU$7M and it was to be completed by 26 January 1963. Following a series of disputes, setbacks and cost overruns, it sat unfinished for years, before final completion in 1973 at a cost of AU$102M.
The Sydney Opera House is now one of the busiest performing arts centres in the world, hosting more than 1,500 performances each year and earning the city millions of tourism dollars.
There are three good ways to appreciate this icon. First, walk around the building to marvel at the architecture. Second, go to the website and book in for a performance during your stay. Third, book a one-hour backstage tour, which will take you to areas normally reserved for performers and opera house staff. Places are limited for the backstage tour, so book ahead.
There’s an excellent food hall inside the building, with superb harbour views. Specialist architectural tours are also available.
Live music, theatre, ballet and opera is performed throughout the year. A total of 1,500 concerts take place each year – they can be booked online, along with backstage tours which run from Thursday to Monday.
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Destination guides including or relevant to this experience
New South Wales, Australia
Destination guide
One of the world’s most dynamic and glamorous cities, with golden beaches, world-class eating and dining and effervescent, friendly people. Home to the eye-popping Opera House and the indescribable Sydney Bridge Climb.