Many come to Sydney to experience its famous beaches, take pictures of its famous landmarks like the Sydney Harbour Bridge, and enjoy its unique mix of a laid-back yet glamorous city lifestyle. In Sydney, you can freely choose your own adventure: whether it’s sightseeing for days on end, going on tours, or anything in-between, you’ll never run out of things to do.
However, a trip to Sydney wouldn’t be complete without stopping by one of its most famous attractions: the Sydney Opera House (you might even already have it in your itinerary!) One of Australia’s most iconic buildings, you’ve probably seen its signature roof structure in photos: a combination of white sail-shaped shells and glass walls that make it easy to spot even from afar. Here, you can spend hours catching a performance of your favorite show and taking photos of its one-of-a-kind architecture.
But there’s more to the Sydney Opera House than meets the eye. Did you know that you can also enjoy a meal with a view, experience a guided tour, or even go backstage during your visit? To help you make the most out of your visit to this opera house in Sydney, we’ll give you our top 6 tips so you can explore it to its fullest. Read on below!
1. You can visit the Sydney Opera House for free
Sections of the Sydney Opera House can be accessed for free, but you need show tickets or a tour to enter the theaters.
Many sections of the Sydney Opera House are accessible for free. This includes:
- Outdoor areas: The forecourt section, Bennelong Point promenade, and the exterior steps (best for photos of the harbour and the roof)
- Indoor areas: Cafés, restaurants, foyers, and some exhibition spaces, though access may be limited if there are any events.
There may also be occasional free performances, art installations, and events like public talks that let you access certain sections when you visit the opera house in Sydney.
But if you want to go further inside the building, then you’ll need to either purchase Sydney Opera House tickets for a performance or go on a guided tour of the facility. This lets you access the theaters and maybe even observe a dress rehearsal or two.
2. The best time to visit is in the afternoon
Watch in awe as the sunset paints the sky a spectacular mix of orange, aquamarine, and golden hues.
While the Sydney Opera House is beautiful at all times of the day, we recommend visiting during the late afternoon, especially if you’re catching a show. This way, you have plenty of time to take photos: while the sun is up high, during sunset when the sky changes colours, and at night when it’s lit up. Once you’re done taking photos, you’ll have plenty of time to find your seats and maybe even have a drink or two at the Opera Bar before the show starts. We recommend entering the venue at least 30 minutes before your show is scheduled to start.
Klook tip: If you’re not catching a performance, then it’s better to visit in the morning instead before the crowds arrive.
3. Stop by the restaurants and bars for the best views
Dine with a view at the Opera Bar, famous for its delicious food and refreshing drinks.
At the Sydney Opera House, you’ll be spoilt for choice when it comes to dining. Not only do restaurants and bars like Bennelong, Midden by Mark Olive, or Opera Bar offer delicious food and refreshing drinks, they also boast spectacular views of Sydney Harbour Bridge! If you can spare the time, we recommend having a meal or a drink as you take in the stunning harbour views.
The restaurants at the Sydney Opera House are particularly popular due to their convenient location and views of the harbour. If you plan to dine here during your visit, we recommend making a reservation in advance to guarantee seats.
The Opera Bar is not accepting reservations currently; only walk-ins are accepted.
4. Buy your Sydney Opera House tickets in advance
Get your tickets to your performance of choice as early as you can, or else they might sell out!
It might be tempting to wait for last-minute discounts for tickets, but there’s never any guarantee, especially if you’re trying to catch a performance of a particularly popular show. It’s much better to get your tickets for the Sydney Opera House as early as possible. Otherwise, you might not be able to catch your preferred showing at all.
Klook tip: Ticket selling can start months in advance, so keep an eye out online for announcements of upcoming shows and ticket selling periods. You may even get special discounts by booking online!
5. Guided tours show you the magic behind the scenes
See dress rehearsals and unique vantage points of the theaters with a guided backstage tour of the Sydney Opera House.
While you are able to access one theater with a show ticket, a guided tour grants you entry to all of the theaters inside the Sydney Opera House. As guided opera house tours in Sydney take place before performances start, you’ll even be able to catch a couple of dress rehearsals. Depending on the tour type you choose, you might also get access backstage and other areas reserved for the performers and the crew members.
You can choose from various tour types, such as:
- Sydney Opera House Tour: a basic, one-hour tour through the building, where you can learn fascinating details about the history and the architecture of the Sydney Opera House.
- Backstage Tour: a 2.5-hour tour with access to rehearsal spaces and the orchestra pit.
- Architectural Tour: a tour with specialised information about how architects, engineers, builders and artists built this heritage site.
Other tours such as mobility tours, tours with meals, and even specialised tools for Lunar New Year and various limited-time events are also available.
6. There’s no dress code, but it can still be nice to dress up
Make your visit to the opera house in Sydney special by dressing up!
There’s no official dress code to visit this opera house in Sydney: you can be dressed as formally or as casually as you like, as long as there’s no offensive language on your clothing. However, many do still take this opportunity to dress up, especially if they’re having dinner at the opera house.
Klook tip: While there’s no dress code, note that there are restrictions on what items cannot be brought inside the theater. This includes:
- Alcohol and illegal substances
- Glass beverage containers
- Flammable devices
- Sharp items and weapons, including suspicious items that may be used as a weapon
- Professional cameras and recording devices
- Laser pointers
- Drones
- Prams
- Bags larger than an A4 size. These must be cloaked before you can enter the theater.
- Signs with offensive language
Checks and x-ray screenings are carried out at each entrance at the venue.
While a visit to the Sydney Opera House is a highlight of any trip to Australia, there’s even more to do while you’re in the area. Why not go on a boat cruise on the Sydney Harbour, explore the city on an open top bus tour, or visit Observatory Hill to witness the best of Sydney’s nighttime views? Whatever you choose to do, remember to plan ahead and book your travel essentials like an Australia SIM Card or your hotel in Sydney to ensure a memorable visit.
FAQs
1. Can you just walk into the Sydney Opera House?
Yes, but note that your access will be limited to select areas of the Sydney Opera House such as cafés, foyers, and some exhibition spaces, unless you book a guided tour or buy a ticket to a performance.
Note that tickets to performances may not be available on the spot, especially for some of the more popular shows. It’s recommended to buy tickets to the Sydney Opera House in advance.
2. Can you tour inside the Sydney Opera House?
Yes, guided tours are available inside the Sydney Opera House. In fact, this is the only way to explore the contents of the Sydney Opera House if you don’t have tickets to a show or an invite to events being hosted inside.
3. Can you explore the Opera House without a tour?
No. While you may be able to access select areas inside such as cafés, foyers, and some exhibition spaces without a tour, the only way to fully-explore the Sydney Opera House is by booking a guided tour, or if you gain access using a show ticket or through an event.
4. Is it worth going inside the Sydney Opera House?
Yes, exploring the Sydney Opera House through a guided tour will be able to show you sections of the building not accessible to the public, where you can take photos of stunning architecture, witness unique views, and learn more about its construction and world-class acoustics. Depending on the option you choose, you may catch a dress rehearsal or even explore backstage.
What is Klook?
Klook is a leading pan-regional experiences platform in Asia Pacific, purpose built to digitalize experiences and make them accessible to every traveler.
Our mission is to build the digital infrastructure for the global experience economy — empowering merchants to share their passions and travelers to discover the heartbeat of each destination. We operate a mobile-first, curated platform featuring diverse experiences across global destinations.
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