Sydney Opera House Guided Tour
About this activity
Highlights
- Explore iconic Concert Hall
- Discover the Drama Theatre
- Learn architectural secrets
- Enjoy stunning harbor views
- Hear fascinating historical tales
Full description
Included / Excluded
- Official guided walking tour
- Access to the Concert Hall
- Visit to the Drama Theatre
- Meals and beverages
Itinerary
Your tour of the Sydney Opera House allows you to step beneath the sails of one of the world’s most iconic performance venues, where more than 1,800 concerts, plays, musicals and ballets are staged every year. Explore it with an insider guide, who shares stories and fun facts about the opera house’s history, performances and architecture throughout your 1-hour tour. Walk through the elegant foyers, visit one of the largest pillar-free chambers in the world, sit down in a custom-made white birch chair and look up at the vaulted ceiling. Check out areas that are off-limits to the general public, learn about the distinctive exterior design made up of ‘shell’ tiles, and hear about opera house’s Danish architect, including his inspiration and building challenges.
Meeting point
Start Location
Bennelong Point, Easy walk from Circular Quay Train Station, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Important information
Know before you book
- Tours are conducted in English
- Photography is allowed in most areas
- Children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult
Know before you go
- Wear comfortable walking shoes
- Bring a camera for stunning photos
- Check the weather forecast and dress accordingly
Cancellation policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Accessibility
- Easy Public Transport
Good to know
- Please note the standard guided tour contains approx. 300 stairs - Low Impact. If you have limited mobility there are daily mobility access tours available on request pre-booking is required please contact the supplier directly.
- Venue access is subject to availability at the time of your tour and can change up until tour departure time.
- Please arrive at the Welcome Centre 15 minutes prior to your tour time to adhere to check in and cloaking procedures. If you are more than 5 minutes late from the start time of your tour, your tour will be forfeited.
- Please check you have selected the correct language tour for the tour you want to experience the language in
- Infants under 5 are permitted on the 1 hour tour free of charge, however still require a ticket to be booked
- One Hour Tour including Tour & Dine please check in at the Welcome Centre on the lower concourse level ten minutes prior to your tour time
- Redeem tour & dine at House Canteen or Opera Bar between 11.30am-6pm on the day of the tour.
- Redeem tour & dine at Midden by Mark Olive between 11.30am-2.30pm, or 5-6pm on the day of the tour.
Traveler reviews
May 2026
A perfect one hour long tour. There are steps to climb, but even the most challenged did just fine. Great insight and nuances not normally found. The highlight was sitting in two of the opera house’s.
Wonderful tour full of history
The tour lasted a little over an hour and we learned all the history of the building of the magnificent Opera House. We were able to go into places that only people going to a show would see and we learned all about the materials used. I am so glad we took the tour and I highly recommend it.
Lots to learn!
Friends were in town so did the walking tour, even as a local I learned so much and my friends absolutely loved it!
Just decent
If you're interested in learning about how the Sydney Opera House was built and why it was designed, this is a good tour. Just felt it was a little underwhelming considering it's one of Sydney's symbolic landmarks. Didn't really like the fact that you couldn't take pictures or record much of the inside. At least not when I did the tour. Think they should maybe spice it up a little like having a opera singer or orchestra performer specifically for tourist. 🤷🏾♂️
Wonderful
One thing is admiring the Sydney Opera House from the outside, but experiencing it from the inside and learning the history behind its construction is something completely different. Hearing the story, understanding the vision behind it, and seeing the details up close made me appreciate this iconic place even more. It was truly a memorable experience and absolutely worth it.