The Sydney Opera House TourEnglish
Daily
Welcome Centre | Tour
Step inside and discover the legendary history and extraordinary secrets of the Sydney Opera House. Experience the life, energy and buzz of Australia’s favourite building.
Please note this tour includes up to 300 stairs with no lift access. For a stair free tour, you may wish to take our Mobility Access Tour.
Tours run daily*
We encourage you to purchase your tour in advance.
*Please refer to the calendar which appears when you click the 'Book Now' button for the most up to date tour times available.
Please note the tour is not available on Christmas Day, 30 December 2024, New Year's Eve, 9 March 2025, 14 March 2025, 15 March 2025 and 18 April 2025. Tours are subject to availability..
There is a maximum of 35 people per tour and a maximum of 11 people per booking. If you would like to make a group booking or are unable to book online, please call 02 8188 3734 to place a reservation via our Reservations team.
| Ticket | Price |
| Adult | $45 |
| Child> | $25 |
| Concession* | $35 |
| Family^ | $115 |
> Child 5 to 15 years of age. Children under 5 years are free of charge. Children aged 15 and under must be accompanied at all times.
* Concessions are available to holders of an Australian Seniors Card, Australian Pensioners, full-time students aged 16+.
^ The family price includes 2 adults and 2 children (15 years and under).
Tour in English
Also available in French, German, Spanish and Mandarin. It is available in Japanese and Korean as a 30 minute tour.
Run time
This tour runs for approximately 1 hour.
This time is from when one of our guides meets guests from the Welcome Centre on the Lower Concourse through to the end of the tour.
What to know before you go
We stage lots of live performances, so venues are subject to availability at the time of your tour.
You’ll be on your feet for a guided tour, there are over 300 stairs, so flat comfortable shoes are recommended. Your feet will thank you!
If you have mobility concerns, you may wish to take a Mobility Access Tour.
We can’t store suitcases or large bags, however you can contact the nearest storage facility at circularquay@baggagestorage.com.au
Prams and buggies cannot be used on the tour as they are not allowed in our venues.
Videoing is not allowed.
There are plenty of photo opportunities. Your tour guide will advise you if photos are not to be taken at any point.
A selection of the following image credits may be shown throughout the 1-hour tour.
Image | Credit |
| Joan Sutherland performs in La Traviata, Covent Garden 1960 | Image courtesy of Opera Australia. |
| Mornington Island Dancers from Lardil Language group outside the Sydney Opera House 1975 | Image courtesy of Alex Ozolins/National Library of Australia nla.obj – 138167355 with permission from John Armstrong on behalf of the community. |
| Kelvin Coe in Graeme Murphy’s ‘Beyond Twelve’, 1980 | Photography by Branco Gaica courtesy of The Australian Ballet |
| Rika Hamaguchi in ‘SandSong’, 2021 | Image with permission of Bangarra and Rika Hamaguchi. |
| Richard Tognetti performing in ACO StudioCast: Love & Transfiguration 2021 | Image courtesy of Australian Chamber Orchestra and Director of Photography Tyson Perkins & Drew English. |
| ‘Natives Go Wild’ 2019 | Photo courtesy of SistaNative - Sēini F.Taumoepeau. Photography by Anna Kucera. |
| Sydney Philharmonia Choir performing Christmas 2014 | Photography by Keith Saunders Image with permission from Sydney Philharmonia Choir. |
| Nick Cave solo concert in the Concert Hall 2019 | Image with permission of Nick Cave. |
| Ruby Hunter | Photography by Wendell Teodoro. Image courtesy of Getty Images with permission from the family of Ruby Hunter. |
| John Bell as King Lear in Bell Shakespeare production 2010 | Photography by Wendy McDougall. Image with permission of Bell Shakespeare. |
| Artists of The Australian Ballet in Graeme Murphy’s Swan Lake 2005 | Photography Jim McFarlane courtesy of The Australian Ballet. |
| Amber Scott in David McAllister’s The Sleeping Beauty 2015 | Photography by Kate Longley courtesy of The Australian Ballet. |
| Inside Exxopolis 2014 | Photography by Daniel Boud. |
| Lionel Zalachas in Broadway Entertainment Group production of ‘The Little Prince’ 2020 | Direction and Choreography Anne Tournié. Photography by Prudence Upton. Image with permission from Broadway Management Group. |
| Zadie Smith & Sisonke Msimang 2019 | Photography by Prudence Upton,SOH Collection. Image with permission of Sisonke Msimang & Zadie Smith. |
| Kraftwerk perform The Mix at Vivid LIVE 2013 | Photography by Daniel Boud & Prudence Upton, SOH Collection. Image with permission of Kraftwerk. |
| Lizzo perfoms in the Concert Hall 2020 | Photography by Prudence Upton, SOH Collection. |
| Paul Kelly performs on the forecourt 2017 | Photography by Prudence Upton, SOH Collection. Image with permission of Paul Kelly. |
| Solange performs in the Concert Hall 2020 | Photography by Daniel Boud, SOH Collection. Image with permission of Solange. |
À Ố Làng Phố Theatre Senart Production 2019 | Photography by Elizabeth Ashley, SOH Collection. |
The producers of the immersive experience have made every effort to contact the underlying copyright holders for all the images used in the presentation. Should anyone be aware of information pertaining to the image of Kelvin Coe depicted in Graeme Murphy’s Beyond 12, please email the Sydney Opera House.
Go beyond the sails
You’ve seen the outside but that’s only half the story. Beneath our magnificent sails lies incredible spaces and stories. Learn about the controversial history, unforgettable performances and exciting future of the Sydney Opera House. Walk through and see the House up close and personal. Each perspective brings a unique and breathtaking experience.
Gallery
Eat & drink
Bennelong Point has been a place for feasting and celebrating for millennia. So it's only natural that here at the Opera House, the entertainment jumps from the stage and onto the plate.
Other information
Getting here
The Sydney Opera House Car Park, operated by Wilson Parking, is open and available to use. Wilson Parking offer discounted parking if you book ahead. Please see the Wilson Parking website for details.
Please check the Transport NSW website for the latest advice and information on travel. You can catch public transport (bus, train, ferry) to Circular Quay and enjoy a six min walk to the Opera House.
Frequently asked questions
The tour meeting point is at the Welcome Centre located on the Lower Concourse of the Opera House.
It’s a great idea to arrive early, grab a drink and soak up the view. Please arrive 15 minutes before your tour to allow sufficient time to cloak any large bags.
This should allow enough time for the mandatory visual inspections and/or cloaking of bags and personal belongings by Opera House staff before starting your tour.
Where possible, please leave bags at home. If you bring a bag, those larger than A4 size will need to be cloaked before you can go on the tour. We're unable to store suitcases or large bags as we have limited cloaking facilities.
If you are going to be late for your tour please call our Reservations team on 02 8188 3734 for assistance.
Where possible, please do not bring bags to the Sydney Opera House. Bags larger than A4 size will need to be cloaked before you can go on the tour. However we can’t store suitcases or large bags as our cloaking facilities are extremely limited.
Cameras are allowed on the tour and there are plenty of photo opportunities throughout the entire tour. Your tour guide will advise you whilst on tour if photographs are not to be taken inside any venues. Please note there is no video filming on the tour.
Mobile phones are permitted on the tour however please ensure they are switched off or on silent for the duration of the tour.
You will have the opportunity to visit some of the Opera House’s many venues and theatres on this tour.
Please note that as we are a busy performing arts centre, venues and theatres are subject to availability at the time of your tour.
You can make a booking for up to 11 people though our maximum capacity per tour is 35 people. For capacity reasons the booking must be made by calling 02 8188 3734. Our Reservations team will assist with your reservation.
We encourage you to purchase your tour in advance online or via the phone where you’ll receive an eTicket. Please bring this with you and present it upon check-in at the Welcome Centre located on the Lower Concourse of the Opera House.
Covid-safe information
The health and wellbeing of everyone attending the Opera House is our top priority. We’re committed to making your experience safe, comfortable and enjoyable, with a number of measures in place including regular cleaning of high-touch areas, air conditioning systems that maximise ventilation, and hand sanitiser stations positioned in all paths of travel. We remind our visitors to please stay home if you feel unwell. If you need to discuss your ticketing or booking options, contact our Tourism Reservations team on 02 8188 3734.
The health and wellbeing of everyone attending the Opera House is our top priority. We have a number of safety measures in place including regular cleaning of high-touch areas, air conditioning systems that maximise ventilation, and hand sanitiser stations positioned in all paths of travel. While face masks are no longer required, we ask all our patrons and visitors to practise good hygiene. Please stay home if you feel unwell and read more about our flexible ticket options.
The Sydney Opera House no longer requires patrons to show that they are fully vaccinated against COVID-19.
If you need to discuss your ticketing options, please contact our Tourism Reservations team on 02 8188 3734.
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Go behind closed doors and experience the House from behind the scenes with this small group tour. Venture backstage through the corridors to our rehearsal spaces, into the orchestra pit before enjoying breakfast in the exclusive domain of our performers, the Green Room.
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Join like-minded creative souls to explore the Opera House through an artist’s eyes in our free monthly walking and drawing tours.
Tour and Dine
Step inside and discover the extraordinary stories of this vibrant performance space, then relax by the harbour in true Sydney-sider style, as you enjoy Australian-inspired cuisine at Opera Bar.