1. An external shot of The Sydney Opera House
    Photograph: Supplied/SOH
  2. Sydney Opera House - top of the sails.
    Photograph: SOH/Hamilton Lund
  3. Sydney Opera House open day
    Photograph: SOH/Anna Kucera
  4. Penn and Teller at the Sydney Opera House
    Photograph: SOH/Daniel Boud
  5. The Sydney Opera House with artwork projected onto it via light.
    Photograph: Supplied/Destination NSW

Sydney Opera House

Sydney's iconic performing arts venue is one of the most photographed (and controversial) buildings in the world
  • Theatre
  • Sydney
Alannah Le Cross
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Time Out says

City icons that spark pride are a divisive topic for Sydneysiders. For example, Bondi Beach – Sydneysiders either rate it, or hate it. Same goes for the humble bin chicken – either glorious, or disgusting. But, there is one certified icon that bucks the trend: Sydney Opera HouseOur reader research confirms that essentially every Sydney dweller loves this UNESCO World Heritage Listed architectural masterpiece (whether they’ve been inside it or not). After all, it isn’t just one of the most famous buildings in Sydney, but one of the most famous buildings in the whole world. Just try not to pull out your phone for a pic as you’re walking past or cruising by on a ferry (we dare you).

Sandwiched between the Royal Botanic Garden and the water in Circular Quay, the Sydney Opera House is our city's premier venue for classical and contemporary music, theatre, dance, high-end cabaret, and of course, opera. Holding true to its original ambitions as “The People’s House”, the Opera House also hosts various talks and workshops that explore interesting ideas.

Many have pondered the building’s design over the years, comparing it variously to shells, waves, and even a family of swans. Apparently it’s meant to be a big cloud. We'll always see it fondly as The Dishrack, though. If you don't feel like shelling out on a show or a tour, it's still free to sit on the steps for a quick lunch, and walk by the water and marvel at those 1,056,000 pearly, self-cleaning Swedish tiles.

As peaceful as it looks now, the beloved building had a controversial beginning. It was dreamed up by Danish architect Jørn Utzon, who beat out alternative designs for Sydney's Opera House to win an international design competition – but by the time the building was completed in 1973, Utzon had been fired, and he left the country in disgrace.

Where to eat and drink near Sydney Opera House

For the ultimate Opera House dining experience, book a pre-theatre dinner at Bennelong, the classy fine diner that resides under the sails. Or, in the Western Foyers you'll find Midden by Mark Olive, which utilises native ingredients to celebrate the famous chef's Indigenous heritage. Want to grab a waterside cocktail or a refreshing beer? Opera Bar combines beauty and convenience with idyllic views of the Sydney Harbour Bridge. Also along the promenade, Opera Kitchen offers an eclectic market hall of options for nosh, spanning Italian to Japanese and good ol' fish and chips (and it's all a bit more affordable than the fancy restaurant, too). For more options, check out our list of the best restaurants and bars in Circular Quay.

Sydney Opera House tours

The Sydney Opera House offers a range of tours that invite you to look behind the curtain. With access into areas that are normally reserved for stars and their minders, the daily Backstage Tour will have you treading the boards of its illustrious stages, and sneaking into dressing rooms while you are regaled with the secrets and stories that go on behind the curtain. Or if you'd like to find out more about how the building was made, the Architectural Tour on Saturday mornings invites you to journey into the minds of the architects who designed the House. Find out more about the tours offered by the Sydney Opera House over here.

(Time Out tip: We’re also big fans of Sydney Architecture Walks, an indie tour group operated by working architects. They’ll take you on a deep dive into the surprising history and unhinged political hijinks behind the Opera House with the Utzon and the Sydney Opera House tour.)

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Details

Address
Bennelong Point
Sydney
2000
Opening hours:
Box office: Mon-Sat 9am-8.30pm; Sun two hours prior to performance (in person only)

What’s on

Dungeons and Dragons The Twenty-Sided Tavern

5 out of 5 stars
Let’s just start by saying I’m not a D&D player. I’ve played a couple of times with my family, led by my teenage son as Dungeon Master, but that was just to show interest in something he loves. So I do understand the basics – that said, you don’t need any prior knowledge of D&D to get swept up in the magic that is Dungeons and Dragons The Twenty-Sided Tavern. If anything, this show is probably the best way I’ve found so far to get a better grasp on the complex game that is D&D. This is an interactive show that began in New York as an Off-Broadway production – the same director, Michael Fell, also rehearsed with the Australian cast. In what ways is it interactive? The story lies in the audience’s hands, as well as with the roll of the 20-sided dice.  As you enter The Studio at the Sydney Opera House, you pick a coloured sticker from a basket. Depending on what colour you choose, you get aligned with one of the three classes: Warrior, Mage (Wizard) or Assassin/Entertainer. Throughout the show, you make decisions for the character in your assigned class, mostly by choosing options via your mobile phone (after scanning a QR code) – and sometimes just by yelling out. (Top tip:Make sure you turn up with a fully-charged phone.) You answer polls and take part in little games to choose what character the actors play, then make decisions or see the outcomes of characters’ actions. Dice rolls are directed by the Dungeon Master, played by the charismatic Cody Simpson-lookalike William...

Opera Up Late

Corsets, giant wigs, high drama, and faces painted for the back of the room – these are a few of our favourite things! But wait, are we talking about an opera, or a drag show? Well, both, actually! That’s right, the Sydney Opera House is set for a scandalous night out with the return of Opera Up Late, which is back by popular demand, and once again helmed by the hostess with the mostess: cabaret icon and provocateur Reuben Kaye.  “Opera Up Late has become one of my favourite nights of the year,” says Kaye, who is currently starring in Jesus Christ Superstar (we had a chat with him about that too, watch it over here). Premiering at Sydney WorldPride in 2023, Opera Up Late is the one night of the year where Opera Australia’s rabble of classically trained performers lets it all hang out in a cheeky blend of comedy, cabaret and opera with a decidedly Queer lens. In 2025, this includes one of Australia’s most adored sopranos, Emma Matthews (who’s currently starring as the Fairy Godmother in OA’s production of Massenet’s Cinderella) alongside tenors Adam Player and Tomas Dalton, and mezzo soprano Angela Hogan, under the direction of the award-winning Shaun Rennie. Kaye adds: “It has this late-night, dangerous cabaret, licentious feel to it, which is really exciting to bring to an established opera company. It's a moment where you get to say to an opera audience: ‘Hey, here's what's been here all along!’ Because, there's nothing as queer as an opera – opera is drag!” Opera Up...
  • Musicals

Utzon Music

There are very few buildings as special as Sydney Opera House. Even for Sydneysiders who love to throw shade on our beautiful city, the magnificent harbourside venue is almost universally loved – its uniquely organic arc defining Sydney’s world-famous skyline. And while most people who head to the House for a show have sat within the insulated walls of the Concert Hall or the Playhouse, fewer lucky visitors have been treated to a show in the Utzon Room: a stunning glass-walled space with views across the water to Sydney’s beautiful Botanic Garden.   Named after Danish architect Jørn Utzon, the Utzon Room is an intimate, 200-person space that gives guests an entirely different Opera House experience – one in which Sydney’s harbour plays a pivotal role. For the past 17 years, the secret waterfront venue has played host to a carefully-curated series of performances as an ode to the creative ambition of the man behind the House. Utzon Music is a year-long event series that celebrates awe-inspiring art, bringing world-renowned musicians into the small, unassuming space for afternoon performance set against the silent hum of the harbour.   For its 18th edition, Utzon Music is back under the direction of renowned arts advocate, performer, composer and recorder virtuoso Genevieve Lacey. For Utzon Music 2025, Lacey has programmed a diverse showcase of soloists and chamber musicians for ten super special one-off performances – with a vision of celebrating “human curiosity and...

All About Women

Okay ladies (and friends), let’s get in formation! The full line-up for All About Women (AAW) is here, and the Sydney Opera House has not come to play in 2025. This annual festival of feminist ideas always marks the weekend of International Women’s Day in March, bringing together more than 50 artists, speakers and storytellers for a binary-smashing bonanza of panels, talks, workshops, stand-up comedy and immersive experiences exploring inclusive ideas on gender, justice and equality. Pick-and-choose your adventure with this spicy program – you can drop in for one or two sessions before debriefing over a vino at Opera Bar, load up your schedule for a full day of educational fun (and peruse the art installations in between), or even stream talks from your couch at home.  The House has added a bunch of big names including Silicon Valley's “most feared” and “well-liked” journalist, Kara Swisher (who in a change of routine, will actually be on stage over at the City Recital Hall on Wednesday, March 5); actress and director Rachel House, discussing what it means to be a Māori woman in the spotlight; Jaguar Jonze on the issues that still plague the modern music industry; Grace Tame getting in on the big Feminist roast, and loads more fodder for thought. This lot joins the names that were already announced in November, such as Emmy-nominated comedian, actress and writer Kate Berlant (she/her) and the much-loved winner of Australia’s first season of Alone, Gina Chick (she/her)....
  • Talks and discussions
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