Sydney Opera House Official Guided Walking Tour
Overview
Available languages
1 hour
Mobile ticket
Discover insider secrets and stories of the Opera House artists and performances, and step inside the iconic theatres and foyers that bring to life over 1800 performances each year. Explore the building with our knowledgeable guides, and learn about how Jørn Utzon’s vision came into existence against impossible odds.
Please note that as we are a busy performing arts centre, venues and theatres are subject to availability at the time of your tour.
Option: Tour & Dine at Opera Bar, House Canteen or Midden by Mark Olive:
Make the most of a day out at the Opera House by going on our 1-hour tour followed by a lunch or an early dinner at your choice of harbourside restaurants. Redeem your ticket at Opera Bar or House Canteen between 11.30am - 6pm, or Midden by Mark Olive between 11.30am-2.30pm, or 5-6pm
Option: Language Tour and Language Tour & Meal + Drink options.
Choose French, German, or Spanish Tour, to experience the tour with one of our language-speaking guides.
Additional Info
Public transportation options are available nearby
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
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.
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
What To Expect
Sydney Opera House
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.
What‘s Included
Local guide
No Hotel pickup and drop-off
Food and drinks, unless specified
Gratuities
Late arrivals. Visitors are unable to join the tour after the scheduled departure time.
Meeting points
Sydney Opera House
Bennelong Point, Easy walk from Circular Quay Train Station Sydney Australia
End points
This activity ends back at the meeting point.
Options
Tour + Main Meal & Drink
English Fluency Required: Enjoy our one hour tour followed by a main meal and beverage, from a selection, at either Opera Bar or House Canteen
German Tour + Meal & Drink
German Speakers Only: One Hour guided tour with German-speaking guide plus main meal and beverage from a selection at Opera Bar or House Canteen
English Guided Tour
English Guided Tour from April: 1 Hour Guided Tour with a English Speaking Tour Guide
French Guided Tour
French Speakers Only: 1 Hour Guided Tour with a French Speaking Tour Guide (not in English)
Architectural Tour
A 75-minute tour experience aimed at those who are interested in finding out more about the way the Opera House was built.
French Tour & Meal + Drink
French Speakers Only: One Hour guided tour with French-speaking guide plus main meal and beverage from a selection at Opera Bar or House Canteen
Spanish Guided Tour
Spanish Speakers Only: 1 Hour Guided Tour with a Spanish Speaking Tour Guide (not in English)
Spanish Tour & Meal + Drink
Spanish Speakers Only: One Hour guided tour with Spanish-speaking guide plus main meal and beverage from a selection at Opera Bar or House Canteen
German Guided Tour
German Speakers Only: 1 Hour Guided Tour with a German Speaking Tour Guide (not in English)
English Guided Tour
English Fluency Required: 1 Hour Guided Tour with a English Speaking Tour Guide
Reviews
4,031 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
No photos allowed inside
Siobhan T,Apr 25, 2026
- Review from Viator
4.00Great way to see the outside and inside of the opera house. Pleasant guide, well set up with microphone & headphones. But you won’t be able to see areas of the house off limits (the main auditorium for us) or, bizarrely, take any pictures inside. This kind of restriction is inexplicable in this day and age.
Must do while in Sydney
Ceri M,Apr 25, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00Our tour guide Nicolas was exceptional! So informative. The tour was well paced and it was great to get to see so much of the inside of the Opera House as well as learning so much of its history and cultural significance.
Nice tour
Booze777,Apr 24, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Very nice experience learning about the history and how they made all the architecture. Great views
Behind the scenes
IrenaLo,Apr 24, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Just did the Sydney Opera House tour and it was fantastic! It was so interesting getting to go behind the scenes and learn about the history, architecture, and what happens beyond the performance spaces. I didn’t know much about the Opera House before this, and the story about it is fascinating. Seeing areas you normally wouldn’t access made the experience feel really special. Our guide was incredibly knowledgeable, engaging, and shared so many fascinating details and stories that brought it all to life. Highly recommend this tour to anyone visiting Sydney!
Awesome !
nataleeanne08,Apr 24, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00Perfect amount of time and very interesting! Guide was great and loved all of the views. Would go again!
Don't just take a photo, take a tour!
K273VJpeterk,Apr 22, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00This is a very interesting tour of one of the world's most iconic buildings and is not to be missed. Our tour guide Alan was full of knowledge, explained things very well and showed a great sense of humour as well as a passion for the building. I found it far more interesting than I thought I would before the tour and having seen and heard about it, far more appreciative.
Opera House
F201CBjasons,Apr 22, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Very informative and intimate look at such an iconic building.
Worth doing to gain an insight
Chocolateloverlondon,Apr 21, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00This tour gives a good overview of the Opera House and its history. It's worth doing
Sydney Opera House walking tour - excellent event
A W,Apr 20, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00Our guide was Sheila and she was excellent- very interesting and informative. Really makes you want to attend events there
Great informative guided tour, a must do for a first timer
L4240CPkimberlyb,Apr 19, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Great informative tour with a guide for reasonable fee. It was an appropriate length of time to enjoy all the highlights. We were fortunate able to enter a few theaters to experience how it is like to be an audience and see actual equipment inside the world famous opera house.
Related Experiences
Operated by Sydney Opera House