GoGo
All UNESCO SitesAustralia

Sydney Opera House

Sydney · Australia

Background

World Heritage since
2007
Type of site
Cultural
Opened
1973

A performing arts centre on Bennelong Point in Sydney Harbour, roofed by three groups of interlocking white 'shells' over two main halls and a restaurant. UNESCO calls it a great architectural work of the 20th century and a great urban sculpture set in a remarkable waterscape.

The Danish architect Jørn Utzon won the design competition in 1957. Work began in 1958 and the building was opened by Queen Elizabeth II in 1973, after cost overruns and Utzon's resignation, and was completed by an Australian team led by Peter Hall.

More on the UNESCO listing More on Wikipedia

  1. 1957Jørn Utzon wins the design competition
  2. 1958Construction begins
  3. 1973Opened by Queen Elizabeth II on 20 October
  4. 2007Inscribed as World Heritage

Find Your Way Around

The main parts of the site, in the order most visitors see them

  1. 1
    The Shells
    Precast concrete roofs covered in more than a million glossy white and matte cream tiles.
  2. 2
    Concert Hall
    2,679 seats and a grand organ with over 10,000 pipes.
  3. 3
    Joan Sutherland Theatre
    The Sydney home of Opera Australia and The Australian Ballet.
  4. 4
    Forecourt and Foyers
    You can walk all around the building and some foyers for free.

Know Before You Go

From Wikivoyage and the GoGo guides

Take the Tour
Guided tours leave every 30 minutes and take about an hour. Some rooms may be closed for rehearsals.
Come Back at Night
The GoGo Sydney guide adds a performance inside the sails in the evening.
Circular Quay
Trains and ferries stop at Circular Quay, a short walk away.
Walk the Harbour
The foreshore path runs from the Opera House around Farm Cove to the Botanic Garden.
Tours in Other Languages
Some tours run in Chinese, Japanese or Korean.

A Day Around the Opera House

From the GoGo Sydney guide · Open the Sydney Guide ›

  1. 09:00
    Sydney Opera House Tour1 hr
    A tour inside the sails.
  2. 10:15
    Royal Botanic Garden and Mrs Macquarie's Chair1 hr
    The harbour garden next door.
  3. 19:30
    Performance at the Opera House2.5 hrs
    A night at the opera, ballet or a concert.

Best Time to Visit

Best months: Apr–May, Sep–Jan.

Typical highs

Best monthsRain: wettest Feb (134 mm), driest Sep (43 mm)

Climate: NASA POWER

Pair It With

Other World Heritage sites nearby, by distance

WORTH A NIGHTDAY TRIPSAME DAYDistance not to scale · tap a site
Sources
UNESCO World Heritage Centre, listing 166 · Wikipedia: Sydney Opera House · Wikivoyage: Sydney/City Centre (CC BY-SA 4.0) · GoGo Sydney guide · UNESCO listing