Sydney Opera House
The best Sydney Opera House tours
The one-hour guided tour, the backstage tour with breakfast and opera nights from Great Opera Hits to La Bohème. Here is what to book, with honest advice on whether the tour is worth it, the 300 stairs, and which tickets you cannot refund.
See our 5 picks
The Sydney Opera House tour lasts about an hour and costs from €31 on GetYourGuide. It has about 300 stairs and no lift. For a show, Great Opera Hits costs from €43, but that ticket cannot be refunded.
Our 5 picks for the Sydney Opera House
Two guided tours and three shows. Four have free cancellation; Great Opera Hits is non-refundable, and La Bohème is too new to have a rating.
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from €31 per person Our top pick 1 hour 4.7 (9,963) reviews on GetYourGuide
Guided tour with entrance ticket
The official one-hour tour with a live guide. You step inside theatres and foyers, and you can take photos from spots the public cannot reach.
Best for A first visit
Check availability: Guided tour with entrance ticket on GetYourGuide - from €125 per person
Breakfast in the Green Room
Backstage tour
2 h 30 min 4.8 (152) reviews on GetYourGuide
VIP backstage tour and breakfast
A 2.5-hour tour behind the stage, where the performers work, with breakfast in the Green Room. Children aged 10 and under cannot join.
Best for Architecture and theatre fans
Check availability: VIP backstage tour and breakfast on GetYourGuide - from €112 per person
A musical at the Opera House
My Fair Lady
3 hours 4.7 (135) reviews on GetYourGuide
My Fair Lady
A ticket to the musical My Fair Lady by Opera Australia. Choose your date when you book. The show runs about 3 hours.
Best for A musical night out
Check availability: My Fair Lady on GetYourGuide -
from €43 per person 1 h 30 min 4.6 (809) reviews on GetYourGuide
Great Opera Hits
A 90-minute concert of famous arias by Bizet, Puccini, Rossini and Verdi. Non-refundable: you cannot cancel this ticket.
Best for A first opera, a short evening
Check availability: Great Opera Hits on GetYourGuide -
from €106 per person 2 h 15 min New, no reviews yet
La Bohème
Puccini's opera in a new stage production, sung in Italian with English and Chinese surtitles. No children under 6. New on GetYourGuide, no rating yet.
Best for Opera fans
Check availability: La Bohème on GetYourGuide
Opera House tours and shows compared
| Tour | From | Duration | Free cancellation | Type | Who it suits | Why we picked it |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Guided tour with entrance ticket | €31 per person | 1 hour | Yes | Tour | A first visit | The most-reviewed tour here: 4.7 from 9,963 reviews. |
| VIP backstage tour and breakfast | €125 per person | 2 h 30 min | Yes | Tour | Architecture and theatre fans | The only way backstage: 4.8 from 152 reviews. |
| My Fair Lady | €112 per person | 3 hours | Yes | Show | A musical night out | A full musical in the Opera House: 4.7 from 135 reviews. |
| Great Opera Hits | €43 per person | 1 h 30 min | Non-refundable | Show | A first opera, a short evening | The cheapest show, from €43, with 4.6 from 809 reviews. |
| La Bohème | €106 per person | 2 h 15 min | Yes | Show | Opera fans | A full opera with surtitles. New on GetYourGuide, no rating yet. |
Guided tour with entrance ticket
€31 per person1 hour 4.7 (9,963)
Details
- Free cancellation
- Yes
- Type
- Tour
- Who it suits
- A first visit
- Why we picked it
- The most-reviewed tour here: 4.7 from 9,963 reviews.
VIP backstage tour and breakfast
€125 per person2 h 30 min 4.8 (152)
Details
- Free cancellation
- Yes
- Type
- Tour
- Who it suits
- Architecture and theatre fans
- Why we picked it
- The only way backstage: 4.8 from 152 reviews.
€112 per person3 hours 4.7 (135)
Details
- Free cancellation
- Yes
- Type
- Show
- Who it suits
- A musical night out
- Why we picked it
- A full musical in the Opera House: 4.7 from 135 reviews.
€43 per person1 h 30 min 4.6 (809)
Details
- Free cancellation
- Non-refundable
- Type
- Show
- Who it suits
- A first opera, a short evening
- Why we picked it
- The cheapest show, from €43, with 4.6 from 809 reviews.
€106 per person2 h 15 minNew, no reviews yet
Details
- Free cancellation
- Yes
- Type
- Show
- Who it suits
- Opera fans
- Why we picked it
- A full opera with surtitles. New on GetYourGuide, no rating yet.
- No listing states a group size.
- None includes hotel pickup. All take place at the Opera House on Bennelong Point.
- Prices and ratings as shown on GetYourGuide on 25 October 2026. Prices are “from” prices in euros and can change; the booking page shows the live price.
Visiting the Sydney Opera House
The best way to see inside the Opera House is a guided tour. The Opera House runs seven tours, from the main tour to a step-free Mobility Access Tour.
The main tour runs daily in English and six other languages. The Architectural Tour lasts about 75 minutes and runs on Saturdays at 8:15 am and 10 am, and on some Sundays. It costs A$60 for an adult if you book ahead.
The Opera House is a 10-minute walk from Circular Quay, where ferries, buses and trains stop. To see more of the city, compare the Big Bus tours Sydney and other bus tours.
- The seven tours: Opera House Tour, Mobility Access Tour, Architectural Tour, The Backstage Tour, Tour & Dine, Taste of the House, and Draw the House (monthly).
Is the Sydney Opera House tour worth it?
Yes, for a first visit. The tour takes you inside theatres and foyers you cannot see from outside, and it has 4.7 from 9,963 reviews.
On GetYourGuide it costs from €31. On the Opera House site, an adult pays A$50 if booked ahead or A$55 on the day.
Skip it if stairs are hard for you, or ask about the Mobility Access Tour. On a tight budget, there are cheaper things to do in Western Sydney.
Shows at the Opera House Sydney
Three shows are on sale through GetYourGuide: My Fair Lady, Great Opera Hits and La Bohème. For the full programme, check the Opera House website.
Great Opera Hits is the short, cheap way to hear opera, at 90 minutes from €43. La Bohème is a full opera of 2 hours 15 minutes with one interval.
There is no dress code for these shows. The listings suggest an extra layer of clothing for comfort.
The Opera House at night
La Bohème starts at 7:30 pm, except for matinees. Allow extra time for the security check at the door.
The best view of the sails is from the water, so a sunset cruise on Sydney Harbour pairs well with a show.
Before you go: stairs, bags and arriving on time
Plan for stairs and be on time. These are the Opera House's own rules for the main tour:
- Stairs: about 300 stairs and up to 2.5 km of walking, with no lift. It is not suitable for wheelchairs.
- Arrive: 15 minutes early at the Welcome Centre. If you are more than 5 minutes late, you lose the tour and get no refund.
- Bags: anything bigger than A4 paper must go in the cloakroom. Large luggage is not accepted.
- Video: filming is not allowed.
- Closed days: no tours on 25 and 31 December 2026.
Booking tips for the Sydney Opera House
Book ahead to pay less
On the Opera House site, the main tour costs A$50 for an adult booked ahead and A$55 on the day. From 1 April 2027, it rises to A$52 and A$57.
Great Opera Hits cannot be refunded
Book it only when your date is sure. The other four picks have free cancellation on GetYourGuide.
Do not be late for a show
Ushers close the doors at show time. Latecomers may have to wait for a pause in the show.
Ask about access
The main tour has about 300 stairs. The Opera House runs a step-free Mobility Access Tour; its tour desk is on +61 2 8188 3734, 9 am to 5 pm daily.
Sydney Opera House: questions and answers
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More Opera House tickets, live
More options with live prices and availability, straight from GetYourGuide.
See every tour with today's prices and open dates on GetYourGuide.
Browse all on GetYourGuideMore near the Opera House
Sources (4), facts checked on 25 October 2026
Written by the Things to Do in Sydney editorial team.