The way to get into Sydney Opera House without buying concert tickets is to book a guided tour. However, you need to make sure you pick the RIGHT tour. This guide was updated in January 2026.
Sydney Opera House: A working arts venue
The Sydney Opera House has quickly become one of the most instantly recognisable buildings on earth. This is partly due to its distinctive sail-like design, and partly due to its spectacular position on Sydney Harbour.
The Sydney Opera House is not just a splendid piece of architecture, however. It’s a working performing arts venue, hosting a busy calendar of music and dance performances throughout the year.
Access to Sydney Opera House
But if you’re not interested in seeing a show, is it possible to go inside the Sydney Opera House for a look around?
Well, yes and no. If you want to just rock up and wander around, it’s not going to happen. But this would be the same for pretty much every concert venue in the world.
You can, however, get a look at the Sydney Opera House interior on a guided tour.
Sydney Opera House walking tour
The standard Sydney Opera House walking tour costs $48 (price checked and updated in January 2028) and lasts an hour. This shows off the huge pillar-free chamber as well as some areas that are usually off-limits to the public. The expert guide also shares plenty of stories about the Sydney Opera House’s design and turbulent construction, plus anecdotes about performers that have take to the stage inside.
Sydney Opera House backstage tour
However, there is a more in-depth option. The Sydney Opera House backstage tour goes into more spaces usually reserved for staff and performers. Departing at 7am so it doesn’t get in everybody else’s way, this backstage tour looks more at the logistics of how one of the most famous performing arts venues in the world works.
The Sydney Opera House backstage tour also includes breakfast, and costs a considerable $199.
Five great things to do while you’re in Sydney
- Take a small group tour to the Blue Mountains – with a Parramatta River cruise thrown in.
- See the landmarks and secret beaches – on a Sydney Harbour cruise.
- Discover Sydney’s most historic neighbourhood – on a Rocks walking tour.
- Go on a whale-watching cruise – and admire migrating humpbacks.
- Learn to surf at Bondi Beach – with beginner surfing lessons.
Which Sydney Opera House tour is best?
Which Sydney Opera House tour to pick will depend a lot on your interest level and budget. If you’re mildly interested and just want a look around, pick the standard walking tour. If you’re really interested and are prepared to spend on the right experiences, opt for the backstage tour.
The backstage tour is also a good bet for the jet-lagged looking for something to do in the early morning. Later in the day, you can tackle the rides at Luna Park, explore the restaurants of the Surry Hills neighbourhood or board the ships at the Australian National Maritime Museum. If you’ve blown your budget on the behind-the-scenes tour, then Sydney also has plenty of free attractions. Some of these are icons, such as the Bondi to Coogee walk or the Anzac Memorial. But other freebies include Sydney’s historic museums such as the Museum of Sydney, the Hyde Park Barracks and the Police and Justice Museum.
Things to do near the Sydney Opera House
The Sydney Opera House sits at the centre of a particularly compact sightseeing area. Several of Sydney’s other major attractions are within a short walk, making it easy to combine a tour of the Opera House with other parts of the harbourfront.
- Explore the Royal Botanic Garden – The gardens begin immediately beside the Opera House, with waterfront paths leading towards Mrs Macquarie’s Point and views back across the harbour. Planet Whitley’s guide to Mrs Macquarie’s Chair is useful if you want to include the viewpoint.
- Walk around Circular Quay – The harbourfront promenade between the Opera House and the ferry wharves is one of the easiest ways to appreciate the building from different angles. It is also a convenient starting point for exploring The Rocks or taking a ferry across the harbour.
- Explore The Rocks – Sydney’s oldest surviving neighbourhood is only a short walk from the Opera House, with historic streets, former warehouses, pubs and museums to explore. A walking tour of The Rocks makes sense if you want to add some history to an Opera House visit.
- Visit the Museum of Sydney – At the northern edge of the CBD, this museum explores Sydney’s early colonial history and Aboriginal heritage. It is a particularly useful complement to the Opera House because it puts the modern city into its historical context. See Planet Whitley’s Museum of Sydney visitor guide.
- Visit the Sydney Harbour Bridge – The bridge is directly opposite the Opera House, so you can easily combine the two landmarks on foot. You can simply walk across the bridge or take on the more adventurous BridgeClimb experience.
Alternative attractions
If you are interested in the Sydney Opera House because of its cultural significance, architecture and history, there are several other substantial cultural attractions within two hours of the city centre.
- Australian National Maritime Museum – In Darling Harbour, this large museum explores Australia’s maritime history through galleries, historic vessels and interactive displays. Planet Whitley’s Australian National Maritime Museum guide covers the practicalities of visiting.
- Hyde Park Barracks – This UNESCO-listed convict site provides a very different historical experience, with exhibitions explaining the lives of convicts, immigrants and other people who passed through the barracks. See the Hyde Park Barracks visitor guide.
- Justice & Police Museum – Housed in historic courthouse and police buildings near Circular Quay, this small museum examines Sydney’s criminal justice history through original rooms, objects and stories. Planet Whitley’s Justice & Police Museum guide has the visitor information.
- Anzac Memorial – At the southern end of Hyde Park, this striking Art Deco memorial combines architecture, commemoration and museum displays. It is particularly worthwhile for visitors interested in Australian history and the country’s military heritage. See the Anzac Memorial visitor guide.
- Susannah Place Museum – These four terrace houses in The Rocks provide an intimate look at working-class life in nineteenth-century Sydney. Entry is by guided tour, making it a useful alternative for visitors who prefer historic buildings and personal stories to large museums. See the Susannah Place Museum guide.
More Australia travel
Other Australia travel articles on Planet Whitley include:
- A guide to Cairns for first time visitors.
- The cities and regions of Australia that have massively improved.
- Five underrated aspects of travelling in Australia.
- Which Australian cities does Emirates fly to?
- Why you should book a Coorong kayaking tour – not a cruise.
