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Sydney Opera House

Go underneath its world-famous sails and discover the stories, history, and magic of this iconic landmark.

Sydney Opera House: Our most recommended tours and activities

Sydney: Opera House Guided Tour with Entrance Ticket

1. Sydney: Opera House Guided Tour with Entrance Ticket

Join a walking tour to explore the halls and foyer spaces of the Sydney Opera House with your entrance ticket. Learn what makes this building a World Heritage-listed masterpiece from your guide. You might catch a rehearsal in action or the crew working on a set. The story of the Opera House rivals any dramatic opera for plot twists and jaw dropping cliff-hangers. Step inside and explore beyond the magnificent sails to hear the stories behind Danish architect Jørn Utzon’s remarkable design. On this one-hour guided tour you’ll discover the intricate workings of a living, breathing icon.

Sydney: Miss Saigon by Opera Australia at Sydney Opera House

2. Sydney: Miss Saigon by Opera Australia at Sydney Opera House

Cameron Mackintosh’s acclaimed new production of Boublil and Schönberg’s award-winning musical Miss Saigon is one of the most stunning theatrical experiences of our time. Direct from the West End and Broadway, experience this epic love story of passion and tragedy at the iconic Sydney Opera House this August. Seen by 38 million people worldwide, this production is more thrilling than you have ever seen before with critics calling it “spectacular," a “musical masterpiece,” and “mind-blowingly brilliant." From the creators of Les Misérables, the soaring musical score features hits including “The Heat is On in Saigon,” “The Movie in My Mind,” “Last Night of the World,” and “The American Dream.”

Sydney: 2-hour Express Whale Watching Cruise

3. Sydney: 2-hour Express Whale Watching Cruise

The 2hr Express Cruise is Sydney’s best value whale watching cruise. Reach the open ocean in only 20min from Circular Quay. Fantasea Crystal features an air-conditioned internal saloon with Lcd television screens, complimented by copious amounts of indoor and outdoor seating. Fantasea Crystal’s viewing areas are composed of a seated sun deck, covered rear deck and large windows along the internal saloon. Reaching top speeds of up to 20 knots, getting you from Circular Quay to the open ocean takes only 20min, leaving almost an hour and a half for whale watching. Snacks and drinks are available for purchase from the onboard bar. If no whales are successfully watched on your cruise, you receive a free return cruise.

Sydney: 3-Hour Whale Watching Tour by Catamaran

4. Sydney: 3-Hour Whale Watching Tour by Catamaran

Reach a top speed of almost 30 knots on a purpose-built whale-watching vessel, Fantasea Avalon. Take only 15 minutes to get from Circular Quay to the open ocean and enjoy more time watching whales. Experience your whale-watching cruise from spacious, wrap-around decks over 2 levels. Whale watch in comfort with air-conditioned cabins with large windows and great indoor and outdoor seating. Listen to informative commentary by a marine biologist or experienced crew. Know exactly what to look out for with onboard multimedia presentations. Don't worry if you don’t capture the perfect whale photos, as an onboard professional photographer has that covered with photos available for purchase onboard. Tea, coffee, and bottled water are included in this cruise. Additional drinks are available for purchase from the onboard licensed bar.

Sydney: Sunset Kayak Tour on Sydney Harbour

5. Sydney: Sunset Kayak Tour on Sydney Harbour

Enjoy the brisk evening air as you paddle around Sydney Harbour, watching the sunset and the skyline light up. Led by professional guides, enjoy a relaxed kayaking tour on Sydney’s iconic harbor waters, seeing the Sydney Opera House, Sydney Harbour Bridge, and more. With a maximum of 12 paddlers, your small-group kayak tour allows you the time and space to explore Sydney Harbour at a gentle pace. Begin with a safety briefing and introduction to your equipment, before heading out onto the harbor to explore. With around 2 hours of paddling, there is plenty of time to see Sydney’s famous harborside landmarks, including the Sydney Opera House, Sydney Harbour Bridge, and Circular Quay. Through the kayak tour, your guide will take photos and videos which will be provided to you later in the evening.

Sydney: Morning or Afternoon Harbour Sightseeing Cruise

6. Sydney: Morning or Afternoon Harbour Sightseeing Cruise

Discover the sights of Sydney Harbour on this sightseeing cruise. See the Sydney Opera House and Royal Botanical Gardens and learn about the history of the city with informative live commentary. Along the way, help yourself to hot drinks and fresh fruits and cookies. Set sail from Eastern Pontoon in Circular Quay and choose from either a morning or afternoon sightseeing cruise. Pass by Sydney's most iconic landmarks, including the Sydney Harbour Bridge, Sydney Opera House, Royal Botanical Gardens, and all the sights in between. Refresh with a tea or coffee from the drinks station and help yourself to cookies and fruit. Along the way, enjoy live commentary from a knowledgeable skipper and make sure to bring your camera as there will be countless photo opportunities along the way.

Sydney: Big Bus Open-Top Hop-on Hop-off Tour

7. Sydney: Big Bus Open-Top Hop-on Hop-off Tour

Benefit from access to 2 different routes with 30 stops on a hop-on hop-off sightseeing bus. See all the sights of Sydney and Bondi Beach at your own pace. Learn about the local culture with audio commentary and unlimited rides while driving past the Sydney Harbour Bridge and Sydney Opera House.  Savor the culinary delights of cosmopolitan cafés and restaurants, explore the city's maritime history at the Maritime Museum, take a stroll in the Chinese Gardens or shop for unique gifts in some of Sydney's finest shopping districts. Create your own itinerary around the city. Experience Sydney aboard the double-decker buses and see the Sydney Harbour, hidden beaches, pristine bushlands, botanic gardens, and islands to explore. Explore highlights of the city including Circular Quay, Hyde Park, and Sea Life Sydney Aquarium on the Red Route. Discover the Bondi Beach tour as a perfect introduction to Australia’s beach culture. Let Big Bus take you to the best shopping and dining precincts, plus Centennial Parklands, one of Australia’s most picturesque parks. Explore stops like Central Station, Sydney Tower Eye, and Bondi Beach.

Sydney: Harbour Cruise and Taronga Zoo

8. Sydney: Harbour Cruise and Taronga Zoo

Experience the most fun way to travel to Taronga Zoo and save money with a return ticket on the rocket ferry Circular Quay. Once inside the zoo, take in as many of the exhibits as you like at your own pace. Explore 10 themed areas, including Wild Australia, Wild Asia and the Great Southern Oceans. Hear talks by the zookeepers and go to interactive shows, such as the free bird show and free seal show. See native Australian animals, including koala and platypus, along with creatures from around the world such as Asian elephants, lions and giraffe. Grab some lunch at one of the many cafés, or take your own picnic and find a nice spot in the shade. Once you've had your animal fix for the day, head back to the dock and get some amazing views of Sydney on the cruise back to Circular Quay.

Sydney: Harbor Cruise with Buffet Lunch

9. Sydney: Harbor Cruise with Buffet Lunch

Brighten up your day with a complete Sydney Harbour cruising experience departing from the iconic Circular Quay. Enjoy a buffet lunch and live commentary while passing by famous landmarks like Sydney Harbour Bridge, the Opera House, and more. Once onboard you will savor a delicious buffet lunch with 13 different food options. Hear live commentary whilst soaking in the beautiful panoramic views of the coastline. You will see the Sydney Botanical Gardens, Darling Harbour, and other highlights of the city. Discover the secrets of one of the world's most famous and spectacular natural harbors. Spend some relaxing time in a perfect way to see Sydney from a unique vantage point with plenty of amazing photo opportunities.

Sydney: 3-Course Dinner Harbor Cruise with Drinks

10. Sydney: 3-Course Dinner Harbor Cruise with Drinks

Explore Sydney Harbour on a sunset cruise while enjoying a 3-course dinner served with a selection of beers, wines, soft drinks, and tea or coffee. Set sail from Darling Harbor and once the sun goes down, watch the city lights shine bright as you admire the gleaming metropolis reflected in the harbor. Depart Darling Harbor just as the sun begins to set, you’ll be treated to some epic views of the skyline and surrounding bays. There’s plenty of room on the expansive top, fore, and aft decks to ensure you get uninterrupted 360-degree views of the iconic attractions as you sail past. As night falls and the city lights begin to sparkle, dinner is served. Enjoy a regionally focused menu, served over 3 courses. The chefs have created a menu that highlights the multicultural influences that make Sydney cuisine so special, using an array of fresh and flavorful New South Wales ingredients.  Dinner is paired with a selection of beers, wines, soft drinks, and tea or coffee. The wine has been hand-selected from some of the finest wineries in New South Wales. After dinner, sail past Taronga Zoo and Luna Park before arriving back in Darling Harbor.

Available activities

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Other Sightseeing Options in Sydney Opera House

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What people are saying about Sydney Opera House

Overall rating

4.6 / 5

based on 4,507 reviews

The Sydney Harbour Cruise with Buffet Lunch was an experience my husband and I will never forget. What an amazing time we had.. and such a beautiful day, too! The food was excellent just like you would get in a hotel restaurant. There was one bumpy moment as the boat must've hit a big wave but hey, it was part of the whole experience. My husband was hoping we hit a shark ! Lol! Nevertheless, we had a brilliant time! Kudos to Princess Cruises for giving us an experience we will never forget!

We had a great time, we recommend it. We had to rent a wheelchair for my Mum as she can't walk for too long. The zoo has wheel chair access however is a bit hard to get around when you go up hill, other than that the whole experience was good. Really nice views of the city.

We thoroughly enjoyed the whole day. We can definitely recommend Get your guide, we have booked several days out with them and they have all been great

Great fun, very professionally conducted. The ponchos were a hit as at that speed and wet it can be very uncomfortable.

Great day out, easy pickup and dropoff by Captain Cook Cruises