Things To Do In Sydney Opera House
Without a doubt, Sydney Opera House is one of the most famous architectural landmarks in the world. If you are in love with your art then this is one of the places which you would definitely want to tour. Holding a sitting capacity of around 5738 people and casting around 15000 performances per year while receiving a whopping 1.2 million visitors per every 365 days, touring this Australian landmark is an experience to enjoy!
Amenities
This beautiful Opera House was designed by a Danish architect and opened in October, 1973 by Queen Elizabeth II. The public toilets can be found on the lower concourse, the western foyers and the Main Box Office. ATMs are on the lower concourse, next to the stairs near the car park entrance.
Two public telephones are available; one on the lower concourse beyond the car park entrance and the other is next to the stage door next to the vehicle concourse. Then there are the baby changing areas. These facilities include a change table and bins for soiled diapers. They are located in four places – the western foyers which are near the Drama Theatre and the Play House, the lower concourse and at the Concert Hall in the northern foyer.
Attending an event
To have an awesome time while visiting this renowned art centre, be early for your show, which usually starts at the time indicated in the ticket. Throughout the entire show, it is important to have your ticket always with you as you may be required to produce it at any time for inspection. Generally, children under the age of 2 years are not required to purchase a ticket; however, they are not allocated a seat and must sit on the lap of a guardian or parent for the entire show.
Please note that not all performances may be appropriate for the children, so it’s always best to confirm first from the information pages. Also, all children below the age of fifteen should always be chaperoned by an adult. The dress code unless specified isn’t formal and all mobile phones should be turned off before the commencement of a performance.
There are various performance venues within the concert hall with a seating capacity of 2,679 and has the Sydney Opera House Grand Organ, the largest in the world, with more than 10,000 pipes. Then there’s the Joan Sutherland Theatre housing 1, 507 seats, the home of the Australian Ballet. Another venue is the Drama Theatre with 544 seats and is mainly used by dance and theatre presenters. There is the Play House with 398 seats, a studio with a capacity of 400, a recording studio, the Utzon room and the outdoor Forecourt.
Moreover, a tour around option is available and is offered in a variety of languages from French to German, Japanese, Mandarin, to Korean. If you want a sneak pick on what happens behind the scenes, you are not limited by the choices available. This multi-award winning theatre has something special for everyone.
Checkout our article on how to get a great shot of the Sydney Opera House.
Shopping in Sydney Opera House
From souvenirs, inspired gifts to performance related products; there is everything just to suit your taste and preferences, all of them designed and selected to celebrate Sydney Opera House as the magnificent art centre and architectural masterpiece that it is. The stores are open every single day, and all the proceeds from the sales support the theatres. Moreover, corporate orders are welcome too and mail orders are sent out on request.
Gift vouchers are also an excellent way to treat loved ones to a great shopping experience. They can be bought and redeemed online, and orders can be made and delivered as requested by the buyers to the recipients. This also includes sending them via email. Normally, they are valid for a period of one year. For direct purchases, gift shops can be seen all over the lobbies of the opera house.
Dine and Drink
Although eating on the performance spaces is prohibited, the many restaurants and bars are friendly enough to fit your budget and taste too. Moreover, drinks and beverages may be reorder before a performance for an express delivery. The theatres offer a wide range of onsite dining options, and the food is served to professionalism, pure perfection, and class.
Notable refreshment areas include the Opera Bar which consists of the Charcuterie which has sumptuous mouth watering bites. The chef has a specialty shuck oysters with slice charcuterie for you, and you can dine on all this whilst enjoying the scenic views of the Sydney Harbor Bridge.
At the traditional Opera Bar, you can easily enjoy your favourite drinks. Then you also have the option of having a full three course meal at the House Eatery by George. Here, you can enjoy local fare and diners that are fresh. The table service menu has been divided into plates to ease sharing, and you may eat as much as you want before and after the performance. Members have the advantage of saving up to 10% upon presenting their valid membership cards.
A good thing about this place is that it is always open two hours prior to the performances and reservations are accepted. The Opera Kitchen is well famed for its innovative and creative food, and it is located beneath the famous Harbor Bridge and Sydney harbor. Theatre patrons and regular customers are always treated to a wide array of food and cuisine where the atmosphere is relaxed. It is earned the name as a ”fantasy food court”. At the performance area, all foodstuff and drinks are not permitted as a general rule.
Getting to and around Sydney Opera House
Since most of the shows start at the exact time as indicated on the ticket, to have ample time in taking in the grand atmosphere of the Sydney Opera House, you should make sure you arrive at the venue before the show kicks off. This includes hiring a bus especially if it is group travel. However, we can arrange transport for groups of any size to Sydney Opera House, please call or send us an email for more information.