Sydney Opera House

The Sydney Opera House stands on Bennelong Point, the narrow spit of land at the eastern edge of Circular Quay. Its roof of interlocking shells was designed by the Danish architect Jørn Utzon, who won the international competition for the project in the 1950s. Utzon resigned in 1966 during disputes over cost and design, and the interiors were completed by an Australian team led by Peter Hall. The building was formally opened in October 1973 and is now a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Inside are several performance venues, from the large Concert Hall to smaller theatres and studios, which between them host opera, ballet, orchestral concerts, theatre, comedy, contemporary music and talks. Seeing a performance is the most complete way to experience the building, as you move through the foyers and see the harbour views from the glass walls at the northern ends of the halls.

If you are not attending a show, a guided tour is the best alternative. Tours take you inside the main venues and explain how the building was designed and constructed, including the engineering problems the shells posed. They run regularly through the day and can be booked on the official website. Arriving fifteen minutes early helps, as the meeting points are inside the building.

Eating and drinking at the Opera House is part of the visit for many people. Bennelong, the restaurant beneath the smallest shell, serves contemporary Australian food, while Opera Bar on the lower concourse is an outdoor bar facing the harbour and the bridge. Booking ahead is wise for Bennelong, particularly before an evening performance.

The outside is free to explore at any time. Walk around the forecourt, up the monumental steps and along the lower concourse, where restaurants and bars face the water. For the classic view of the building with the Harbour Bridge behind it, walk through the Royal Botanic Garden to Mrs Macquarie's Point, or take a ferry from Circular Quay and look back as you leave the wharf.

The Opera House suits almost every visitor. Families can join a shorter tour or simply walk the promenade, while couples often combine a performance with dinner nearby. Circular Quay station, the ferry wharves and many bus routes are about five minutes' walk away along the eastern side of the quay, which makes it easy to fit into a first day in the city alongside The Rocks and the Botanic Garden.