Add dates

Sydney For first-time visitors

Our most recommended Sydney For first-time visitors

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. Discover the stories, history, and magic of the Sydney Opera House as you follow your guide underneath the sails and into the UNESCO World Heritage masterpiece. Explore some of the 1,000 rooms, 300 corridors, and hundreds of tales and secrets.  Step inside the inspired theatres where more than 1800 performances come to life each year and learn how the Danish architect Jorn Utzon's groundbreaking design and vision for world-class performing art came into existence.

Sydney: Taronga Zoo Ticket with Return Ferry

2. Sydney: Taronga Zoo Ticket with Return Ferry

Pre-book your entrance ticket to Taronga Zoo and meet hundreds of remarkable species of animals from around the world. Enjoy the benefit of a ferry return ticket from Darling Harbour, Circular Quay, Watsons Bay or Manly (from 1st April). Nestled on the shores of one of the most beautiful harbours in the world, Taronga Zoo is just 12 minutes by ferry from Circular Quay and is home to over 4,000 animals. Explore the Australian native wildlife as well as rare and endangered exotic animals. See tigers, elephants, exotic birds, and many other species of animals. Spend a fun-filled day out with your family in one of the most famous attractions of Sydney. 

Sydney: Taronga Zoo Tickets

3. Sydney: Taronga Zoo Tickets

Overlooking magnificent Sydney Harbour, Taronga Zoo is just 12 minutes by ferry from Circular Quay and offers amazing wildlife experiences with stunning harbor views. Nestled on the shores of the world's most beautiful harbor, Taronga Zoo is surrounded by lush bushland of Bradley's Head National Park, popular for early morning walks. Ferries depart from Circular Quay every 30 minutes. The Zoo has many popular trails to explore including the Australian Walkabout, Kids' Trail, Reptile World, African Savannah, Rainforest Trail, Seal Walk, Seals for the Wild, and the iconic must-see Free Flight Birds presentations. Zoo entry includes keeper talks and presentations. The many exhibits in Taronga Zoo can be reached by footpaths, ramps, lifts and escalators. 90% of Taronga Zoo is fully accessible. Strollers can be hired from the Visitor Information Desk in the main entrance at a small fee and manual wheelchairs can be rented for free and should be booked in advance.

Sydney: Harbour Cruise and Taronga Zoo

4. 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.

Opera Performance Tickets at the Sydney Opera House

5. Opera Performance Tickets at the Sydney Opera House

No trip to Sydney is complete without a visit to the Sydney Opera House, the city’s most famous building. And what better to do when visiting the Sydney Opera House than to spend a pleasant evening inside enjoying an opera performance. The season features some of the world’s favorite operas from composers such as Puccini, Verdi and Halévy. No matter what sort of entertainment you're in the mood for, there's always an opera to fit the bill. Typically, performances start at 07:30 PM and run for 2-3 hours, with an interval or 2. All performances have full English subtitles projected on a screen above the stage. Attila - October 29. November 1, 3, and 5.Il Trovatore - July 15, 19, 23, 25, 28, and 30.La Bohème - January 4, 6, 8, 11, 13, 15, 20, 25, 29, and 31. February 4.La Juive - March 9, 12, 15, 18, 22, 24, and 26.La Traviata - July 5, 8, 12, 14, 16, 18, 21, 23, 27, and 29. October 22, 26, 28, and 31. November 2 and 4.Madama Butterfly - June 29. July 1, 7, 9, 11, 13, 16, 20, 22, 26, and 30.Otello - February 19 and 25. March 2, 5, 8, 12, 16, and 19.The Marriage of Figaro - January 27 and 29. February 1, 3, 5, 10, 12, 14, 16, and 18.Turandot - January 12, 15, 19, 22, 24, and 28. February 2, 5, 9, 12, 15, 17, and 26. March 5, 10, and 14. The Sydney Opera House has a range of eateries for all price types, including Bennelong and the Opera Kitchen.

Sydney: Taronga Zoo & 1 or 2-Day Sydney Harbour Hopper Pass

6. Sydney: Taronga Zoo & 1 or 2-Day Sydney Harbour Hopper Pass

Enjoy a trip to Taronga Zoo and a hop on hop off pass to explore Sydney Harbour with Fantasea Cruising and choose from either a one or two-day option. See various wildlife at Taronga Zoo and enjoy the beautiful sights from Sydney Harbour. Visit one of Sydney’s most famous attractions, the award-winning Taronga Zoo is home to over 4,000 animals, including Australian native wildlife, as well as rare and endangered exotic animals. Explore the zoo overlooking the magnificent Sydney Harbour, the zoo is just 12 minutes from the city by ferry. Listen to daily keeper talks and see zoo shows. See one of the world’s most beautiful natural harbours by boat and take in the sparkling blue waters, iconic tourist attractions, hidden beaches, pristine bushlands, and pretty botanic gardens brimming with native flora and charming islands that are made for exploring.

Sydney Opera House: Verdi's Aida Opera Performance Tickets

7. Sydney Opera House: Verdi's Aida Opera Performance Tickets

Lose yourself in the monumental music of Aida, Verdi’s historic epic. Davide Livermore’s radiant production is a thrilling theatrical experience. Ten towering digital screens create ever-changing floor-to-ceiling set pieces. Immersive digital video design ranges from rich symbolism to vivid landscapes. Opulent costumes and props reflect the splendor of Egypt at the height of its power. Together with dramatic video, the massed grandeur of the famous Triumphal March is a visual and musical feast. Lorenzo Passerini and Tahu Matheson conduct two magnificent casts. Sensational American soprano Leah Crocetto performs as the enslaved princess, Aida, before Elena Guseva takes over. Elena Gabouri reprises her critically acclaimed turn as Aida’s rival, Amneris, sharing the role with the stunning Agnieszka Rehlis. Italian tenor Stefano La Colla performs as Radamès, the man they both love, sharing the role with Najmiddin Mavlyanov, making his Opera Australia debut.

Frequently asked questions about Sydney

What top attractions are a must-see in Sydney?

What are the best day trips and excursions from Sydney?

The best day trips and excursions from Sydney are:

Canberra

What are the best deals and discounts on activities and attractions in Sydney?

Other Sightseeing Options in Sydney

Want to discover all there is to do in Sydney? Click here for a full list.

What people are saying about Sydney

Our tour guide was very knowledgeable so made it a very interesting tour. We were disappointed we could not join our 2 friends on the Thursday so we did the tour on the Wednesday @ midday. Would certainly recommend the tour to fellow travellers.

It was great to hear my favorite operas in person, and even better to hear arias sung by great singers in my dream Sydney Opera House.

Good introduction to animals in Australia. The ‘experiences’ and animal talks were excellent.

A world class zoo! Beautiful views and amazing animals!

absolutely amazing our tour guide nick was awesome