Sydney Opera House Tourism Statistics (updated 2025)

Published 7 May 2025

The Sydney Opera House is one of the most iconic symbols of Sydney and Australia. Every year, it draws in large numbers of tourists who come to experience its beauty and magic.

How many tourists visit Sydney Opera House each year?

1.8 million tourists visited the Sydney Opera House in 2023.

The Opera House welcomed approximately 2.4 million visitors in 2017 but by 2019, the figure dropped to 1.2 million in 2019.
Due to COVID-19, visitor numbers dropped to 980,000 in 2020, an 18% decline.
2021 was the lowest year on record, with 500,000 visitors, a further 50% drop from 2020.
A strong rebound was observed in 2023, with 1.8 million visitors, a 260% increase from 2022 but still well below the pre-pandemic year of 2017.

Chart of total annual visitors to the Sydney Opera House. — Total visitors to the Sydney Opera House each year.

How much did tourists spend at the Sydney Opera House in 2023?

Sydney Opera House generated $104 million of tourism revenue in 2023, a 27% increase from 2022, but 8% below pre-pandemic levels in 2019.

Where do visitors to the Sydney Opera House come from?

The majority of international visitors come from the US, with Germany and the UK following closely. Additionally, there has been a rise in tourists from China, Japan, and Korea since the introduction of Asian language tours.

Why do people visit the Sydney Opera House?

According to a 2023 survey, the top reasons tourists visited the Opera House were enjoying a night of opera (15.4%), theatre (11.7%), comedy shows (11.4%), guided tours (7.7%) and dance performances (7.4%).

Opera: 15.4%
Theatre: 11.7%
Comedy Show: 11.4%
Guided Tours: 7.7%
Dance: 7.4%

Chart showing the top reasons tourists visit the Sydney Opera House by share. — Top reasons tourists visit the Sydney Opera House.

How long do tourists spend at the Sydney Opera House?

Visitors spend between 30 minutes to 2 hours exploring the exterior and forecourt. Guided tours last around one hour. Performance attendees stay 2–3 hours.

How many tourists visited the Sydney Opera House in 2023?

In 2023, the Sydney Opera House welcomed 1.8 million visitors, a 260% increase from 2022.

How much did tourists spend in Sydney Opera House in 2023?

A$104 million of tourism revenue was recorded in 2023, a 26% increase from 2022 but still lower than the A$113 million spent in 2019.

Domestic vs International

Domestic tourists made up the majority of visitors.
International tourists, led by U.S. and Chinese travelers, were the highest spenders, with significant growth in European and Indian visitors.

How many tourists visited Sydney Opera House in 2022?

Approximately 500,000 people visited the Sydney Opera House in 2022, similar to 2021, as international travel had only just begun recovering.

How much did tourists spend at the Sydney Opera House in 2022?

Tourism revenue reached A$82 million, marking the beginning of recovery but still significantly lower than pre-pandemic levels.

Impact of COVID-19 on Sydney Opera House Tourism (2020-2021)

The pandemic caused an unprecedented drop in visitation:

Visitor numbers saw a sharp decline during the period, with only 980,000 visitors in 2020, representing an 18% drop from 2019. The situation worsened in 2021, as visitor numbers halved to 500,000.
Spending in 2020 amounted to A$102 million, but this figure saw a significant decline in 2021, dropping to A$58 million. This reduction represented almost half of the previous year’s spending.

Sydney Opera House Inbound Tourism Statistics in 2019

1.2 million people visited Sydney Opera House in 2019.
The Sydney Opera House generated A$113 million in revenue in 2019.

How many performances are held at the Sydney Opera House each year?

There were 1,628 performances at the Sydney Opera House in FY 2023-24, slightly fewer than the previous year.
In 2022-23, a total of 1,636 performances took place, marking a steady recovery.
Only 759 performances were held in 2021-22, as the industry began to rebound.
The number of performances was 750 in 2020-21, reflecting pandemic-related challenges.
Before the pandemic, 1,473 performances were held in 2019-20, while 1,834 performances took place in 2018-19.

Chart of total performances held at the Sydney Opera House each year. — Total performances held at the Sydney Opera House each year.

Other Resources

How popular is the Sydney Opera House?In 2007, UNESCO designated the Opera House a World Heritage site.
It has been ranked the #1 landmark in Australia and the South Pacific in 2017.
It is one of the world’s busiest performing arts centers.
It holds high ratings on platforms like TripAdvisor (often 4.5/5 or above from hundreds of thousands of reviews).

How much does it cost to visit the Sydney Opera House?

As of 2025, ticket prices for visiting the Sydney Opera House are as follows: Adults pay A$45, children aged 5 to 15 years cost A$25, and children under 5 years enter for free. Concessions are available for A$35 to holders of an Australian Seniors Card, Australian Pensioners, and full-time students aged 16 and older. A family ticket for 2 adults and 2 children costs A$115.
Ticket prices will increase slightly in April, 2025: Adults will pay A$48, while children aged 5 to 15 years will be charged A$28 (still free for children under 5). Concessions will be available for A$38, and a family ticket for 2 adults and 2 children will cost A$124.

Campervan hire in Australia

References

Annual Reports of Sydney Opera House · sydneyoperahouse.com
Tripadvisor travel award · tripadvisor.mediaroom.com