Australia

The Sydney Opera House is the most photographed landmark in Sydney and a global architectural icon, designed by Danish architect Jørn Utzon and completed in 1973 on Bennelong Point along the harbour. For travellers asking Sydney which country, it stands in Australia, and Sydney in which state, it is in New South Wales. Its sweeping precast concrete sails are clad in more than a million white and cream Swedish ceramic tiles, shimmering against the harbour skyline. Although construction ran ten years over schedule and far beyond budget, leading to Utzon’s resignation, the finished masterpiece has been UNESCO listed since 2007. Today it stages around 1,800 performances annually across multiple venues including the Concert Hall, Opera Theatre, Drama Theatre, Playhouse and Studio, making it central to cultural life for Sydney people. The Forecourt steps and Northern Terrace promenade are free to explore, while interior access requires a tour or performance ticket, one of the top things to do in Sydney within the wider Sydney area.

The Sydney Harbour Bridge is the world’s largest steel arch bridge, stretching 503 metres in a single span and constructed between 1923 and 1932 to link the city centre with the North Shore across the deep harbour. For those asking Sydney which country, it is in Australia, and Sydney in which state, it stands in New South Wales. The bridge carries eight traffic lanes, a railway line, a pedestrian walkway and a cycle path, forming a vital artery within the wider Sydney area. Its sweeping silhouette quickly became a defining symbol for Sydney people, sharing the skyline with the Opera House. One of the most thrilling things to do in Sydney is the BridgeClimb experience, operating since 1998, a 3.5 hour guided ascent along outer catwalks to the summit 134 metres above the water, where the city unfolds in every direction. The south east Pylon Lookout provides a shorter and more affordable alternative for 24 AUD.