Ópera de Sydney

It’s hard to believe that contemporary music shows in this iconic venue were rare until a few years ago. The artists performing—no matter how established—are often in awe of the venue and the crowd feeds off that for a great vibe. Nick Cave, PJ Harvey, and Sufjan Stevens all played euphoric shows here, and Crowded House famously performed outdoors on the steps. I’d recommend arriving a couple of hours before your show to make the most of the spectacular harbour backdrop. Go for a drink at the popular Opera Bar, set right on the water, with jaw-dropping views of the Harbour Bridge and Opera House itself. Daytime or nighttime—it wows around the clock.