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What building do you know that was designed by a Dane and is covered in Swedish tiles, yet is one of the most famous monuments in the southern hemisphere? It’s the Sydney Opera House, which has the added advantage of sitting on one of the world’s most scenic harbors.

What I especially like about the Sydney Opera House is that it’s not only big, bold and in every visitor’s photographs, but it’s also constantly in use. Various performance spaces are utilized by musicians, actors and singers, and during the day, many of these areas are open for visitors to tour.

You can choose a one-hour guided tour, which will usually take you through the concert hall, opera and drama theaters and a few other interesting spots; you can also join a backstage tour where you’ll have the chance to stand on stage and sit in the orchestra pit. And this tour includes breakfast! You can also buy performance packages which include dinner before or after a performance, or an hour long sunset cruise around Sydney Harbor before the show starts.

Construction of the Sydney Opera House began in 1958, but it wasn’t completed and opened until 1973. In June 2007, it was added to the World Heritage List as a cultural site with outstanding universal value - and it’s the youngest building on the list.