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The Sydney Opera House: pure elegance

The Sydney Opera House in the harbour stands like a fleet of sailing boats billowing in the wind. In 1955, the Australian government commissioned a design competition for a new theatre and opera building; the winning design soon became a world-famous icon.

Arts & Culture

The Opera House’s unique white ‘sails’

Tricky design

Utzon’s design was not easy to build. The construction of the white 'sails' turned out to be a huge technical challenge and it took 4 years to find the solution. The entire construction took 16 years. The Sydney Opera House was inaugurated in 1973 and despite its relatively short existence, it has become a beloved icon of Sydney and Australia. American architect Louis Kahn even said: "The sun didn’t know how beautiful her light was, until she saw it reflected on this building."

Inside the Opera House

1600 performances a year

Year-round, the Opera House hosts musicals, plays, ballets and of course operas. There are approximately 1600 shows per year. The complex consists of 6 different halls that are praised for their beautiful acoustics. The largest venue is the Concert Hall. There is also a large outdoor area, the so-called Forecourt, where al fresco concerts are held. A lovely place to spend a sultry summer evening. An evening at the Opera House does not necessarily need to entail a theatrical performance or concert. On a balmy Sydney summer evening, the Opera Bar is the perfect spot for a bite and a drink, accompanied by live music. The large terrace offers great views of the Opera House and the Harbour Bridge.

Take a look under the roofs

Under the sails

During the day there are various tours of the Opera House complex. The general tour gives visitors a glimpse into the history of the Opera House and explains the ground-breaking architecture. Those more interested in the magic of the theatre may also book a 'backstage tour'. During this tour, the curtain literally goes up and reveals the secrets behind the scene. Reservations are required as the number of tickets per tour is limited.

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Arts & Culture

Houston and Dallas may be bigger and more famous, but Austin is in fact the capital of Texas. It’s also the least Texan city in Texas. And the weirdest city in the country. This is something its residents take pride in, as evidenced by the Austin motto of Keep Austin Weird! Have a peek inside weird houses or admire a cathedral of junk in a city where there is even a museum devoted entirely to the weird and strange.

Nightlife

When it comes to music, you might be inclined to think New Orleans (jazz), Memphis (rock ‘n’ roll), Chicago (blues) or Nashville (country), but Austin is actually the music capital of the US. The city boasts over 250 music venues, more than any other American city. You can choose from countless live performances and a fantastic music festival every month, such as SXSW. Austin lives and breathes music.

Beach, Water sports, Nature

The airport in Liberia is the gateway to the Province of Guanacaste, the sunniest part of Costa Rica. Thanks to its large number of snow-white buildings and tree-lined streets made of white gravel, the city itself is also referred to as ‘la ciudad blanca’. But, let’s be honest, most visitors who arrive here are primarily interested in white sand. Only a half hour by car from the airport is the fantastic Pacific coast with beaches that are postcard perfect.

Nature

In the Rincón de la Vieja National Park, you can hike, swim in natural hot springs, picnic and camp. The park features a variety of ecosystems around nine craters and 32 rivers with spectacular waterfalls during the rainy season. The diversity of flora and fauna is amazing: look up and chances are you’ll see toucans, sloths and monkeys in the treetops.

Active & Outdoor

Old towns, stunning constructions and wonderful nature: admire all of this and more in THIS IS HOLLAND, a brand-new 5D movie attraction by the producers of De Nieuwe Wildernis (The New Wilderness). It is the perfect introduction to Holland for first-time visitors, but also an interesting surprise for Dutchies who think they know their country inside out. This is a magical 5D experience with smells, colours, images, sounds, rain and shine.

Culinary

Everyone in Sweden knows Småland as the nation’s culinary centre. The region’s cuisine goes above and beyond the famous meatballs: a Michelin-star restaurant serves innovative Swedish haute cuisine, coffee is elevated to an art, and you can visit a lovely castle and pretend to be Lord or Lady of the manor. Here are three suggestions for typically Swedish restaurants in the city of Växjö.

Arts & Culture

Älmhult is the birthplace of renowned botanist Carl Linnaeus and children’s books author Astrid Lindgren, however its most famous ‘offspring’ is IKEA. Life in this southern Swedish town evolves around the blue-and-yellow furniture giant: from the IKEA Hotel and IKEA Museum to the IKEA Bar and IKEA Spa. Welcome to the one and only IKEA Småland – meatballs and ball pit included.