The Semperoper is one of the most beautiful opera houses in the world, and you do not need a performance ticket to see it. Gottfried Semper designed the first theatre on this site; after it burned in 1869 he designed its successor, which opened in 1878 and was rebuilt after the war, reopening in 1985. Wagner and Richard Strauss premiered major works here, and the house is still home to the Saxon State Opera and the Staatskapelle Dresden, one of the oldest orchestras in the world. The guided tour leads you through the curved foyers, with their marble that is mostly painted illusion, up the grand staircases and into the horseshoe auditorium with its four tiers, its golden decoration and the famous five-minute clock above the stage. Guides explain how craftsmen recreated the interiors from old drawings and photographs, and share stories of premieres, scandals and the building’s cameo in a famous German beer advertisement. The tour takes under an hour and works well as a break between museums. This page links to the Tiqets English guided tour.
How to visit: the English tour on Tiqets is run by the opera’s official tour partner and lasts forty-five minutes to an hour. Show your phone ticket at the door next to the main entrance on the Theaterplatz at least five minutes before the start. Tour times change from day to day because they fit around rehearsals and performances, so pick a date in the booking calendar and do not assume a fixed timetable. A German-language tour is also sold on Tiqets, and a photo permit is available at the entrance for a small fee. The tour is wheelchair accessible.
What to expect: groups move at an easy pace through the foyers, the staircases and into a box or the stalls, depending on what is happening on stage. Occasionally parts of the house are closed for technical work, and the guide adapts the route. A performance ticket is not included.
Making the most of it: if you can, see a performance as well; seats in the upper tiers are often reasonably priced, and the house is spectacular when lit for an evening. Before or after the tour, look at the equestrian statue of King John on the Theaterplatz and walk over to the Zwinger, whose Semper wing faces the opera.
What to expect
The experience
A guided English-language tour of about an hour through the foyers, staircases and auditorium, without a performance.
Best time
Any day with a tour slot in the calendar; mornings often fit best before rehearsals.
How long
Forty-five minutes to an hour.
Tips
Arrive at least five minutes early at the door beside the main entrance, and buy the small photo permit if you want pictures.
Quick picks
- Best for
- Music and architecture lovers, and anyone who wants to see the opera house without booking a performance.
- Families
- Older children enjoy the stories and the stage machinery, though the tour is mostly talk and looking.
- Couples
- Take the tour by day and come back for an evening performance in the upper tiers.
- Pair with
- The Zwinger across the square and the Hofkirche and Brühl’s Terrace a few minutes away.
- Time needed
- One hour.
Good questions
How long is the Semperoper tour?+
The guided tour lasts about forty-five minutes to an hour. Allow a few extra minutes to check in at the door beside the main entrance.
Are Semperoper tours in English?+
Yes, Tiqets sells a tour with an English-speaking guide as well as a German tour. Choose the language when you pick your date.
Why do Semperoper tour times change?+
Tours are fitted around rehearsals and performances, so the start times vary from day to day. The booking calendar shows the available slots.
Can I take photos inside the Semperoper?+
Yes, with a photo permit that costs a few euros at the main entrance. It is not included in the tour ticket.
Does the tour include an opera performance?+
No, the tour does not include a performance ticket. Performances are booked separately through the opera house.
