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Sydney Architecture Walks

Urban tours for lovers of architecture

Sydney Architecture Walks

Urban tours for lovers of architecture

Sydney Architecture Walks

Urban tours for lovers of architecture

Sydney Architecture Walks

Urban tours for lovers of architecture

Sydney Architecture Walks

Urban tours for lovers of architecture

Sydney Architecture Walks

Urban tours for lovers of architecture

Sydney Architecture Walks

Urban tours for lovers of architecture

Sydney Architecture Walks

Urban tours for lovers of architecture

Sydney Architecture Walks

Urban tours for lovers of architecture

Sydney Architecture Walks

Urban tours for lovers of architecture

Sydney Architecture Walks

Urban tours for lovers of architecture

Sydney Architecture Walks

Urban tours for lovers of architecture

We are architects and we conduct tours of Sydney that are open to the general public.

Buildings don’t just reflect our society, they shape our society.

Aimed at the level of the expert-enthusiast, our tours explore ideas through architecture offering an interface between in-depth architectural knowledge and the wider design-conscious community. Conversations are informal, each tour driven by particular themes and threads that attempt to decode the city whilst stimulating new ways of thinking about and seeing Sydney.

Taking the form of a series of urban provocations, each tour is a jargon-free exercise in story-telling. We want you to understand the why of the city whilst we explore the most provocative and inspiring projects Sydney houses – works of contemporary architecture, public art and landscape that inspire and delight but also projects that reveal something of Sydney’s grimy pulse. If a project is awesome we celebrate it, if it’s rubbish we take note as we reveal the vibrant network of invisible forces – political, economic, environmental and cultural that give the city form.

Get SAW feet. Sydney will never look the same again. Promise!


Walking Tours

2 to 3 hours. Small groups. See Tour Calendar below for full program

Tour Calendar



SAW Gift Cards

Why don’t you treat the discerning archiphile in your life with an experience that will change they way they think, feel and understand Sydney.

SAW Gift Cards can be redeemed on any of our tours over an 18 month period. Free printing and posting for Fathers Day.


Sydney Mini-City Guide

When you join us on a tour we will give you our SAW Mini-City Guide — all the things we love about Sydney squeezed onto an A4 sheet of paper.

It wasn’t easy, and we had to resort to a very small font, but its crammed full of what we recon are Sydney’s most precious and unique places and experiences. Design and culture-rich neighbourhoods, beautiful streets, archi-day trip suggestions and even a reading list for people like you, people like us; curious people who are looking for Sydney’s pulse and hope to find some inspiring contemporary architecture and design and art — and great coffee and food of course — along the way.

Our little gift to you.


Happy Clients

"Really good tour, I would give them 6 stars if I could. Inspirational, educational and done in a simple but colourful language for anyone to understand and appreciate. If you are interested in any way about how Sydney was designed, its culture and the architectural landscape, the history of the city and its growth, I would recommend doing this tour, even if you are only here for a short visit. I'll be doing some of the other tours."

– Google Review

“Offering insights into architecture's non-visible world of unbuilt designs, political tensions and historical twists. Here's a chance to remember how vivid and exciting Sydney can seem. Recommended, three hats."

– Sydney Morning Herald | Elizabeth Farrelly

"We absolutely loved this tour! It was super informative yet light. Our guide was an excellent story teller; we were engaged the entire tour that time flew by without us noticing. What’s wonderful about architecture is that it is not isolated, it tells you about history, politics, social trends, public policy… it was a beautiful introduction to the city."

– TripAdvisor

"A highly thought-provoking walk around the edge of Sydney harbour, looking at how geology, history, money and architects have shaped the city. An excellent architectural walk. The guide was full of knowledge and enthusiasm. I have come from the walk enriched by the experience."

– TripAdvisor

“De géniales "conversations architecturales": un must!"

– Cartoville Sydney | Florence Lagrange-Leader

Nick did an amazing tour (SAW 6. The Track). We have been to Sydney several times and learned a lot from our 2-1/2 hours with Nick about the architectural context for the building of Sydney’s downtown. As an architect, Nick is passionate about the city and its buildings and culture. Wow! Would do any of the tours with this organization.

– TripAdvisor | 5 February 2024

"These walks and tours draw the wider population into an experienced discourse, and provide people with new insights and ways of looking at both every day and special urban environments."

– Jury Citation | ArchiTeam Awards

"What an amazing walk, super informative and you get to know buildings that you would not visit by yourself. It is an eye opener on urbanisation and the fun of buildings becoming ‘alive’ when the architect talks about them. Highly recommend these walks!"

– TripAdvisor

"This walk explored the inner-city suburbs of Chippendale and Ultimo (SAW 4). It was a wonderful morning walking in neighbourhoods that were once run down. We saw the immense wealth expended to transform that part of Sydney into a walkable, friendly ecosystem of laneways and access points. This tour is highly recommended for anyone interested in the competing forces at work driving the vision of Sydney."

– TripAdvisor

"HARBOURINGS was easily one of the best experiences Sydney has to offer. Words likely will not do justice to the passion, heart, wisdom and magical way in which Eoghan is able to articulate the story of the City he calls home. The UTZON OPERA HOUSE tour is also a gem!"

– TripAdvisor

"After this riveting tour I'll never think of, look at the Sydney Opera House in the same way again. Not your average tour but an informed, fascinating, at times witty, and certainly comprehensive experience. Our passionate and erudite guide gave us real depth - geological, sociological, design, engineering, innovation, politics and more."

– TripAdvisor

"I've done two of these tours - and want to do at least another two. On both occasions, Eoghan was our guide. He is an Utzon walking encyclopedia, and a city planning nerd, but more importantly, he's a gifted storyteller. The history and evolution of buildings and streets I've been familiar with for over 30 years has come alive in a new way through these tours. Three hours zoom by. The pace is easy. Excellent value for money. Highly recommend."

– TripAdvisor | 2 April 2023

"Eoghan the tour leader was so full of enthusiasm and knowledge about the history of the Opera House, I learnt so much about the architect Utzon and the way in which he designed this iconic landmark. The tour was not at all stuffy or "Archy" it was fun, laid back at ran at a great pace. I would definitely recommend this tour to both visitors and locals as you will leave the tour with a much deeper understanding of the amazing creativity of the architect Utzon."

– TripAdvisor | 25 September 2023

“Thank you for a fabulous, fabulous architectural talk yesterday, the ladies were spell bound, I've never heard them so quiet. Your explanation / story about Utzon and the Opera house was simply wonderful. I've had so much positive feedback"

– Sydney Womens International Club | Lynne Kendal

"I went for the SAW 1 THE CITY, SYDNEY tour. It was extremely fascinating hearing about the story behind each of the buildings covered as a part of the tour. Eoghan is an excellent narrator who retains the interest of the attendees throughout the tour."

– TripAdvisor