Teatro Colon: is Buenos Aires' greatest opera house worth it?

I treated myself to a ticket for Sylvia at Teatro Colon in 2017. I had never seen the ballet before, knew nothing about the production, and came away having had a fabulous time. That is about as plain a recommendation as I can give for a building that happens to be one of the great performance spaces in the world.

Teatro Colon is consistently rated the top visitor attraction in Buenos Aires. It sits on a par with the Paris Opera and La Scala in Milan, and it carries the third-best acoustics of any performance space in the world. That acoustics claim is what draws so many artists to it. The building was opened in 1857 and named Colon in honour of Christopher Columbus.

How it rates

The scores below reflect a 2017 performance visit plus time exploring the building before and after.

What it is, and the first impression

Teatro Colon is an opera house in the civic heart of Buenos Aires, built in the neoclassical style and finished to a standard that puts most European counterparts in the shade. The foyer is the thing that gets you first: marble columns, ornate chandeliers, the whole thing maintained beautifully. You should walk into the main hall regardless of your seat, just to see the scale of it.

The main auditorium at Teatro Colon - marble columns, gilded balconies, and one of the great acoustic environments in the world.

The architecture is heavily influenced by European styles - Buenos Aires in general is - but Colon pulls it off at a level that does not feel imitative. It feels like the real thing, because it is.

The experience: Sylvia, and the building itself

I splashed out on a third-tier seat for around GBP20. At the time, standing-only places were available from around ARS 10,700 (approximately US$12) - good value for a world-class performance space. In the expensive seats I could see suits, dresses and pashminas. I was travelling light with a shirt and jeans, which worked fine for the third tier.

Sylvia was fabulously staged. I went in without knowing the work and that did not matter at all. The acoustics do what the reputation says they will - the sound in that space is remarkable.

The types of performance the theatre puts on are worth knowing about before you visit. Opera is what it is known for, but the ballet and concerts draw equally serious companies. The sound in the space is the draw for artists across all three formats, so whatever is on during your stay is worth checking.

One note I will be straightforward about: I found the area around the theatre felt less safe at night. That was my experience in 2017 and it may have changed since. If you are uncomfortable walking there after dark, take an Uber rather than arriving on foot.

The tiered seating at Teatro Colon - a third-tier seat costs around GBP20, standing places from around US$12 at the time of my visit.

Practical: getting in, tickets, timing

The theatre is at Tucuman 1171 in the centre of Buenos Aires. The nearest Subte station is Tribunales. A taxi, Uber or Cabify from your hotel works just as well. Arrive at least 30 minutes before your performance - partly because getting in takes time, and partly because the building deserves more than a rushed five minutes before curtain.

For tickets, the official website (teatrocolon.org.ar) is the cleanest route. You can also buy at the box office, though availability varies. I found it difficult to find someone at the box office who spoke English on my visit, so booking online in advance is the safer call if you are not confident in Spanish.

Photography is restricted during performances. There is a bar for drinks before the performance or at intermission. The gift shop sits at the end of guided tours if you want to pick something up on the way out.

For accessibility: the theatre has lifts and wheelchair access, but the guidance I found says people with disabilities should contact the theatre at least two weeks before a performance to confirm arrangements. There are reportedly free tickets available for people with disabilities.

Is it worth it?

The guided tour takes you through the foyer, auditorium, and backstage areas - the right option if no performance fits your schedule.

How to do it: performance or tour

If you can get a ticket for a performance, do. Check the official site for what is on during your stay and go for whatever fits - opera, ballet, concert. Even if you are not familiar with the work, the space does most of the job for you.

If the schedule does not line up, the guided tour is well worth your time. Tours run in Spanish, English and Portuguese, either through the theatre itself or via a skip-the-line option through GetYourGuide.