Location Transport

Holiday ... Sydney or Parramatta - is Parramatta a safe place & are there things to do?

My friend and i are coming for 4 nights to Sydney in early December. for the first 3 nights we're staying in the Sydney city center. however for the last night we were looking at a nice hotel in Parramatta. my question revolves around is Parramatta a 'safe' place to walk around? what is there to do there? also, we'll be travelling by public transport, how long from the city is it to parramatta? and how long from parramatta to the airport. thanks in advance for your responses

Public Comments

1. Parramatta is just 24 kilometres from the Sydney CBD, and is easily accessed by road (Parramatta Road/M4 freeway, Victoria Road, Cumberland Hwy, or Windsor Rd), and train (about half an hour train ride). But by far the most pleasant and picturesque way to arrive in Parramatta is on the RiverCat from Circular Quay. Passengers will enjoy the 50-minute trip along the Parramatta River, gliding past waterfront mansions, beautiful parks and the spectacular Sydney Olympic Park. Boasting some of the finest dining in Sydney, Parramatta offers a wide range of local and international cuisine from Europe, Asia, the Middle East and Africa. With over 300 cafes, bars and restaurants, diners have a wide selection of indoor, outdoor and riverside eating to suit any taste, occasion or budget. Parramatta is also a great shopping destination, housing one of the largest shopping centres in Australia, with over 500 stores.
2. Yes, you can live safely in Parramatta. By train it takes about 35 min. to reach Circular Quay and if you get down after 30 minutes at Central Station then get another train to International airport which will take another 10 minutes. Going Airport by bus is rather difficult. If you have more luggage then go by taxi which will cost you around $ 100. You can get more detail at www.parracity.nsw.gov.au. Be cautious while walking alone in lonely street during late night. Very few cases of robbery may occur some times.
3. Parramatta - not very exciting compared with Sydney
4. Parramatta is a suburban centre just outside of Sydney. It has many shops including a large shopping centre (Westfield Parramatta). From Sydney, you can take a train, bus or riverboat to Parramatta. Most people visiting Sydney never get to Parramatta but I'd recommend a visit since it takes you out of the hustle and bustle of Sydney and off the beaten track. Unless you've got a late night function to go to in Parramatta, I'd recommend spending all four nights in Sydney and then taking a day trip to Parramatta in the middle, since you can pretty much cover everything in a day. Also, you won't have the hassle of checking out twice, moving your luggage and paying a much higher taxi fare back to the airport. When you take your daytrip to Parramatta, its nice to go there by riverboat from Circular Quay (1 hour journey) and back on the train (30 minutes). If you're short of time, then take the train both ways. I've just been to Parramatta and didn't feel threatened when walking round during the daytime. However, it may be a different story at night and the locals are better qualified to answer this question.
5. Noooooooooo! Don't go to Parramatta!!!!! Its not a nice place, there is nothing interesting to see there. And I don't consider it a safe place, I avoid Parramatta at all costs if possible. I've seen bad things happen to completely ordinary, random people walking down the street. I'm not saying anything bad will neccesarily happen to you there, but its not a place I go to willingly, and I think as a tourist there are so many other places around Sydney to go to, there is no reason to go there! Do NOT go to Parramatta!!!
6. Parramatta is just a large suburb in Sydney. It's a bit like going to New York City but staying in Brooklyn. There's nothing wrong with Brooklyn, however, most tourists wouldn't go to NYC and stay in Brooklyn, they would go to Manhattan where all the action and famous landmarks are. Parramatta isn't a separate city, it's just a large suburb with a major shopping centre and lots of buildings. As I have lived in Sydney all my life, I wouldn't recommend staying in Parramatta. There's nothing wrong with it, but it's just not what or where tourist think of or go to when they come to Sydney (see above analogy).