A day trip to Parramatta: What to see, eat and do

Sydney’s second city and the unofficial capital of Western Sydney, Parramatta is a bustling mix of shiny skyscrapers, leafy parks and historic buildings, with a flourishing art scene and fascinating museums. It’s incredibly diverse – almost 70% of the population have a first language other than English – so you can expect delicious cuisine, vibrant festivals and plenty of local colour.

Highlights

• Visit Old Government House which is one of the oldest public buildings in Australia.
• Feast at Eat Street which serves everything from Spanish tapas to authentic Indonesian cuisine.
• Explore the lush Parramatta Park which is home to pretty wisteria as well as grey-headed flying foxes.
• Watch a show at the Riverside Theatre which has everything from Shakespeare to ballet performances.
• Go for a late night boogie at The Albion Hotel.

9am: Breakfast time

Every good day starts with coffee. You can find some of the best in Parramatta just a five-minute walk from the train station. Circa Espresso was one of the first trendy cafes in the suburb, opening its doors back in 2010. Their coffee is roasted in house by the head barista and comes simply as black or white, hot or cold. You can even order a coffee flight to try each kind. Their signature breakfast dish is the Ottoman eggs – poached eggs with crumbed eggplant, garlic labneh, fried leeks, burnt chilli and sage butter, and housemade focaccia. Yum.

10am: Take a history lesson

Though Parramatta may look strikingly modern, it’s home to some of the oldest buildings in Australia. It was the country’s second settlement, founded in 1788 as a farming centre to supply the new colony. Get an insight into the life of these early settlers at Elizabeth Farm, Australia’s oldest surviving homestead, built in 1793 by wool pioneer John Macarthur. Though it’s a museum, you can walk through every room in the house, take a seat at the dining table and look through the family’s personal papers. Outside, the beautiful gardens feature plants that date back to the original owners. Entry is free, though it is recommended that you book tickets ahead of arrival.

11am: Step back in time

Jump on the light rail and travel across the centre of Parramatta to your next stop. Set inside the sprawling Parramatta Park is Old Government House, the oldest public building in Australia and one of just 11 of the country’s World Heritage-listed convict sites. Built by convict labour between 1799 and 1818, this grand Georgian residence was the home of the first 10 governors of the colony, including Lachlan Macquarie. Explore on your own or join a guided tour to learn more about the lives of our earliest leaders. Tickets are $15 for adults or $12 for concession and can be purchased at the entrance.

(If you’re staying overnight in Parramatta, candlelit ghost tours are held once a month. You’ll hear spooky tales of former residents – and those who may still be wandering the halls…)

12:30pm: Lunch is served

It’s just a short stroll to Parramatta’s most delicious destination – Eat Street. This pedestrianised section of Church Street is lined with outdoor tables and restaurants serving up cuisine from every corner of the globe. Choose from Middle Eastern mezze at Armani, authentic Indonesian street food at Ria, tapas and sangria at Lola Cucina, mouthwatering lamb at Kouzina Greco or classic American diner fare at Three Stacks.

1:30pm: Arts and craft

Burn off some of your lunch with a 10-minute walk to Pari, an artist-run space that celebrates the colour and culture of Western Sydney. Exhibitions change regularly (check their website or socials to see what’s on) and there are also artist talks, workshops and pieces for sale. Next door is the Hunter Street Gallery of Fine Art, home of the Parramatta Art Society. This is both a commercial gallery with works for sale and a community space with weekly art classes and regular workshops.

3pm: Get back to nature

The entrance to Parramatta Park is at the end of Hunter Street and just a few minutes’ walk. This World Heritage-listed park has 85 hectares of green lawns, bushland and lush gardens dotted with historic monuments dating back to the convict era (including Old Government House, which you visited this morning). Download a detailed map and itinerary from the Walks Near Me website and follow a four-kilometre path that takes you to all the highlights. Admire the grand gatehouses, walk along the bank of the river, look for grey-headed flying foxes at their natural camp, stroll through the pretty wisteria gardens and learn about the plants used by the indigenous Dharug people along the Burramatta Landscape Trail.

5pm: Cool cocktails

It’s time to toast a successful day, so head for Parramatta’s swankiest bar. Nick & Nora’s is a 1930’s-inspired champagne and cocktail bar that sits on the rooftop of the striking V by Crown building, 26 floors above the city. It promises glamour and decadence, with everything from French fizz served in a glass shoe (yes, really) to Dom Perignon at $100 a glass. The views are just as impressive, stretching all the way to the Sydney CBD and the Blue Mountains on a clear day.

6pm: Feast for the senses

For dinner, you’re going to India. Little India, that is. Just next door to Parramatta, Harris Park is the centre of Sydney’s Indian community. Wigram Road is home to more than 20 eateries specialising in the rich flavours of the Subcontinent. For South Indian cuisine, try Dosa Hut or Billu’s Indian Eatery, or Ginger Indian for a spicy Mughal-influenced North Indian menu. Finish off with something sweet from Rocket Kulfi.

7:30pm: There’s no business like show business

Catch the bus back towards central Parramatta and across the river to the famed Riverside Theatre. Drama, Shakespeare, ballet, comedy, live music and more are all on the bill, with both local and international acts. With three theatre spaces and more than 750 performances held each year, you’ll definitely find something to entertain you.

10pm: Dance it off

Not ready to go to bed? The Albion Hotel transforms into a nightclub on Friday and Saturday nights, with DJS spinning Western Sydney’s best hip hop, RnB and dance music. The tunes will play until 6am, so you could even stay and watch the sunrise over the river.

Coming soon: Powerhouse Parramatta

The $900 million dollar Powerhouse Parramatta is set to open in late 2026. It will be the largest museum in NSW with over 18,000 square metres of exhibition space. There will be no permanent collection, but rather an ever-changing calendar of exhibits focusing on design, engineering, applied arts and sciences. There will also be a learning and play space dedicated to STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and maths), regular special events, a show kitchen, art gallery and lots more.

How to get there

Parramatta is around 25km west of the Sydney CBD. It’s an easy 30-minute drive along the M4 or a 40-minute train journey. You can also catch the ferry from Circular Quay along the Parramatta River, a scenic trip that takes just over an hour. Once you’re in Parramatta, the new light rail is the easiest way to get around.