Marrickville is in Sydney’s Inner West, about 7km south-west of the CBD. It is the largest suburb in the Marrickville Councillocal government area.

Marrickville sits on the northern bank of the Cooks River, opposite the suburbs of Earlwood and Undercliffe and shares borders with Stanmore, Enmore, Newtown, St Peters, Sydenham, Tempe, Dulwich Hill and Petersham.

It is a diverse suburb comprising low and high density residential, commercial and light industrial areas. The main shopping strip runs along Marrickville Road. Typical businesses include cafés, grocery and clothing stores. Marrickville Road is well-known for the artwork that adorns the awnings of some businesses. Marrickville Metro Shopping Centre is near Enmore and includes supermarkets, discount stores, specialty shops and a food court. A substantial light industrial area is west of the Princes Highway.

Marrickville has a diverse multi-cultural community and in the mid-twentieth century was a major hub for Sydney’s large Greek community. Greek flags are frequently flown down Marrickville's main commercial street, which still has many Greek-owned businesses. Today, the Vietnamese community has become more prominent, particularly in the area close to the railway station. In recent years Marrickville has experienced an influx of young, urban professionals attracted by its proximity to the CBD, restaurants and inner-city, multicultural lifestyle.

Marrickville railway station is on the Bankstown line of the CityRail network. Public buses serve all main roads, including Marrickville Road, Enmore Road, Illawarra Road, Victoria Road, Wardell Road and Livingstone Road.

Marrickville has four public primary schools - MarrickvillePublic School, Marrickville West Primary School, Ferncourt Public School and Wilkins Public School and one primary private school, St Brigid’s Catholic School. There is one public secondary school, Marrickville High School, and two private secondary schools, Casimir Catholic College and St Maroun’s Catholic College.

Many Marrickville homes are detached or terraced Victorian houses built in the late 1800s, while others were built in the Federation style in the early 1900s.

Several major Sydney hospitals serve the area.