Okay, I have been warned by all of you nice people..DON'T DRIVE IN BOSTON! This year I may only go into the city (and endure the BIG DIG, etc; ONE DAY). If I do, I forget it and where there are any municipal parking lots...how many and whereabouts..closest to Fanueil Hall preferably. I know it will probably be expensive, but it's a vacation and I DESERVE it! Thanks for any advice you can offer. Rest of the time I'm going to explore OTHER beautiful areas of Mass. any advice there? I love the beaches, not much into history. Thanks again!

You're much, much better off parking in the outskirts and taking public transportation into the city. It'll be so much easier!

YOU DESERVE IT!!!!! How about parking tickets, trafic jams and the biggest mess of construction in the country... Do you self a favor....you deserve it==take a taxi....driving downtown Boston even to us locals is a nightmare...There is a parking garage or two near Quincy Market, but more than likely getting to it AND FINDING IT FULL THIS SUMMER WILL MAKE You tear your hair out-- Don't say you haven't been warned...by the locals...

thanks very much for the warning. I am rethinking it already. LOL I remember that when I went last year, my friend dropped me off and I walked everything, we never had to park. We DID drive through the city to see some of the sights she missed and we parked at the Hard Rock Cafe in order to go to the Observatory, but that was the extent of the parking I remember us having to do. Thank you all again SO much!

They dropped you off in the South End--most of the parking is by permit only,for residents..know the area well...in all seriousness Boston is known as a "walking city", follow the old streets which were made by cows on the way to the Boston Common..... Subways will take you to the Waterfront and the North End (best Italian food ever--not to mention Mike's Pastry Shop or the Modern...), you can walk to theatre district or in Copley Square is a discount ticket booth-- Take a Duck Tour and see where you want to go......Welcome to our world and to Boston

They dropped you off in the South End--most of the parking is by permit only,for residents..know the area well...in all seriousness Boston is known as a "walking city", follow the old streets which were made by cows on the way to the Boston Common..... Subways will take you to the Waterfront and the North End (best Italian food ever--not to mention Mike's Pastry Shop or the Modern...), you can walk to theatre district or in Copley Square is a discount ticket booth-- Take a Duck Tour and see where you want to go......Welcome to our world and to Boston

I thought Washington was bad until I ran into Boston on a Saturday afternoon!
Can you imagine what it is like on a business day. Anyone who wants to drive in Boston and has been forewarned needs more than this forum can offer.

okay, you've been warned... but driving in Boston is not impossible if you are an experienced city driver. I think the most convenient place to park is probably the garage under Boston Common. You take the Mass Piek to the end, get off heading for Kneeland Street (its a left after you wind off the exit ramp). This pretty much takes you right to the common and you should be able to find the parking lot. There are a couple of municipal lots near Fanueil Hall. There's also a really big lot right off the expressway near the North End thats unlikely to be full. wish I could remember how to direct you, I think you get off 93 at Atlantic ave and you almost go right into the parking lot.

If you don't mind dealing with traffic and aggressive taxi drivers, and you don't mind paying about $20 to park then go ahead and try it. You'll be okay, just don't panic!!

As for other places to go.. my favorite north shore beach is Cranes. Try to go on a weekday, it won't be so crowded and its quite beautiful. There are B&B's and cheaper type inns in Hamilton and Essex and Ipswich that would be nearby.

Beth and all, thanks so much again.

I remember when I drove in Boston last year - mostly during the week, if I remember correctly, I wondered what all the fuss was about. Yes there was a lot of traffic, but there is a lot of traffic where I live (hair pulling - Miami, Fla traffic where everyone drives like they are in their own country - and they are ALL from different countries - melting pot indeed LOL), so I guess it DOES depend on where one comes from and what type of driving and drivers one has encountered.

I recently visited Puerto Rico on a business assignment and everyone was scaring the living daylights out of me. I took taxis for the first two days. When I failed to see what the fuss was about, car rental it was.

I WILL try to heed your suggestions though, as much as I can.

I truly appreciate all your feedback. Thank you again!

Gee, weren't you someone else last year? Anyway, depending upon where you're staying, your best bet would be to find a "park and ride" station and take the T into the city. Maybe the town where you're staying has an "express bus" during rush hours. There are municipal parking lots all over. It costs about the same to pull into the check-in area of a major hotel and valet park in their lot. Costs a little more but it's very convenient. Actually, I don't know why you bother to inquire, as you come back with another idea...

I say go for it. If you are patient person it will be an adventure. There are plenty of public parking lots albeit expensive as noted above. You will have accomplished a major achievement (too bad there are no trophies for driving in Boston and not getting a ticket or a fenderbender).
One other option is to park in one of the hotel lots and get your parking ticket stamped (in the restaurant).

John, the idea of valet parking at a hotel is super! I'll be on vacation, so I'm there to enjoy. I'll be staying with a friend in Braintree, so lodging won't be a problem and even in traffic, I didn't find getting to and from Boston from there that harrowing. I may only go into the city for one day. I am also going to Harvard Square, which I LOVED and hope to spend some more time there this year than last.

You know darned well from your stay in Braintree last year that you can take the T into Boston from there. It's not nice to bother these nice people...