Dante didn't include "Parking in Boston" as a ring of hell -- but he should have. For those who have looped endlessly around the Back Bay, or forked over $20-plus to park for a couple of hours, the idea of driving into the city is likely to give pause. What many don't realize is that the best parking deal is right under their wheels: the Boston Common Garage. Enter on Charles Street to park and enjoy evening rates as low as $9, with full-day charges just over $20.

The rate is even better if you snag one of the municipal-lot spots in Central Square -- they're free after 6 p.m. Trying to find a spot along Mass Ave on your way to Central Kitchen or the Middle East is a form of self-abuse, but smart drivers head over to Bishop Allen Drive, which runs parallel. Three lots are tucked behind and between shops there, metered during the day and free at night. Grab a spot before they fill up and you've got the best deal in Cambridge.

Boston Common Garage, Charles Street Extension, Boston. Central Square Municipal Lots, Bishop Allen Drive, Cambridge.