Boston Parking Garages

Near Theatre District Attractions

Parking in Boston near theaters and Chinatown

Convenient Boston parking garages near Theatre District attractions and Chinatown can be tricky to find. In these older parts of downtown Boston, streets are narrow, may be one-way only, and cars must sometimes compete for space with pedestrians, making driving difficult.

And forget trying to find on-the-street parking. Only a limited number of spaces are available, and they fill up very quickly. Park on the narrowest streets, and you run the risk of getting your car's sides scraped or dented by other vehicles trying to squeeze by.

In addition, rates can vary by quite a lot . . . especially if you don't know about available discounts, validations, and special rates after business hours.

Here are my recommendations for the most convenient and affordable Boston parking garages near the Theatre District, Chinatown, and the clubs located in this area. They also work well for Boston Common and the Public Garden, and some are close to Bay Village, Park Square restaurants, and Tufts Medical Center.

I've included a Boston map of the Theatre District/Chinatown neighborhood showing specific garages and theaters right after the parking garage information.

Caveat: Although I provide rates for Boston parking garages near the Theatre District for you to use for comparisons, they change frequently - so do verify them on garage websites if you're trying to get the best deal.

Boston Common Garage

Address: Charles Street, between Boston Common and the Public Garden - see map below
Near: 5-10 minute walk from most theaters and comedy clubs in the Theatre District, 5-6 minute walk from Loew's Boston Common 19 and Stuart Street Playhouse movie theaters, and 5-10 minutes from Theatre District (including Chinatown and Park Square) restaurants. 2-3 minute walk to Beacon Hill and Massachusetts State House
Reasonably close: Easy walk to Bay Village and eastern part of Back Bay; in the opposite direction, Faneuil Hall is also close (about 10 minutes)
More information

The underground Boston Common Garage is the most convenient of all the Boston parking garages near the Theatre District and Chinatown, plus lots of other downtown Boston attractions. Its entrance on Charles Street is easy to reach from all directions.

Best of all, the rates here are significantly lower than at other garages in the area, especially after 4pm and on weekends.

The Boston Common Garage is almost always my first choice for parking in downtown Boston.

The only drawback? Despite its 1,300 spaces, it can be too popular. Sometimes, the entrance will be blocked by the dreaded "Garage Full" sign.

If you plan to park here, you always need an alternative. More about Boston Common Garage

CityPlace Garage

Address: 40 Charles Street South, between Stuart and Boylston Streets
In: Theatre District - close to Stuart Street Playhouse (movie theater), the Wilber, Charles Playhouse, Colonial, Wang (Citi Center), Shubert, and Cutler Majestic (Emerson) Theatres; W Hotel Boston, Market, other Theatre District restaurants, Park Square Restaurants, Boston Common, Public Garden, Tufts Medical Center
Reasonably close: Bay Village, eastern end of Back Bay, Beacon Hill
Open: 6am - 2:30am, 7 days a week
Forms of payment accepted: Cash, credit cards
For more information: 617-723-1488; website

Parking rates:

Monday - Friday rates: $7 up to 1 hour, $11 up to 2 hours, $15 up to 3 hours, $17 max until 6pm
Evening/night: $20 flat rate
All day Sat., Sun., and holidays: $5 per 1/2 hour, $20 maximum

CityPlace Garage is located beneath the mammouth State Transportation Building at the corner of Stuart and Boylston Streets. It's one of the most convenient Boston parking garages near the Theatre District and almost as easy to get to as the Boston Common Garage.

It's closer to the theaters in the immediate area, such as the Charles Street Playhouse and the Wilbur Theatre. It's also right across the street from the new W Hotel Boston and Market restaurant, so if you're heading there for dinner and don't want to walk the extra 5 minutes from the Boston Common Garage, you can save about $10 plus tip by self-parking there and crossing the street rather than opting for valet parking at the curb of the W.

If you park here during the day, you'll get very good rates, even if you stay over 3 hours and have to pay the daily rate. But you'll pay $20 at night and for 2 or more hours on weekends, one of the higher evening/weekend rates in the area.

With the less expensive Boston Common Garage only a short distance away, where to park when coming to this part of the Theatre District for a show may seem like a no-brainer. But if the weather is really bad - you know, snow, ice, freezing rain, a nor'easter, a major thunderstorm - the extra that you'll spend to park here will seem like a reasonable price for added convenience.

This garage also works well if you're heading to the dance clubs located nearby. Just be sure to remember that it closes at 2:30am.

City Place Garage is also a good back-up if Boston Common Garage is full.

Motor Mart Garage

Address: 26 Park Plaza (entrance on Stuart Street)
In: Park Square - close to Stuart Street Playhouse (movie theater), the Wilber, Colonial, Wang (Citi Center), Shubert, Charles Playhouse, and Cutler Majestic Theatres; W Hotel Boston, Market, other Theatre District restaurants, Boston Common, the Public Garden, and charming Bay Village
Reasonably close: Eastern end of Back Bay, Beacon Hill, Chinatown
Open: 24 x 7
Forms of payment accepted: Cash, credit cards
For more information: 617-483-8380; website

Parking rates:

Monday - Friday rates: $8 up to 1 hour, $12 up to 2 hours, $16 up to 3 hours, $20 3 - 12 hours, $31 up to 24 hours
Monday - Friday after 5pm, all day Saturday and Sunday: $8 for up to 3 hours; posted rates for 3+ hours
Validations: Flemings, Maggiano's, Legal Seafood

Although Motor Mart Garage has been renovated over the years, it dates back to the Prohibition era, when reportedly it provided more than just parking. It is probably the most historic Boston parking garage near the Theatre District - and possibly in the entire city.

The 7-floor Motor Mart is right down the street from CityPlace Garage, the W Hotel Boston, Market, and other restaurants in this part of the Theatre District and Park Square.

Motor Mart can be a good choice in the evening or weekends if you're sure that you'll need parking for less than 3 hours. If you're dining at one of the restaurants that will validate your ticket, you'll get an even better parking discount. But stay longer than 3 hours, and the rates can get punitive compared with other Boston parking garages near the Theatre District.

Parking spaces and turns are also a bit tight if you're driving a large vehicle - although other city garages share this trait.

If the 3 hour time limit for cheap parking rates work for you - or if you don't mind paying a higher rate for parking longer - Motor Mart is very convenient for certain locations, such as Bay Village and the Park Square restarants.

Shoppers Garage (also called Beach Street Garage)

Address: 40 Beach Street, between Washington and Harrison
In: Chinatown; convenient to all the Chinatown restaurants and the Boston Opera House, New England Medical Center, Rose Kennedy Greenway
Reasonably close: All the other Theatre District theaters and restaurants, Loew's Boston Common 11 movie theatre
Forms of payment accepted: Cash, credit cards; central pay station, so take your card with you; also check wherever you're going to see if validation is available
Hours: 24x7
For more information: 617-426-7717 ; website

Parking rates:

Daily parking rates: $20 maximum
Evening/weekend rates: $11 after 5pm (Monday thru Friday) and all day on Saturday and Sunday
Validation: $6 after 5pm and on weekends with validation from many of the nearby restaurants and theaters (Although this is validation with a twist - you pay the regular flat rate when you go in, and then when you're in one of the businesses that "validates," you buy a parking token for another $6. Then when you return to the garage, you give them the token and they give you your $11 back. Make sense?)

Shoppers Garage normally has some of the lowest rates around . . . but rates drop even further if you buy a token (see above to see how that works) from participating businesses such as nearby theaters and restaurants. My experience is that participants vary over time, so I won't try to give you a list here . . . just call the restaurant or theater where you're going to see if they validate, or call the garage directly.

The drawback? Shoppers Garage is located in the heart of Chinatown, and takes a few more minutes of navigating around traffic and pedestrians to get to. Although Beach Street is one of the major streets in Chinatown, it's still kind of narrow and sometimes (ok, almost always) congested, and you may need to circle around a bit to get here because of the 1-way streets.

But with the low parking rates, you're nicely compensated for your efforts!

Other Boston parking garages near the Theatre District and Chinatown to consider

These Boston parking garages in the Theatre District do not necessarily have the best rates but there will be times when their locations may be perfect for you.

Archstone Garage Boston Common
660 Washington Street
617-350-3130

Tufts-New England Medical Center Garage
274 Tremont Street
617-636-5580

Radisson Hotel Parking Garage
200 Stuart Street
617-482-1800

Stanhope Garage
33 Essex Street
617-262-0691

Ritz Carlton Towers
35 Boylston Street
617-574-7251