Depends where you are in NYC (assuming you mean Manhattan).

I know there’s a good amount of downtown curbside parking on the streets (not avenues) that is free. I live in the E. Village and park my car every day and don’t pay for it. You REALLY have to watch out for the alternate parking rules though.. read the signs. Parking tickets in NYC are HIGH… very.. believe me.

So yea, if you’re looking for free parking check only on the streets and not avenues… and make sure not to park in front of a church (ticket) or in a loading zone (ticket) and watch the alternate parking.

It would be very difficult to find this kind of thing in an area like midtown being that a lot of people commute there and free parking is nearly impossible.. but when you go to the areas that are usually more ‘nightlife’ or ‘downtown’ with more small shops it gets much more simple. And if you’re looking to visit NYC, park and enjoy the city I’d say look in the villages for parking.. (Ave. B to 3rd Ave. and Houston to 14th street). That’s where I lived… and as long as you know how to parallel park you’ll be fine. The trains you can get around from there easily are the F, 6, or L (to take you across town). It’s also a very nice area. Remember that Manhattan itself isn’t that large, it’s very easy to get around and if you don’t have to park in the area you want to visit necessarily… especially if you have an unlimited metro card.

If you are visiting NYC or even just new to the area check out the website hopstop.com. It’s like mapquest for using the subways… VERY helpful when you’re traveling to a park of the city you aren’t as familiar with.

If you want free parking chances are you’ll have to circle around a bit (even if it’s just on the same few blocks.) It’ll probably take 5 or so minutes to get a free spot.. I’d say tops 10.. just be aggressive, jump on the spot when you see it and learn to park so there is less than an inch from the car in front and behind you.

Oh yea.. and as long as there is a foot or so from where your car ends before a fire hydrant you’re good. If you have a smaller car that’s a good place to look… I never get a ticket for being close… cops know what’s up with the parking in manhattan and aren’t jerks about it unless you’re really blocking it or right up on it.

Hope this was helpful!

There are plenty of places in the Boroughs. If you mean Manhattan, most loading zones are free after 6 or 7 pm. There are a number of free streets in residential areas. On many of them you have to move the car each day to meet street sweeping schedules — but they’re free.