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Alcatraz Tours

Escaping to Alcatraz ? Enjoy the trip. And make sure to check out the Parks Conservancy's award-winning "Doing Time: The Alcatraz Cellhouse Tour." The audio tour is included with the purchase of an Alcatraz tour ticket. Get your Alcatraz tickets from Alcatraz City Cruises here  or call (415) 981-ROCK (7625). 

Also try our unique Alcatraz Night Tours  and Behind the Scenes Tours . You’ll get access to hidden areas of the island on small tours led by NPS rangers and historical experts from the Parks Conservancy. No two tours are ever the same, perfect for a birthday or other special occasion. Get tickets today from Alcatraz City Cruises  and find more info about how you can Escape to Alcatraz !

To purchase Alcatraz tour tickets and for tour schedule information, call (415) 981-7625 or visit Alcatraz Cruises .

Be sure to buy tickets several days in advance (up to several weeks in summer), as tours sell out quickly. Wear warm clothing and comfortable walking shoes, bring your camera, and get ready to have an exciting and memorable visit to The Rock!

Guided tours are offered each day by park rangers and other staff. You’ll learn about:

• The island’s natural history
• San Francisco Bay
• Civilian life of correctional officers
• Escape attempts
• Restored historical gardens

Alcatraz Tour Features

Fresh-air ferry ride Speed across the bay through the wind and salt spray as the ferry takes you from Pier 33 to one of the most infamous island prisons of all time. The make-believe home of Clint Eastwood in Escape from Alcatraz, the prison housed many a bad guy in its heyday.

Walk-in prison experience Step behind bars into the depths of a maximum-security cell house. See where prisoners ate, slept, exercised, or did time in the isolation of the “Treatment Unit,” or worse still, in the complete darkness of the “Hole.” Learn how some of the convicts made their escapes.

Sound and light Take advantage of the audiovisual aids to learn some history: the cell house audio tour features voices and stories of actual inmates and guards, and a video exhibit explains the birth of the Native American Red Power movement at Alcatraz.

Special Alcatraz Tours

Alcatraz Historic Gardens Tours Join a garden docent for a walk through the restored historic gardens and learn about the softer side of the Rock. Tours leave the Alcatraz dock every Friday and Sunday at 9:30 am. On Wednesdays from 11 am–2 pm, have your questions answered by a gardener at the Officer’s Row overlook and enjoy a personal tour of these gardens.

Alcatraz Night Tour You can also experience the island at night on the Alcatraz Night Tour , a unique program limited to just a few hundred visitors each evening. Called the “best tour of the Bay Area” by the San Francisco Chronicle, it includes special programs, tours, and activities offered only to the island’s night visitors.

The Alcatraz Night Tour operates year-round, Thursday-Monday evenings. The evening includes roundtrip ferry transportation, a live boat narration, a guided tour from Dock to Cellhouse, the Cellhouse Audio Tour, a keepsake souvenir brochure, recreation use fee, and a variety of special programs and presentations offered only at night. To purchase tickets visit Alcatraz Cruises or call (415) 981-7625.

Proceeds from the Alcatraz Night Tour support preservation and restoration projects on Alcatraz and throughout the Golden Gate National Parks. For general (non-ticket) Night Tour information, please call (415) 561-4926.

Become an Alcatraz Night Tour volunteer —Volunteers with the Alcatraz Night Tour work in one of America’s most famous sites. Activities include welcoming and orienting arriving visitors, showing them some lesser known areas of the island as well as performing resource protection duties. If you would like to join our team as a VIP, please call the NPS volunteer hotline at (415) 561-4755, the Night Tour directly at (415) 561-4927.

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Alcatraz Island and the Alcatraz Tour

Alcatraz Tour Fascinates Visitors to Alcatraz Island

Matteo Colombo / Getty Images

It's a former federal prison on a rocky island in the middle of the bay, steeped in legend and a popular tourist stop.

Spanish Explorer Manuel de Ayala named this barren rock in the middle of San Francisco Bay Isla de los Alcatraces (Island of the Pelicans). The island called Alcatraz has been used as a Civil War fort, a Federal prison and a symbol of Native American plight. Today, the National Park Service runs Alcatraz Island as a tourist attraction.

Things to Do on Alcatraz

You can get a look at what you'll see on the Alcatraz tour by visiting the Alcatraz slideshow.

The National Park Service schedules activities to help you learn about Alcatraz Island, including lectures and special tours. The schedule board at the ferry landing gives the times. The only guided tour is the audio tour, but you can also pick up a self-guided tour book near the boat dock.

Barracks from Alcatraz Island's stint as a military base, the cell house, lighthouse, and a few others remain. Many of the Alcatraz Island prison buildings are gone. Some burned during the American Indian Alcatraz occupation in the 1960s. The guard's residences, deteriorated beyond repair, were torn down in the 1970s. 

If the hospital area is open during your visit, don't miss it. It's a fascinating look at medical care during the prison's heyday.

To see two San Francisco Bay islands in one day, take the Alcatraz & Angel Island Tour which will also take you to Angel Island .

Alcatraz Island Tickets

The only way to tour Alcatraz is with the company called Alcatraz Cruises, leaving from San Francisco. Other bay cruise companies can take you by, but can't stop.  Find all the details and buy tickets at the Alcatraz Cruises website . Anyone else selling an Alcatraz Island tour is re-selling tickets and may charge a processing fee.

Alcatraz tour tickets sell out fast. The official brochures say tickets sell out as early as a week in advance in the summer and on holiday weekends. When checked on a July Friday, they were sold out until the following Tuesday. 

Tickets not used by hotels are released to the Alcatraz ticket booth just before it opens. Be first in line you may get a same-day tour ticket. Your hotel's concierge or front desk may have tickets. Or consider taking the Alcatraz and Angel Island tour, which doesn't fill up as fast.

The boat ride to Alcatraz takes about 15 minutes each way from San Francisco. Your tour can last as long as you like (or until the last boat leaves).

The Day Tour is the most popular. It includes round-trip transportation to the island and the audio tour.

The Night Tour includes extra activities — and is slightly more expensive. Taking it allows more time to visit other sights that close earlier, maximizing your sightseeing time. The only downside is that a few areas that are open during the day close after dark.

Get Ready to Visit Alcatraz

Most visitors spend at least a few hours on Alcatraz. Snacks and water are essential to keep everyone from getting "hangry" or thirsty.

If you don't know much about Alcatraz, stop to see the 17-minute introductory video before you go up the hill. You can also read up on these interesting facts about Alcatraz before you go and  explore the fascinating history of the Alcatraz lighthouse .

Watch the Clint Eastwood movie "Escape from Alcatraz" for a glimpse of how the prison operated during its busiest period.

Tips for Visiting Alcatraz

Pick up an audio tour and use it. You'll get a lot more out of what you're seeing. Pay attention to the audio directions. Otherwise, you could end up gabbing away with your friends and not able to figure out where you should be going. If that happens, ask a ranger or tour guide for help.

If you miss your boat, don't despair. The ticket office can direct you to the standby line for the next one.

To see Alcatraz, you'll walk — a lot. It's easy enough if you're in reasonably good shape. They offer a tram to get you up the hill, but you still have to walk after you get there. 

The boats are quiet, clean and smooth riding. The trip is short. But if you need a Dramamine just to sit on the dock and watch a boat bobbing up and down, take your favorite remedy. 

Those white spots all over the island aren't paint. Rangers say several people a day acquire a "white badge of honor" as a gift from a seagull. DON'T look up if you hear birds. Also, watch where you put your hands to avoid touching those same white splotches of yucky stuff.

The gift shop has some very stylish and clever souvenir items. They also sell the book "Hollywood Alcatraz" which details all the films made at Alcatraz and where their scenes were filmed.

Alcatraz Tour Review

In a poll, more than 2,000 Tripsavvy readers rated Alcatraz, 48% rated it awesome and 10% great. However, 26% gave it the lowest rating.

Alcatraz is likely to bore children under the age of five and is more fun for kids who are old enough to understand what it is.

On the plus side, the views of San Francisco and the bay are eye-popping. History buffs enjoy Alcatraz. So does anyone who's seen the movies about it and feel like it's a must-see. The audio tour is one of the best anywhere, using voices of actual guards and prisoners to tell the prison's story.

On the downside, it takes almost half a day to go there and back. If your trip to San Francisco is short, that may be more time than you want to spend on one activity. And it smells like bird poop during spring seagull nesting season.

Getting to Alcatraz Island

Alcatraz Island San Francisco, CA National Park Website

Alcatraz Cruises leave from Pier 33. If you've been to San Francisco before, be aware that the ticket booth and departure dock moved several years ago.

To drive, follow signs for Pier 39. Pier 33 is a few blocks east. You can find more than a dozen commercial parking lots within a five-block radius. Street parking isn't practical because the meters have a two-hour limit and you'll be gone longer than that.

If you're staying in San Francisco, take a taxi, use a ride-sharing service or public transit. Muni's F Line runs past Pier 33 and the Powell-Mason cable car stops nearby. Find more ways to get around San Francisco .

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How to Visit Alcatraz Island in 2024: Tickets, Hours, Tours, and More

Jessica Nemire Last Updated: October 26, 2023

Alcatraz Island is almost synonymous with San Francisco. Due to the island’s immense popularity, it can be hard to plan your visit. Never fear! That’s what we are here for. Here’s how to visit Alcatraz Island, plus all you need to know about tickets, hours, and more!

Pro Tip:  It’s easier to organize your trip when you have all your resources in one place. Bookmark this post along with our  San Francisco Guide  for more planning resources, our best San Francisco tours  for a memorable trip, and the top things to do in San Fran .

Alcatraz Island Hours, Tickets, Tours, And Facts: What We’ll Cover

Alcatraz Island housed the most infamous prison in the United States: the Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary. Since shutting down in 1963 and sending its prisoners elsewhere, both the prison and the island have become one of the most popular tour destinations in San Francisco.

It’s also in the middle of the scenic San Francisco Bay, making it even more of an iconic place to visit to get some of the best views of the Golden Gate Bridge and San Francisco. You can learn more about the history of Alcatraz Island here !

• Hours and info
• Tickets and pricing
• Transportation and parking
• What to see and do
• Alcatraz tours
• Facts and history of Alcatraz

Not ready to book a tour? Find out if San Francisco tours are worth it .

How to Visit Alcatraz Island: Hours and Info

Hours:  Monday – Sunday, from 10 am until 9 pm.

Alcatraz Island is closed on the following days:

• Thanksgiving (4th Thursday of November)
• December 25

There are also various portions of the island that are closed off at certain times of the year to allow the island’s resident sea birds to nest. Alcatraz Island has been known to have special events, such as art exhibits, although there have not been any such events since 2019. If they resume events again, their events page can be found here . Currently, the island is hosting community building days to restore the the gardens on the island.

Tickets and Pricing for Alcatraz Island

Since Alcatraz Island is, you know, an island, it’s only accessible via a ticketed ferry. Due to the popularity of Alcatraz, we strongly recommend booking your tickets to Alcatraz Island at least a few weeks ahead of time! Especially during the summer and other high tourist times during the year, Alcatraz tickets can sell out even months ahead of your tour date!

Every ferry ride to Alcatraz Island departs from Pier 33 near Fisherman’s Wharf. The ferry ride from Pier 33 to the island typically takes around 15 minutes. Make sure you arrive at least 45 minutes before the ferry is scheduled to leave. There’s a lot to explore and views to take in from the island, so we recommend spending at least three hours there.

You can purchase your tickets online or in person at Pier 33, which is where the ferry departs. If buying directly from Alcatraz Island, they offer a day tour, a night tour, and also a behind-the-scenes tour. The prices listed below are for the daytime tour, as that is the most common option.

Admission:  $41 for adults, $25 for children (5-11 years), $41 for juniors (12-17 years), $38 for seniors (62+ years) Family Pricing: $119.60 total for 2 adults + 2 children 5-11years

Address:  31 San Francisco Pier 33 – Alcatraz Island, San Francisco, CA

Pro Tip:  Skip the line by booking your ticket online ahead of time or getting more out of your visit by joining our San Francisco in a day tour ! The tour includes a full access ticket to Alcatraz Penitentiary and Island, as well as a 4-hour guided tour of San Francisco in an open-sided van. The tour also stops by the famous Golden Gate Bridge, and includes pickup at your hotel!

Not ready to book a tour? Read more in our San Francisco Guide .

How To Get to Alcatraz Island

Please note that there is no parking available at Pier 33 (or the island) as you plan how to visit Alcatraz Island. The ferry landing dock at Pier 33 is about a 7-minute walk or a 5-minute drive from Pier 39, otherwise known as Fisherman’s Wharf.

Like most of San Francisco, parking is almost impossible to find at Pier 39. For this reason, finding another way to Alcatraz Island is advised. That’s a big part of the reason why we recommend booking our San Francisco in a day tour that includes Alcatraz. All logistics and tickets are included so you can enjoy your day without stress.

Here are a few transportation options to get to your Alcatraz ferry departure at Pier 33:

• Car/Rideshare Services

The exact timing of your journey to Pier 33 to pick up the ferry for Alcatraz Island depends on which hotel you are staying at, of course. Since most of our picks for the best hotels in San Francisco are near the Embarcadero waterfront , we calculated the times from there. We also calculated some times from Union Square, as that is another popular area to stay in San Francisco.

By Trolley:

We don’t mean the cable cars when we say trolley. Although it looks similar to a cable car, the F Market & Wharves trolley is a MUNI bus that runs from Castro St. Station to Fisherman’s Wharf. Standing for San Francisco Municipal Railway,” the MUNI system is San Francisco’s bus and underground train system.

From the Embarcadero, it takes around 8 minutes to get from the trolley stop to Pier 33. From Union Square, it takes around 24 minutes. A ride on the F trolley costs $3. You can pay by cash with exact change, or on the MuniMobile app. For more information about transportation in San Francisco, check out our helpful article about getting around San Francisco !

If you’re staying by the Embarcadero, the F trolley is your only public transportation option to get to Pier 33. If you are staying by Union Square, you can take the 8 MUNI bus. It takes around 24 minutes, and costs $3.

By Car/Uber:

It takes 10 minutes to drive from Union Square to Pier 33 and around 5 minutes or less to drive from Embarcadero. Since parking is next to impossible near the piers, if you need to drive, we suggest taking Lyft, Uber, or a taxi. With all 3 options, the one-way fare for a standard car fitting 3-4 passengers is likely between $10 and $12.

It takes less than 10 minutes to bike from both Union Square and the Embarcadero area to Pier 33. There are bike rentals all over the city, including handy electric bikes. Bay Wheels, an e-bike sharing program managed by Lyft, offers bike rentals through the Lyft app. For single rides, you will be charged an unlock fee of $3 and charged 30 cents a minute. So, a 10-minute bike ride would about cost $6. Despite being a difficult area to park in, there are frequently a lot of cars and traffic in this area, so watch out for cars if you are biking!

If you are staying near Union Square or the Embarcadero, it might be easiest to simply walk to Pier 33 to catch the ferry if you and everyone in your group is up for a walk. Walking from the Embarcadero Area will take around 15-20 minutes, depending on which hotel you are staying in, and walking from Union Square will take around 30 minutes.

What to See and Do on the Island

Throughout your exploration of the buildings left standing on Alcatraz, you’ll find hundreds of photographs and memorabilia from the time of its use. Some areas are off limits to tourists as they are unstable from neglect. The walkways are also quite steep in some areas, so wear sturdy shoes!

• The cellhouse and infamous escape room
• The gardens
• The courtyard or playground
• View of the bay and the city

Alcatraz Island Tours

A trip to Alcatraz Island is only possible by purchasing a ferry ticket to the island. The National Park Service has jurisdiction over the island, so you’ll find park guides available to help you explore the island. It’s a mostly self-guided tour, but there are also several tour options available throughout the day.

The most popular tour option is the Alcatraz day tour, but there are also night tours, behind-the-scenes tours, and combination tours with Angel Island and Alcatraz Island.

Since it’s extremely difficult to get tickets during peak tourist months, booking a combination tour with a local guide is a popular option. Most tourists prefer booking both Alcatraz Island and the Golden Gate Bridge to see both of the top San Francisco attractions in one day.

Facts and History of Alcatraz

To get you excited about your trip to Alcatraz, here are some interesting facts about the history of Alcatraz from authors and eyewitnesses mentioned in our other article here .

• Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary housed prisoners during the Civil War.
• The army left Alcatraz in 1934, but it was only empty for a few weeks before the Bureau of Prisons put the most dangerous criminals here.
• Most of the criminals at Alcatraz had committed violent crimes or tried to escape their previous prisons.
• Famous Alcatraz inmates included Al Capone (for tax evasion) and “Machine Gun” Kelly (not the singer) convicted of kidnapping.
• Although the prison took up most of the island, there were also barracks, apartments, and a recreation hall, and at least 60 families with children lived there full time.
• The families who lived there called it  “the poor man’s Hawaii.”
• In 1972, the island became a part of the National Park Service, and it has been home to beautiful gardens since 2003.
• Currently, many species of animals call the island home, such as salamanders and cormorants.
• It’s referred to as “The Rock” because it is made up of mostly rock, and dirt was hauled in to make it livable.
• So far, it has appeared in 10 movies and TV shows, including the 2010 movies The Book of Eli and the 2006 movie X-Men: The Last Stand .

Where To Stay in San Francisco

Make the most of your visit to San Francisco by choosing to stay in the best neighborhoods for seeing all this iconic city has to offer. You’ll love our hotel recommendations.

About Jessica Nemire

Jessica Nemire has been writing about about travel since 2011. She graduated from San Francisco State University in 2016 with a BA in journalism. She loves the ocean, Mission District burritos, and amazing sunsets.

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10 Best Alcatraz Tours: What to Know, How to Get Sold-Out Tickets & More

Our picks for the 10 best alcatraz tours in san francisco, so you can enjoy the most popular sight in the city and spend less time planning..

Alcatraz is arguably one of the most famous landmarks in or around San Francisco. Getting to the infamous former prison can be tricky. There’s only one company allowed to bring travelers to the island — Alcatraz City Cruises.

During the height of busy tour season, from around April through October, tickets to Alcatraz sell out. Fast. We’re talking *months* in advance.

The good news is that even though there’s only one company bringing people to Alcatraz Island — tour companies around San Francisco have official partnerships with Alcatraz City Cruises. This means, even if Alcatraz City Cruises has sold-out tickets to Alcatraz, there are San Francisco tours that bundle Alcatraz tickets!  

We want to share with you our picks for the 10 best Alcatraz Tours and the San Francisco tour companies that offer official Alcatraz tickets with their Muir Woods tours and San Francisco tours . AKA the best way to get sold out Alcatraz tickets!

These are the 10 Best Alcatraz Tours

• Dylan’s 1-Day Alcatraz Experience
• San Francisco City Tour + Alcatraz Tour and Alcatraz + 3-Hour San Francisco City Tour by SF Excursions
• Early access to Alcatraz and exclusive cable car sightseeing tour by Hornblower Classic Cable Cars
• “Fogcutter” Tour with Alcatraz by SF Adventure Tours
• San Francisco City and Alcatraz Combo by Vantigo
• Alcatraz and Touch of Gold Combo by Bay Voyager
• Alcatraz and Wine Country Tours by Green Dream Tours
• Alcatraz and Wine or Alcatraz and beer by Gears and Grapes Getaways
• Combined Alcatraz tickets by Alcatraz Bikes and Tours
• Grand City Tour and Alcatraz Island by Gray Line San Francisco

*Know before you book

It is important to note that Alcatraz City Cruises requires San Francisco tour companies to provide the names of all travelers over 18, ten days before the tour. Unfortunately, this means that day-of tickets or next-day tickets to Alcatraz will not be available.

There are also no private Alcatraz tours available because Alcatraz hours are limited to the official ferry times with Alcatraz City Cruises. 

#1 Dylan’s 1-Day Alcatraz Experience

• Tickets: $179 for adults, $119 for children 12 and younger
• Duration of the tour: 10 hours (this includes the trip to Alcatraz)
• TripAdvisor reviews: 5 stars  

This is Dylan’s signature tour for travelers who want to see  San Francisco in one day . Traveling with Dylan’s on the 1-Day Alcatraz Experience means exploring with a company with the most 5-star reviews on Google, TripAdvisor, and Yelp.

We are reliable, honest, and guarantee to have your Alcatraz tickets (even when official Alcatraz tickets sold out already) — as well as over an hour in Muir Woods and lunch along Sausalito’s waterfront. 

We might be a bit biased, but we think this is a pretty ideal option for the best San Francisco bus tour company to go with what’s affiliated with Alcatraz City Cruises. We also offer San Francisco Private Tours, which allows you to set a custom route through the entire Bay Area!

Book the #1 Alcatraz Tour

#2 San Francisco City Tour + Alcatraz Tour and Alcatraz + 3-Hour San Francisco City Tour by SF Excursions

• Tickets for the San Francisco City Tour + Alcatraz Tour :  $129 per adult, $119 per child.
• Tickets for the Alcatraz + 3-hour San Francisco City Tour: $139 per adult, $124 per child
• Duration of the San Francisco City Tour + Alcatraz : 5 hours (this includes the trip to Alcatraz)
• Duration of the Alcatraz + 3-hour San Francisco City Tour: 8 hours in total (this includes the trip to Alcatraz)
• TripAdvisor reviews: 5 stars

Ever heard of a sister company? Well SF Excursions is Dylan’s’ brother company. As in, it’s Dylan’s brother Brendan who runs SF Excursions!

Just like the founder of Dylan’s, Brendan is a San Francisco native showing off his hometown and Alcatraz all in one Ultimate Day with their Alcatraz combo tickets. They also offer a tour that is combined with Muir Woods, but it does not include Alcatraz, so we won’t discuss it in this blog. You can definitely check it out on the website!

Both of the tours include a trip to Alcatraz. With the San Francisco City Tour + Alcatraz Tour, you will start your day with the Official Alcatraz Island Tour. After the tour, SF Excursions picks you up outside the Alcatraz ferry terminal to take you on a 90-minute tour of San Francisco. The tour includes a photo stop and a local guide!

The Alcatraz + 3-hour San Francisco City Tour starts with a tour through the city. This includes 11 different locations and photo stops. It features all of SF Excursions’ favorite neighborhoods! After the city tour, they will drop you off at the location where you will board the early afternoon ferry to join the Official Alcatraz Island Tour.

#3 Early access to Alcatraz and exclusive cable car sightseeing tour by Hornblower Classic Cable Cars

• Tickets: $192.50 for anyone 12 and older, $152.50 for children 5 through 11
• Duration of the tour: 7 hours (this includes the trip to Alcatraz)  
• TripAdvisor reviews: 4.5 stars

Did you know you can explore San Francisco on trolley tours made from modified cable cars? Back in the 1950s, cable cars from the California line were being auctioned off when a local San Franciscan purchased one of them. That cable car was converted into a motorized vehicle. This created the first cable car tour ever!

With Hornblower Classic Cable Cars (one of the best hop-on/hop-off tours in San Francisco) you can get an Alcatraz combo tour with one of their trolley tours for a unique San Francisco tour.

You start your day touring Alcatraz before all of the heavy crowds arrive on the island. You will have two hours to explore and tour the island. After lunch on pier 33 you will board the Hornblower trolley to start the city tour. The tour includes a professional guide and three stops with photo opportunities. Around 3:15 pm they will bring you back to the location where you started your tour.

#4 “Fogcutter” Tour with Alcatraz by SF Adventure Tours

  View this post on Instagram   A post shared by Fogcutter Tours (@fogcutter_tours)

• Tickets: $180 for adults, $122 for kids and $67 for tots
• Duration of the tour: 4 hours (this does not include the trip to Alcatraz)  

We’ve previously ranked SF Adventure Tours as one of the best tours in San Francisco because this one is led from a modified safari-style pick-up truck!

You can now combine their open-air tour with Alcatraz Island tours. You will start your day with a four-hour tour through San Francisco. Continue the adventure with a visit to Alcatraz Island.

It’s not just us who think SF Adventures has one of the best tours in town, just check out their Alcatraz tours TripAdvisor reviews and you’ll see that it’s highly rated as one of the best Alcatraz tour combo packages!

#5 San Francisco City and Alcatraz Combo by Vantigo

• Tickets:  $129 for adults, $75 for kids 5 to 11
• Duration of the tour: 7 hours (this includes the trip to Alcatraz)

What happens when someone with a passion for tinkering on vintage VW combines that with a passion for meeting new people? Vantigo is what happens!

These beautifully restored VWs can go where bigger tour buses cannot — Coit Tower, the Painted Ladies at Alamo Square, Golden Gate Park and the Sutro Bath Ruins. On the way, they will share the tales that shaped the San Francisco we know today.

They’re a great option to go with if Alcatraz sold out already on the official website and you want a 60s-themed (aka  very  San Francisco) tour of the city.

NOTE: This tour is updated 2 to 3 months in advance based on Alcatraz City Cruises releasing Tickets at that pace.

#6 Alcatraz and Touch of Gold Combo by Bay Voyager

• Tickets: $155 per person
• Duration of the tour: 90 minutes (this does not include the trip to Alcatraz)

TripAdvisor’s #1 Bay Tour in San Francisco! Explore the San Francisco Bay up close and personal in the water on a 28-footer RIB (rigid inflatable boat) with Bay Voyager.

Seriously, this is such a unique experience — and it looks like it could be a part of a ride at Great America! This just might be one of the most unique Alcatraz combo tours out there, and one of the best Alcatraz tours for those who want more of an adventure.

You’ll start with a 90-minute Bay Voyager excursion where you will explore The Ferry Building, Presidio, and past The Golden Gate Bridge and Pier 39. After this part of the tour, you will head over for a separate guided Alcatraz tour.  

NOTE: for reservations, a minimum of 4 days advance notice is required.

#7 Alcatraz and Wine Country Tours by Green Dream Tours

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EcFBAbN49UI

• Tickets : $179 for those 21+, $159 for 20 and under
• Duration of the tour : 10 hours (this includes the trip to Alcatraz)
• TripAdvisor reviews : 4,5 stars

Green Dream Tours is kind of like if Dylan’s did Wine Country tours. They have local guides leading tours on minibuses. You’ll discover two wineries in Sonoma and enjoy lunch in Fisherman’s Wharf before being dropped off for your Alcatraz ferry.

If you’re looking for Alcatraz combination tours that get you exploring outside of the city as well as Alcatraz, this is the perfect option.

NOTE: This tour is only available from May to October

#8 Alcatraz and Wine or Alcatraz and beer by Gears and Grapes Getaways

• Tickets Alcatraz and Wine: $202 for adults 21+
• Tickets Alcatraz and Beer: $112 for adults 21+
• Duration of the wine tour: 9 hours (this does not include the trip to Alcatraz)
• Duration of the beer tour: 3 hours (this does not include the trip to Alcatraz)
• TripAdvisor reviews: 4,5 stars

Ever wanted to ride a bike through Wine Country? How about a biking brewery tour of San Francisco? Well, with Gears and Grapes you can combine either their wine or beer bike tours with official Alcatraz tickets! It’s truly a win-win for one of the best Alcatraz tour experiences.

For the wine tour, you can choose to go to Sonoma or Napa. A shuttle will take you to the wine country. Once there, your guide will lead you to the wineries. There will also be a stop for a delicious picnic lunch in the vineyards. If you would rather be driven, a shuttle will follow the group.

For the beer tour, a tour guide will take you 3 stops of San Francisco’s finest beer drinking and brewing establishments.

NOTE: the tours do not take you to Alcatraz. The Alcatraz ticket is included in the price but is a separate tour.

#9 Combined Alcatraz tickets by Alcatraz Bikes and Tours

• Tickets: between $109 and $225 (18+)
• option 1: 24-hour bike rental
• option 2: 60 minutes tour
• option 3: 24-hour ticket
• option 4: 9-hour tour
• TripAdvisor reviews: 4 stars

Can’t choose what kind of tour you want to combine with your Alcatraz ticket? No worries, Alcatraz Bikes and Tours has enough options for you! This tour company offers combined Alcatraz tours, but you can choose your own combination.

They offer the following combo’s:

• If you are a fan of biking pick the option with Bike Rental , you can use the bike for 24 hours to explore the city on your own!
• For the people who love sailing, they offer the option Bay Cruise, you will sail under and around the Golden Gate Bridge with great views of the skyline of San Francisco.
• Can’t choose which part of the city you want to explore? The 1Day Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour combines two diverse tours on one ticket. You will have unlimited hop-on hop-off use for 24 hours so you won’t have to choose!
• Ready for an escape from the city? Choose the Napa Valley Wine Tour option. You will visit three favored wineries where you will spend approximately 1-hour for a tour and tasting.

The price of the ticket depends on which combination tour you choose. You can find the prices below:

• Alcatraz tickets and Full-Day bike rental; $109 18+
• Alcatraz tickets and Bay Cruise; $119 18+
• Alcatraz tickets and 1Day Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour; $144 18+
• Alcatraz tickets and Napa Valley Tour; $225 18+

NOTE: the date you select on the calendar on the website of Alcatraz Bikes and Tours is for you Alcatraz ticket only. You have to contact the company for the additional attraction of your choice.  

#10 Grand City Tour and Alcatraz Island by Gray Line San Francisco

• Tickets : $115 for adults, $90 for kids 5 to 11
• Duration of the tour : 6.5 hours (this includes the trip to Alcatraz)
• TripAdvisor reviews : 4 stars

Packaged with the Grand City Tour, this combo-tour will take you to the o so famous, chilling Alcatraz prison. First of you will start the 4 hours guided city tour in Union Square, Along the way there are photo stops at key locations, such as the Golden Gate Bridge and Twin Peaks.  

After you have been from the Bay to the Ocean, you will take the ferry from Pier 33 to Alcatraz Island, which features an award-winning, cellular audio tour and round-trip boat ride to ‘The Rock’.

Always wanted to do a bay cruise or visit the Aquarium? Gray Line San Francisco gives you the opportunity to update your ticket!

NOTE: This tour requires 5 days in advance reservations.

Tips on getting last-minute Alcatraz tickets

We’re convinced that going through an official Alcatraz partner is the best way of getting sold out tickets to Alcatraz . We can’t, in good conscience, suggest going through a scalper. The National Park Service takes illegally reselling Alcatraz tickets very seriously.

Rest assured though, all Alcatraz tickets combined with San Francisco tours with the companies we’ve listed above are all official and legitimate tickets to Alcatraz. That being said — even these San Francisco tours will sell out. The best way to get Alcatraz tickets is to get them as soon as you can!

Canceled Tickets

When Alcatraz tickets combined with San Francisco tours are also sold out, you can check for canceled tickets. People used to be able to get same-day tickets by waiting in line in the early mornings but that has changed. Canceled tickets are added back to the online ticket sales on alcatrazcruises.com. These tickets get updated several times a day, so keep checking for the days you want.

Night Tickets

Another way of getting last-minute tickets are the Night Tour standby tickets. During the high season, there are two evening sailings running out to the island. There will be tickets for the same evening’s tour for sale at the ticket office at Pier 33. They have about 20 standbys for sale in the summer and around 10 during the winter season. But be aware: it’s based on a first-come, first-served basis. Standbys are allowed to board after the passengers of that sailing are on board and if there is room (no-shows or cancellations). If you are not allowed on board, you will get a refund on your ticket.

The only time it is relatively easy to get tickets is in the winter season (except for the holidays), especially November. In winter, you may score same-day tickets, depending on how early you start trying. If that doesn’t work, you usually can get tickets for the day tours the next day. The Night Tours tend to sell out quicker in the winter season. You should book at least 6 weeks ahead if you want to be sure you can get tickets. Later in March, all the tours start to get booked up again, especially around Easter Break.  

If you’re still trying to figure out how to get sold-out Alcatraz tickets, without also taking a tour, we have some tips on what to do if Alcatraz tickets are sold out .

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A Few Other Alcatraz Resources

Should You Buy an Alcatraz Ticket or an Alcatraz Tour?

11 Things You Didn’t Know About Alcatraz Island

Alcatraz Night Tour vs Alcatraz Day Tour

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Visiting Alcatraz: How to do it right and get the most from your trip

By: Author Ginny Vail

Posted on Published: 13 Feb 2024  - Last updated: 27 Feb 2024

Visiting Alcatraz is one of the top things to do in San Francisco. The tour includes the Alcatraz Ferry to the island, the infamous prison audio tour, and more.

The island has so much to offer, it’s little wonder that visiting Alcatraz is a top San Francisco attraction . The infamous former federal penitentiary is on an island in San Francisco Bay, so the tour includes a short ferry ride with great views of the bay and city skyline. It also includes an excellent audio tour of the Alcatraz prison cellhouse, exhibits, and talks and tours led by National Park staff.

Alcatraz is part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area and is operated by the National Park Service. In normal times, more than 1.7 million people visit Alcatraz each year.

When planning your visit to San Francisco, you can find more great sights in our San Francisco Itinerary article.

Here’s what’s in this article:

• About visiting Alcatraz
• Getting  tickets to Alcatraz
• Ticket types: Day Tour , Behind the Scenes Tour , Night Tour
• Getting to Alcatraz Landing (at Pier 33) to catch the ferry
• Ferry to Alcatraz Island
• About the cellhouse audio tour
• Brief mention of the great escape , famous inmates , and ghosts

Best time to go

• Bits of history
• Good things to know about an Alcatraz visit

About Visiting Alcatraz

A National Park Ranger meets each arriving ferry to welcome visitors to the island and to provide a brief orientation and review the day’s program schedule. In addition to the great cellhouse tour, there are permanent and temporary exhibits, ranger led walks and talks, a trail to take, gardens to see, and lots of interpretive signs around the island.

Although Alcatraz is open every day except for three major holidays, getting to and from the island depends on the ferry schedule, and it varies. Tickets are timed and coincide with a ferry going to the island. Once on the island, you can stay as long as you wish, just check the ferry schedule posted on the dock, and make sure you don’t miss the last boat back to Pier 33.

Days and hours open: Alcatraz is open from 10am to 8pm every day of the year except for three holidays: Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s. Time needed to visit: Allow about 3 hours for the ferry ride and Cellhouse Audio tour. Allow more if you also take the Behind the Scenes and/or Night Tour. Location: The tour begins (and ends) at Alcatraz Landing at Pier 33 on the Embarcadero.

Tickets to Alcatraz

Purchase your tickets early because they often sell out days in advance. This is especially true during the summer months and holidays. The tickets are timed and dated.

Buy tickets from Alcatraz City Cruises . It’s the only concessioner authorized by the National Park Service . The price of the ticket is specifically for the ferry and the cellhouse audio tour. The National Park Service does not have an entry fee for the island.

There are three types of Alcatraz tickets and they all include the ferry to/from the island and the self-guided Cellhouse Audio Tour. The Behind the Scenes Tour and Night Tour are currently offered Tuesday through Saturday. Here are more details about each of the three ticket types:

What you get:  Access to all open parts of the island, the theatre, and exhibits and the self-guided Cellhouse Audio Tour. Time needed:  Most people spend about 3-hours (including the ferry), but you can spend all day if you wish, just don’t miss the last ferry back. Currently Offered: Daily

Behind the Scenes Tour

What you get:  This is a small group guided tour through parts of the island not normally open to visitors. It includes some underground locations that were created by the Fort Alcatraz military in the 1800s. The Behind the Scenes ticket also includes the night tour and the self-guided Cellhouse Audio Tour. Time needed: My recent Behind the Scenes Tour took 2.5 hours just for the tour. We boarded the 2:45p ferry from Alcatraz Landing (Pier 33) and joined our guide on the Alcatraz dock at 3p. We finished the tour at 5:30p. If you also take the included Night Tour, allow 5 hours, and if you take the included Cell Block Audio Tour too, make it 6 hours. That should cover all tours and the ferry in both directions. Currently Offered: Tuesday through Saturday afternoons

A bit more about the Behind the Scenes Tour:

We walked from the dock up to the cell house and along the way stopped at several locations while our guide (Jim) shared historical details and stories about the locations and people. Jim has worked on the island for several years and had a lot of interesting stories to share.

Part way up the hill, we went through an underground tunnel that was built by the military on Fort Alcatraz and used to move munitions to gun placements. Alcatraz Island became Fort Alcatraz in the 1850s as part of the Triangle of Defense guarding San Francisco Bay.

At the top of the hill, we entered the cell block and went down a flight of stairs to an old underground jail. This was the Fort Alcatraz jail and was used for conscientious objectors and other men who would not follow orders. This area is now called the dungeon and the conditions were appalling: no bed, no bedding, no toilet, and not much food.

Alcatraz Night Tour

What you get:  A guided (Ranger or educator led) tour from the dock to the Cellhouse, and after the self-guided Cellhouse Audio Tour, a guided tour back to the dock. Time needed:  3-hours, including the ferry Currently Offered: Tuesday through Saturday afternoons

I’ve not taken the Night Tour, but I can certainly appreciate why it’s so popular. In addition to the Cell House Audio Tour and a variety of short talks and demonstrations, the Night Tour has these advantages:

• you get a more complete view of the entire island because the ferry circles Alcatraz Island before docking.
• you get an unobstructed view of the city skyline and might see the sun set behind the Golden Gate Bridge.
• the night tours are limited to a few hundred people, so the island is much less crowded.

Getting to Alcatraz Landing (Pier 33) and Alcatraz Island

When you book your ticket(s), you select a specific date and time, and that’s the date and time your ferry leaves Alcatraz Landing (Pier 33) and heads to Alcatraz Island. Here are three options for getting to Alcatraz Landing at Pier 33 and a map with locations pinned:

Getting to Alcatraz Landing (Pier 33)

• Public Transit:  Take a historic F-Market & Wharves Streetcar. It stops on the Embarcadero at Bay Street, nearly in front of Pier 33. It’s my favorite way to get there.
• Walking:  If you’re in the vicinity of Fisherman’s Wharf and Pier 39, it’s an easy walk. It’s only about 1,700-feet (524 m) from Pier 39 to Pier 33.
• Parking near Pier 33: The Waterfront Plaza Parking Garage is the closest, and it’s open daily. It’s located at 80 Francisco Street. Check the Parkopedia website for times, prices, and reservations.

Alcatraz Landing and Island Map

Click the map image below to go to the expandable, interactive Google Map with pins for Alcatraz Landing, Alcatraz Island and other nearby sights and places of interest. The pins have brief descriptions.

Alcatraz Ferries

The ferry takes about 15-minutes to get from Alcatraz Landing (Pier 33) to Alcatraz Island. Once on the island, you can get back to Pier 33 on any ferry departing the island. Check the schedule posted at the dock, so you don’t miss the last ferry of the day.

Ferry tips: On my most recent visit, the last Day Tour ferry left Alcatraz at 4:25pm. For the Night Tour, there is one ferry to and from the island.

Alcatraz Cellhouse Audio Tour

Tip: It’s a ¼ mile (0.4 km) uphill walk from the boat dock to the cellhouse. Visitors with limited mobility are welcome to take the free Tram up and down the hill.

The excellent 30-minute audio tour guides you through the cellhouse and features former prisoners and guards telling their stories. It’s called  Doing Time: The Alcatraz Cellhouse Tour . The audio tour is available in these 10 languages: Dutch, English, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Mandarin, Portuguese, and Spanish.

Download the National Park Service App

You can have more information about Alcatraz literally at your fingertips, if you Download the National Park Service App onto your smartphone. Search the app for Golden Gate National Recreation Area, and then select Alcatraz Island from the list of GGNRA locations. You’ll find descriptions and location information for 14 sights on the island.

Alcatraz Famous Inmates

Alcatraz was a maximum-security federal prison from 1934 to 1963. Among the 1,545 men sent there, a few were famous: Al “Scarface” Capone, George “Machine Gun” Kelly, Arthur “Doc” Barker, Alvin “Creepy Karpis” Karpavicz, Robert “The Birdman” Stroud, Ellsworth “Bumpy” Johnson, and Meyer “Mickey” Cohen.

Alcatraz Escape Attempts

There were several attempted escapes but only one that may have been successful. In 1962, three men, Frank Morris and the Anglin Brothers tunneled out of their cells and slipped into the bay in a makeshift raft. They were never seen again, and their bodies were never found.

On the cell block tour, you’ll learn how Morris and the Anglin Brothers dug their tunnels and fooled the guards into believing they were asleep in their cells. Stay tuned for more: recent facial-recognition technology may have solved the case.

In the 1979 film,  Escape from Alcatraz , Clint Eastwood plays Frank Morris.

Is Alcatraz Haunted; Are There Ghosts?

There are reports of people hearing crying or moaning coming from the empty cells. It’s also claimed that a prisoner in Cell 14D died after screaming that he was being killed by a ghost. Some visitors have also claimed they felt extreme coldness after visiting Cell 14D. So, maybe there are ghosts on Alcatraz, or maybe it’s just the cold wind blowing through the cellhouse.

Weather-wise, mid-September through mid-November is best. The summer fog (nature’s air conditioner) doesn’t roll in as often and the winter rains haven’t yet started. The rest of the year, the weather is mixed: there are often gorgeous, sunny days in winter and spring, and summer days can quickly turn chilly if the fog rolls in. Dressing in layers is always a good idea in San Francisco.

Is it better to visit Alcatraz in the morning or afternoon? Early morning is best if you prefer to go when the island is less crowded. Midday is best if you prefer a warmer day and sunny skies. I took the photo below on the Agave Trail about 1pm in early December. It was a gorgeous sunny day with temperatures in the 60s.

Gardens on The Rock

Alcatraz is nicknamed  The Rock  for good reason: it’s a 225-acre rock. But beginning with the residents of Fort Alcatraz, people brought soil to the island and planted gardens. Now there are gardens scattered all over the island. Military families, and later prisoners and prison staff planted and tended them; now they are tended by volunteers.

Take the Agave Trail between the dock and the Parade Ground to see the Agave Garden and great views of the Island and bay.

Bits of Alcatraz History

• 1775: While mapping San Francisco Bay, Spanish explorers, observe a small rocky island occupied by a colony of brown pelicans; they name the island Alcatraces (strange birds). Overtime, the name was anglicized to Alcatraz. You’ll likely see flocks of pelicans flying by during your visit, and they are strange looking birds.
• 1850: The island became Fort Alcatraz as part of the Triangle of Defense to guard San Francisco Bay. First it was a military fortification and later became a military prison.
• 1854: California’s first lighthouse was built on Alcatraz.
• 1934–1963: Alcatraz was a maximum-security federal penitentiary.
• 1969: Native Americans took over and occupied the island from late 1969 to mid 1971.
• 1972: Congress created the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, which included Alcatraz.

Native American Occupation

Notice the red graffiti above the bookstore by the dock and also on the water tower. These are remnants of the Native American occupation of the island from late 1969 to mid 1971. The Indians hoped to build a university and cultural center on the island, but they were never able to raise enough money to do so.

More Things to Know About Visiting Alcatraz

• Do wear sturdy walking shoes. Walking surfaces are uneven.
• Do bring a jacket or sweatshirt. When the fog rolls in through the Golden Gate, it heads straight for Alcatraz.
• Don’t bring more stuff than you can carry. There are no lockers or storage facilities.
• Please don’t eat anywhere on the island except in the picnic area by the dock. You can bring your own food or buy snacks in the bookstore/gift shop.
• Wheelchairs are not available for loan or rent at Pier 33 Alcatraz Landing or on Alcatraz Island.

Who would have imagined that a 19 th  century fort and an old prison would become such a popular place to visit? Perhaps it’s the combination of a rugged small island with an interesting history, and the ferry boat ride on San Francisco Bay. It’s a great way to spend half a day, and I hope you enjoy it.

For more ideas about things to do and see in San Francisco, visit these articles:

• Seven Unique San Francisco Neighborhoods to Visit
• 12 Best Parks and Gardens in San Francisco
• 15 Best Museums in San Francisco

About the Author

Ginny Vail is a travel writer who loves travel planning, sightseeing, photography, and videography. She’s visited all 50 states and traveled around the world. Her articles focus on discovering places to go, sights to see, and details about when and how to visit them.

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Accessible Rooms, Accessible Sites, Assistive Listening Systems, Assistive Listening Systems - T-Coil Compatible, Baby Changing Station, Benches/Seating, Braille, Captioned Media, Cellular Signal, Elevator, Ferry - Passenger, First Aid/Medical Care Available, Gifts/Souvenirs/Books, Historical/Interpretive Information/Exhibits, Information - Ranger/Staff Member Present, Restroom - Accessible

From its early days as a military fortress and prison to its most infamous tenure as a federal penitentiary, Alcatraz looms large in the American psyche as a place of contradiction, violence and competing historical narratives. Today its modern incarnation as a cultural attraction offers many opportunities to experience the past and influence the future. 

Welcome to the Rock!

Getting to the RockAlcatraz is a short ferry ride from Pier 33 in San Francisco. Book your ferry ride to the Rock with Alcatraz Cruises. Everyone wants to come to The Rock and tickets often sell out, so book as early as possible. Tickets for the ferry ride and cellhouse audio tour are available at  Alcatraz Cruises  or call 415-981-7625. Group reservations for 15 or more can be made at 415-438-8361.

Military Period

For nearly 80 years, Alcatraz island was the site of the first US fortress and military prison on the West Coast. Beginning when the island was designated as a disciplinary barrack in 1868, most prisoners were US military personnel, but some notable exceptions included southern sympathizers during the Civil War, WWI conscientious objectors and Native Americans.

Bureau of Prisons

In the 1930s, the federal government developed a new type of prison for the nation's most incorrigible bad boys. The facilities at Alcatraz were modernized to become a maximum-security, minimum-privilege penitentiary specially designed for inmates that other prisons couldn't contain or control. During its 29 years of operation from 1934-1963, more than 1,500 convicts were incarcerated here.

We Hold the Rock

From November 1969 through June 1971, Alcatraz was taken over by Native American activists who called themselves Indians of All Tribes. The protest drew attention to the plight of native peoples across the US. Many lived in severe poverty on reservation land and faced serious discrimination from the greater US. The activists, many of whom were students who'd relocated to the Bay Area, selected Alcatraz for the occupation because it was surplus government land. It also had the distinct practical advantage of being difficult for federal authorities to access. The dramatic nature of the occupation was effective in capturing national attention, especially since it was an on-going action that dominated TV news for several months. The takeover resulted in a series of federal reforms with regard to the treatment of American Indians. According to the architects, the most significant impact of the occupation was to galvanize the reconnection of Native Americans to their cultural roots. The activists who first arrived on Alcatraz called for a pan-Native occupation, inviting any and all native people to join them on the island, which is exactly what happened. All the activists lived communally, some for the entirety of the occupation. In this way, a community formed that gave rise to personal bonds and cultural exploration that lasted long after the occupation was over. The success or failure of the occupation should not be judged by whether the demands of the occupiers were realized. The underlying goals of the American Indians on Alcatraz were to awaken the American public to the reality of the plight of the first Americans and to assert the need for American Indian self-determination. As a result of the occupation, the official government policy of termination of tribes was ended and a policy of American Indian self-determination became the official US government policy. Alcatraz may have been lost, but the occupation gave birth to a political movement which continues today.

From prison to tourist attraction

In 1972, Alcatraz was added to the newly created Golden Gate National Recreation Area and was opened to the public in 1973 as a historical landmark.

Alcatraz Island , Golden Gate National Recreation Area

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Last updated: December 30, 2022

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Ferry to Alcatraz Island. Tour the Inside of the Cellhouse. Explore Alcatraz Island.

Duration: Approximately 2 ½ Hours Available: Daily, hourly departures: 8:40 AM to 3:50 PM

• E-Ticket Mobile Check-in
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Tour the Inside of the Alcatraz prison cellhouse. Step back in time and experience the legendary island that has been a civil war fort, a military prison and one of the most notorious federal penitentiaries in US history. This memorable tour includes: 45 minute audio presentation "Doing Time: The Alcatraz Cellhouse Tour," featuring actual correctional officers and prisoners who lived and worked on the Island; orientation video by Discovery Channel; ranger and docent tours; historic gardens and abundant wildlife.-->

Also included: Enjoy the historical gardens of Alcatraz, views of San Francisco Bay, and the exhibit: Red Power on Alcatraz: Perspectives 50 Years Later on display in the New Industries Building. The roads and walkways on Alcatraz are steep. The distance from the dock to the Cellhouse is approximately 1/4 mile (.4km) and the elevation change is 130 feet (40 meters), the equivalent of walking up a 13-story building. The roads and walkways are wide with several places to stop along the way to rest and take in the breathtaking views. Comfortable athletic or walking shoes are strongly recommended. If you have mobility concerns, please see Accessibility for Sustainable Easy Access Transport (S.E.A.T.) Tram information.

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