alcatraz tour tips

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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• Visiting Tips

Visit Alcatraz: Where to Find the Ferry, Parking, & Other Tips

by Jill Loeffler  

Before you visit Alcatraz in San Francisco, there are a few things you need to know. My guide offers you some insider's tips to help you make the most of your visit to the island.

I visit Alcatraz frequently to stay up-to-date on everything that's happening on the island. It makes it easier to pass along these wonderful tips to you before you arrive for your tour.

Are you looking for information to book your tickets? If so, visit this page for ticketing details and then return here to help prepare for your visit to Alcatraz Island.

Highlights to Visit Alcatraz

• Ferries leave from Pier 33 just south of Fisherman's Wharf.
• Your ticket is timed and you can only take that ferry to Alcatraz.
• Arrive no less than 20 to 30 minutes before the time on your ticket.
• Bring as little as possible as there are no storage lockers.
• Wear a jacket or sweater as the ride over to the island gets chilly.

Disclaimer : I receive a small commission from some of the links on this page.

Still need tickets? Click the links below to check out some combo tickets that include the tour of Alcatraz.

Everything You Need to Plan to Visit Alcatraz 

• Details about the Alcatraz Ferries
• Where to Park Nearby
• What to Expect When You Arrive & Audio Tour Details
• What Else Can I See on Alcatraz
• Food on the Island
• Bathrooms on Alcatraz
• What to Wear
• ADA Accessibility

How do I learn more about the prisoners that lived on the island? Visit my Alcatraz History page to learn more about the prisoners and the history of the island.

Details About the Alcatraz Ferries

Where is the ferry for alcatraz .

Let's start with the basics. Where is the Alcatraz ferry located and how do I get there?

The ferry is currently operated by a company called Alcatraz Cruises. They operate all of their ferries out of Alcatraz Landing at Pier 33. 

Pier 33 is located on Embarcadero Street near Pier 39 and Fisherman's Wharf. The odd numbered piers are north of Pier 1 (now called the Ferry Building ). The even numbered piers are south of Pier 1. 

One option to get to Pier 33 is to take the F streetcar line from Union Square . This streetcar runs about every 15 minutes up and down Market Street. 

How Long is the Ferry Ride from Pier 33 to Alcatraz? 

The time on your ticket is the time the ferry leaves the Pier, so make sure you arrive no later than 20 to 25 minutes before the ferry departs.

This sign at Alcatraz Landing shows which ferry is currently boarding.

>> More details and tips for the ferry to Alcatraz

Parking Near Alcatraz

Here are a few of the top parking options near the ferries to Alcatraz.

80 Francisco Street : Large garage with more than 500 spaces, it's just a couple of blocks away and an easy walk to Pier 33.

1603 Montgomery St : Just two blocks away from Pier 33, between Chestnut St. and Lombard St. and it has about 100 spaces.

Here is a map showing Pier 33, the streetcar drop off point and some of the parking available. The blue "P"s on the map mark a few of the popular parking areas.

The red "F"s on the map mark the stops for the F streetcar.

As long as you have a ticket in hand, you are guaranteed a spot to get on that ferry.

You are welcome to line up, but you can also sit back and hang out in the waiting area until the ferry starts to board. 

What to Expect When You First Arrive

When you arrive to visit Alcatraz, everyone on the ferry will get off at the one and only stop.

You will receive a short briefing as a group and then head up the hill to the main building to visit Alcatraz. It's not a race, so feel free to take your time getting up the hill.

The hill is about a fourth of a mile long. The hill is steep and is broken up into four football size sections with flat landings in between. 

Within the fourth of a mile walk, you will climb the equivalent of 13 stories. Don't hesitate to stop along the way, take some photos and look around at the buildings you see during your walk. 

There are also a few benches along the way for you to stop and catch your breath.

If you need additional assistance, you can request a seat on the shuttle (shown in the picture below). It will take you from the ferry up to the entrance to the Cellhouse. Once you arrive, ask a ranger about the shuttle and they will help you find the pick-up point.

Details About the Audio Tour

The self-guided audio tour starts in the main prison building. It lasts about 45 minutes.

When you get to the top of the hill, you'll head into the doorway in the picture below.

You'll receive an audio player for your self-guided tour of the main Cellhouse. The audio is really well done and it's always one of my favorite parts.

After climbing one more set of steep stairs (the largest one on the tour), you'll look for this sign to start your audio tour. 

For the next 45 minutes, you will walk along the predetermined audio tour route. During the tour, you will hear from guards and prisoners that spent years in this prison. Some of them were here for decades! 

You will learn all about the history of the island including information on its most infamous prisoners ( find out more about these prisoners including Al Capone and Machine Gun Kelly ). You'll also learn about the escapes from Alcatraz ( discover details on the most famous escape attempts here ).

With your headphones on, it can be hard to hear others around you. All of the areas you stop at are pretty crowded, so be respectful and aware of those around you during the self-guided tour. 

At any point along the way, you can pause your audio player to spend a little more time in a certain area. This is perfect when it's crowded and you want to get a closer look at something. 

I also often put mine on pause if there is a talk or special tour going on. You will just want to remember where you were on your self-guided tour, so you can head back to that location.

Your audio player also shows which section you were in, so ask a ranger for help if you can't find your way back.

At the end of the tour, you'll turn in your audio player. At this point, you are on your own to explore Alcatraz. 

Other Fun Things to See & Do on the Island

Depending on the time of year you visit, you will find different areas open. Any time of year, you can head out to take pictures near the lighthouse (it's also on the audio tour, so you should have no problems finding it when you are done).

From this area, you get some great views of San Francisco, the Golden Gate Bridge , and the SF Bay. 

I also recommend that you visit the gardens, which are beautiful. Some of the plants and flowers have been growing for years.

Recently, they increased their efforts to care for the plants and flowers in the garden, so it's a great stop. 

I also recommend that you head out to the old prisoner yard. It's only a short stop on your audio tour, so just ask a ranger if you can't find it again.

It's a fun place to hang out and take a look up close at the outside of the Cellhouse. 

From here, you can also get some great photos of the Golden Gate Bridge and Sausalito .

Either on your way in or out, make sure you stop by the theater for a short Alcatraz Island history film. This free film covers the history of the island from the beginning to some of the current projects going on to restore it.

You will also find two gift shops on the island. This is where you can find a large selection of Alcatraz related books, movies, and other items. 

The first one is located next to the area where you drop off your audio tour. The second is next to the theater. 

If you want to learn more before you visit Alcatraz, you will also find a great selection of Alcatraz books and movies online.

Some of my favorites include the book Letters from Alcatraz , with personal letters from a number of inmates on the island from Al Capone to Machine Gun Kelly, and the National Geographic documentary called Vanished from Alcatraz , which includes recent information on the famous 1962 escape attempt from the island.

Other Questions About Your Visit

Is there food on Alcatraz? 

There is no food available for purchase on Alcatraz. However, if you brought your own food, there is a small area with picnic benches that you are welcome to use to eat or drink. 

That being stated, I want to warn you that the area is full of birds looking for a meal also, so I recommend either eating before you arrive or after you return to San Francisco.

They do not allow you to eat anywhere else on the island nor do they sell any food.

Here are some recommendations on where to eat near Alcatraz .

Can you sleep at Alcatraz? 

This would be such a cool program, but at this time they do not allow people to spend the night on the island. 

Are there bathrooms on Alcatraz? 

There are bathrooms on most of the ferries on the way over and back. 

There are also restrooms in two locations on the island. One is right near the ferry terminal. The second set of bathrooms is at the top of the hill right outside the Cellhouse.

Ask any ranger for directions to the nearest bathroom when you are on the island as they are always happy to help.

What to Wear on Alcatraz Prison Tours

You will want to bring along layers for your visit. It will be cool and windy on the ferry ride over, so make sure to bring a light jacket or sweater. You can also sit inside, but the doors are open so it's usually cool in there also.

On the island, it is warmer outside, but cooler inside the building.

They don't have heat or air inside the building, so bring along layers so you can mix and match based on the weather that day.

There are also many broken windows and they leave many doors open, so the air can really blow through the prison on very windy days.

You can also check out my weather by month pages to get an idea on what to pack for your stay. Keep in mind, that it might be an additional 10 to 15 degrees cooler on the ferry and/or inside the prison on Alcatraz.

ADA Accessibility to Visit Alcatraz

Are the Alcatraz Prison Tours ADA accessible? Yes, most of the island is ADA Accessible.

Limited Mobility and Wheelchairs

For those with mobility limitations, you will find a few options to help you get around. When you arrive on the island, you will arrive at the ferry terminal at the bottom of the island. The main Cellhouse building is up a very steep hill. It's about a fourth of a mile, but the climb is similar to climbing up 13 flights of stairs.

To help you get to the top, there is a S.E.A.T. Tram that will take you to the main entrance to the Cellhouse. You will see the tram upon arrival on the island. You can take this to get to the entrance of the prison.

Most of the tour is on the second floor of the building, but there is a small elevator that can take you from the main floor up to the area where you will find the tour. You can return to this elevator after your tour to get back to the main level.

Alcatraz does not supply or rent wheelchairs at any of their facilities. You will need to bring your own along if needed.

Hearing Impaired

An American Sign Language version of the audio tour is available. Simply alert a member of the staff that you need this version and they will be happy to provide you a hand-held device with a screen for your tour. There are also large markers for each stop, so you can identify where you need to be for each section of the audio tour.

Visually Impaired

Alcatraz also has materials for those that are visually impaired. They have the Cellhouse tour available in both large print and in Braille. You can request these upon arrival. They also have other materials available for you to use to explore the island.

More on Alcatraz & its Prisoners

• Robert Stroud
• All Prisoners

Comments? Questions? Suggestions?

I would love for you to join me in my private Facebook group ! 

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You can ask questions, get advice for your upcoming stay, and then share your photos and advice with others when you return home. It's a great community and the fastest way to get answers to those nagging questions about your visit!

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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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Honest Alcatraz Island Tour Review: Tips for Visiting Alcatraz (2024)

One of America’s most infamous maximum security prisons on an island with stunning views of the Golden Gate Bridge.

Alcatraz Island is one of the best things to do in San Francisco, whether you’re interested in its history as a fort and military barracks or you’re really here for the Al Capone stories.

Not only will those who visit Alcatraz experience a bleak and unforgiving cellhouse, but they’ll also discover the beauty of the lighthouse and Military Chapel, as well as awesome views of San Francisco and the Golden Gate bridge from this island in the middle of the bay.

Alcatraz prison tours (currently self-guided) will take you behind the cells that housed dangerous criminals throughout the years as well as show you the recreation areas, the cafeteria, intake room, and more.

Keep your eyes peeled for the wildlife as well, as an absence of four-footed predators has made this a haven for birds who want a more peaceful life and today it houses mice, salamanders, and insects as well.

💰 Top tip: our favorite way to see Alcatraz is this combined Alcatraz and San Francisco Bay tour .

Check it out here to save time and money (fast-track lines and discounts that you’ll need once you see the price of the rest of SF!)

What is Alcatraz? Prison Island’s Troubled History

From the dark pasts of prisoners like Al Capone and Robert Stroud to what life was really like on this foggy, mysterious island, Alcatraz Island has a fascinating past.

The island, just over a mile away from San Francisco and situated in the heart of San Francisco Bay, has been used for everything from a fort to a prison.

In the early days, native people in the Bay area would paddle to Alcatraz to hunt and fish from its shores, but it wasn’t until the Gold Rush that Alcatraz was used as a fort in a defensive strategy for San Francisco Bay.

At this point, more than 400 soldiers were stationed here and it was all about weapons and defense, not prisoners (though there were prisoners on the island at this time, in the basement of the fort).

The history of Alcatraz as a prison as it was known in the 1900s began around 1915, when objectors to World War I were inmates here.

By 1934, it had opened as a federal penitentiary for over 1500 men until it closed down in 1963.

Alcatraz functioned well as a prison for security reasons, as the cold and unforgiving currents of the bay meant that escape from the prison, much less the island, was practically impossible.

Today, Alcatraz escapes are something of lore, and on the island you can see replicas of how prisoners attempted to escape, the most famous being the escape of 1962 when three men got out of their cells and used raincoats as flotation devices to attempt to make it to the mainland (their bodies were never found).

Today, the history of the actual cellhouse as well as the other buildings on the island like the Warden’s House, Guardhouse, Post Exchange and Officers Club and the military chapel are all on display at this National Park.

Practical Tips for Visiting Alcatraz

To get to Alcatraz, the foggy island in the bay, you’ll have to do some prior planning to make sure that your journey there and back goes off without a hitch.

How to Book Alcatraz Tickets

The easiest way to book Alcatraz tickets is to do it online on the Alcatraz Island website if you’re looking to do the Alcatraz Day Tour (the most popular one), the Alcatraz Night Tour (where you are on the island in the dark!), or the Alcatraz Behind the Scenes tour (a guided tour).

This review and experience below is of the popular Alcatraz Day tickets entry.

However, if you want to combine Alcatraz with some other San Francisco sights or get unique Alcatraz tour options, read below where I’ve got more ideas of how to make your time on Alcatraz memorable.

Alcatraz Tickets Price (all includes ferry)

• Day tour: $49 for adults, $33 for children
• Night tour: $56.40 for adults, $36.60 for children
• Behind the scenes tour: $101.40 for adults, $97.35 for children

Alcatraz Hours

The island hours range from 9 or 10am to around 5pm or 6pm depending on the time of year.

What’s most important is the ferry hours, which for the day tour typically depart from around 8:50am to 2:00 or 3:00pm (giving you a couple of hours to explore the island before coming back).

Again, you can’t just waltz onto the island by yourself without taking the ferry, so it’s the ferry booking time that you should concentrate on.

Alcatraz Booking Tip

Book one of the earliest ferry times you can. This way, you can explore as long as you want without worrying about needing to come back for the last boat.

How to Get to Alcatraz Island

The only way to get to Alcatraz Island is by ferry, and the sole ferry operator licensed to take you there is Alcatraz Island cruises.

Other tours will either use this ferry to get you there while bringing their own guides along, or they will take you past Alcatraz without stopping on it.

Alcatraz Cruise & Ferry Experience

When you arrive for your ferry to Alcatraz island, you’ll join a line that wraps around quite a few times.

They recommend arriving at least 30 minutes prior to departure time, and this rang true for us in order to make sure you’d actually make it onto the ferry you meant to (if you miss it, you’ll have to wait for the next one which will probably be in another 30 minutes).

When it’s time to board, you’ll show your ticket and hop on.

Spread out and sit or stand wherever you’d like.

We stood outside to get some amazing pictures of the island and of San Francisco from a vantage point that you probably hadn’t seen it from before.

The ferry doesn’t take long, about 12-15 minutes each way.

Self-Guided Alcatraz Cellhouse Tour Review

Tours around the cellhouse are done via audio guide with the Alcatraz audio tour, narrated by some past Alcatraz prisoners and officers.

While much of what you look at is very stark and, well, prison-like, the audio guide really brings everything to life and helps you imagine what life would have been like behind these walls.

At the time it was built in 1912, the cellhouse was the largest steel-reinforced concrete building in the world, largely built by unskilled inmates.

With easy-to-read signs and the audio guide telling you exactly where to go, you wind your way through the rows of cells (you can even go in one), learn the stories of the prisoners who attempted to escape, explore the outside grounds with actually beautiful views, and see where the prisoners ate.

This was a maximum security prison, and there were also areas of the prison for even more dangerous prisoners who needed to be in complete solitary refinement.

This was known as the D Block, and one step inside one of these completely pitch black rooms will give you a tiny glimpse of the psychological anguish that these prisoners would have felt.

Other Things to See on Alcatraz Island

In addition to the actual cellhouse and prison area, you can walk around the island to explore other areas.

Make sure to check out the bookstore and exhibits at the old military barracks near the dock, which were used to house soldiers and cannons.

The guardhouse is the oldest building on teh island, built in 1857, and was one of the areas that held Confederate sympathizers and U.S Army prisoners in the late 1800s.

What is now left of the Post Exchange and Officers Club (it was destroyed by fire in 1970) shows the remains of an area where soldiers and their families would buy food and personal items.

During the federal prison days, it was a recreation hall with a dance floor and bowling alley for the prison officers (yes, they and their families lived on the island too!)

In fact, you can see where these officers would have lived, which was the barracks and apartments about halfway up the hill to the prison.

There was a tiny post office and small market, and this part of the island was fenced off for security of the families during the federal prison days.

Don’t forget to see the lighthouse, first lit in 1854 to help guide ships through the Golden Gate.

It was the first one in operation on the Pacific Coast, and the keeper often lived in a home at the base.

The lighthouse keepers left the island when the island was home to the prison, and the lighthouse was automated from that point.

There are also some beautiful gardens to explore, especially on the western slope below the cellhouse and at the warden’s house, as well as beautiful views.

These historic gardens have been restored by efforts from the National Parks Conservancy and others.

The southern part of the island is closed during bird-nesting season to make room for the animals who now call the island home.

Unique Alcatraz Tour Offerings

If you want to combine a visit to Alcatraz with other things to San Francisco, check out some of these awesome tours.

• One Day in San Francisco with Alcatraz Tour – if you only have one day in San Francisco and want to “do it all,” the best thing you can do is take this tour which takes you all around the city in the morning, then off to Muir Woods to see the redwoods, and finishing up at Alcatraz for the afternoon. Genuinely, this is the best way to work in Alcatraz to an itinerary that would be hard to manage on your own.
• Alcatraz Inside with Fisherman’s Wharf lunch – this tour allows you inside Alcatraz to explore around the island, but it also includes lunch credits for restaurants at the popular Fisherman’s Wharf area (near where the ferries depart). Fisherman’s Wharf is a fun, vibrant, and popular place for visitors to hang out, and this way you can have both your lunch and your Alcatraz tour planned.
• Alcatraz Tour with a San Francisco Bay Cruise – this option , which allows entry into both Alcatraz and a San Francisco Bay cruise, lets you get up close and personal with the cellhouse and other buildings on Alcatraz while also allowing you to take a longer cruise on the Bay.

Is Alcatraz Island Scary for Kids?

Many parents wonder if Alcatraz is somewhere they should take their kids.

With such a history, is it all too much for the little ones to handle?

The historic part of it is really mostly appreciated by children old enough to understand the audio guide, so toddlers and early elementary aged will likely feel “dragged” around here.

It’s not that it is scary on its own, but it is a very intimidating structure and bleak-looking (it wasn’t built to be welcoming!), so take note if you have a particularly sensitive child who may be frightened at a replica of a prison cell or the cold and unforgiving nature of the place.

There are no “actors” or replicas of prisoners or people (besides one example of a prisoner who created a ‘copy’ of himself to try and trick guards into thinking he was in his cell), so nothing spooky will pop out at them during the regular tours, but you may want to avoid the night tours if your children scare easily.

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15 Things You Need To Know Before Visiting Alcatraz

By: Author Laura

Posted on Published: 8th October 2018  - Last updated: 12th January 2024

Categories USA , Travel

If you’re planning a visit to San Francisco then you need to schedule a trip to Alcatraz into your itinerary. Alcatraz Island sits just 1.25 miles away from San Francisco Bay and is famous for its past as a federal prison for America’s worst criminals.

Between the years of 1934 and 1963, Alcatraz was home to criminals such as:  Al Capone, Bumpy Johnson, Robert Franklin Stroud (the “Birdman of Alcatraz”) and George “Machine Gun” Kelly. The island is now a National Historic Landmark visited by over one million people each year.

I was fortunate enough to visit the island on my recent trip to San Francisco with tickets provided by DiscoverTown Tours . Here are my top tips for visiting Alcatraz Island, which cover the essential things you need to know. 

Disclosure: My tickets to Alcatraz were provided by DiscoverTown Tours . As always, all opinions are 100% my own. 

You’ll need to book tickets in advance

Alcatraz tickets can sell out very quickly in busy periods so if you’re planning on visiting Alcatraz in the summer then you’ll want to make sure you get your tickets well in advance. The best place to buy tickets is directly from Alcatraz Cruises as this is the cheapest option.

There are multiple different tour options including a day tour, a night tour, a combined ticket to both Alcatraz and Angel island and more. If it turns out the tickets are sold out via Alcatraz Cruises , then the next step is for you.

Last minute tickets are available, but expensive!

If tickets are sold out on the Alcatraz website, the only way to get them is through third parties, who sell package tours. These are authorised re-sellers so the tickets are perfectly legitimate however they will always tack on extras which can quickly rack up the price.

If it turns out that Alcatraz tickets are sold out on Alcatraz Cruises then a good option can be to purchase a package such as a two-day bus tour of San Francisco and the Alcatraz tour . At least this way you get to add on something useful to your trip as you won’t need to think about transport in San Fran. 

Check out these great package deal options below:

Remember to Bring Your ID

The person who made the booking will need to bring their ID to pick up the Alcatraz tickets on your allotted day. This ID will be checked against the ticket again when you join the queue for the ferry.

If you made the booking, don’t forget your ID or you won’t be able to get on the boat! It’s best for the rest of your party to bring ID too as they often wish to verify the ID of all guests over the age of 18.

Bring layers – no matter the weather!

Even if you’re visiting in the summer months, you’ll need to bring some layers for your visit to Alcatraz. The ferry from San Francisco’s Pier 33 to the island takes around 10-15 minutes but that is more than enough time for you to get very, very chilly.

If you thought the winds of San Francisco bay were frosty then wait until you get onto that ferry! As an island, Alcatraz can get very windy and very cold, despite the sun, so make sure to wrap up warm. Doubly so if you’ve booked onto the Night Tour!

The guards (and their families) lived on Alcatraz too!

Can you imagine growing up on an island like Alcatraz? To play outside a federal prison with the USA’s most troublesome criminals? It seems crazy but the guards and their families used to live on Alcatraz too. Of course, they had separate quarters from the prisoners but their movements were still limited by the fact that they were living on an island fifteen minutes away from the shore.

RELATED: 14 Things You Didn’t Know About San Francisco

They were free to go back to and visit San Francisco any time they wanted but it wasn’t at all convenient. The families living on the island all became quite close to each other during their time there but the guards’ accounts tell of some (understandably) difficult times.

You will learn much more about this on the tour and you can see the area in which the guards and their families used to live. 

You can stay on the island for as long as you like

You can stay on the island for as long as you want on your allotted day (until closing that is!). There are ferries going back and forth between San Francisco and Alcatraz island at regular intervals throughout the day and you can hop on any one of these ferries back, provided there’s space (more info below). However, most people tend to spend two to three hours exploring Alcatraz. 

The ferries back fill up fast!

You’re guaranteed a place on the ferry on your way over to Alcatraz since you book a specific time slot. However, that’s not the case on the way back. As I said above, you can stay on the island for as long as you like.

Therefore you can catch any ferry you like back to San Francisco. However, if you want to guarantee a place on your desired boat back then you need to leave yourself plenty of time to get down to the dock.

During busy times, you can’t just rock up at the dock right before the ferry is due to leave and expect to get a place on it. There are often large queues and you would do well to leave yourself half an hour (at least) to wander from the main prison, down to the dock, to wait for the ferry. 

Book the Alcatraz Night Tour

If you’ve got a choice, definitely opt for the Alcatraz Night Tour. It’s slightly more expensive but a hell of a lot creepier which really adds to the prison tour experience! You might not get the same views of San Francisco on the ferry over but you do get to see San Francisco lit up at night, which is equally incredible.

If you’re lucky, you might even find that you’re on the island when the sun sets and there’s a fantastic viewing platform as part of the prison tour from which you can view this. 

When I was on the island there were two extra talks about the lives of two lesser-known prisoners, which were given in complete darkness. The tour guide used his torch to light up a select number of pictures he’d printed off and the whole thing was made more chilling by the torchlight. The Alcatraz Night Tour really is a must! 

RELATED: 25 Fun Things to Do in San Fran at Night

Look out for extra tours and talks

There are often extra tours and talks going on Alcatraz island so check to see if there are any specials on your allotted day as soon as you arrive.

Your tour guide should give you a heads up as to what’s going on when they give the introductory tour but if you forget what they’ve said don’t worry!

When you get to the end of the self-guided audio tour, there should be notices about what else is going on. 

The tour of the prison is a self-guided audio tour

There is an introductory tour of the island as soon as you arrive on Alcatraz, which lasts about thirty minutes. However, once you are in the main prison building, you are left to take yourself around the prison with an audio guide.

This self-guided tour of Alcatraz means you can go as fast or as slow as you like. There are lots of different chapters so take your time to really explore each part of the prison before moving onto the next part. 

The audio guide is narrated by ex-guards

What makes the audio guide really exciting is that it is narrated by ex Alcatraz guards. The guide is peppered with first-hand accounts from guards and they offer some truly fascinating insights into their lives of the prisoners on the island, as well as their own.

As I mentioned, these guards had to live on the island along with their families and the prisoners!  

You’ll learn who their favourite prisoners were, what the prisoners were like on the inside and whether they lived up to their reputations as the worst criminals in the American system. 

You’ll get amazing views of San Francisco

At one part of the tour, you’ll be guided out to a platform from which you get amazing views of San Francisco. Pause here and take lots of photos. You can see the Golden Gate Bridge as well as the tall towers of San Francisco.

If you’re on the night tour you might be lucky enough to see the sun set during your tour. When I was the island, the sky turned a beautiful shade of lilac as the sun set and it made for great photos. You can also appreciate the natural beauty of the island and its many inhabitants (birds!). 

There’s a bookshop on the island

I couldn’t not mention the bookshop on Alcatraz island for all my fellow literary travellers! You’ll find lots and lots of books about the history of Alcatraz and its inmates in the bookshop at the end of the audio tour, which are great for further reading.

The audio tour covers so much material but when I left the island I was keen to find out more about its inmates and guards. Most of the books are non-fiction but honestly, most of the stories I’ve heard about Alcatraz inmates are more exciting than some of the crime books I’ve read! 

There are also lots of Alcatraz souvenirs including t-shirts, postcards, mugs etc. There are even replica trays, uniforms, cutlery and more, which I found a little macabre but to each his own.  

Alcatraz Island is home to a thriving colony of birds

Whilst there are no longer any human inhabitants on the island, the island now has a thriving colony of birds.

If you’re a fan of bird-watching then look out for these seabirds: pigeon guillemots, cormorants, Heermann’s gulls, and western gulls. Sometimes there are even harbour seals on the island! If you miss these, however, there are plenty of seals to be found at Pier 39. 

There are no food options on Alcatraz

There are no food options on Alcatraz Island, which is something to bear in mind if you’re taking a tour round about lunch or dinner time.

Cheekily, there are some food and drink options on the ferry on the way back, to catch out the hungry tourist. I didn’t take a look at these options myself but I assume they are overpriced and very average.

San Francisco has so many amazing food options so either bring a light snack or sandwich you can munch on the ferry or be prepared to wait until you get back to shore for decent food. Check out my post on the top things to do in San Francisco for lots of food options! 

Where to Stay in San Francisco

If you liked this post, check out these: Top 50 Things to Do in San Francisco 14 Fun Facts About San Francisco 25 Things to Do in San Francisco at Night A Guide to Warner Bros Studio Tour Hollywood Tips for Visiting California on a Budget

Editor of What’s Hot?

Wednesday 27th of November 2019

Wow, I thought it was very interesting that you said that because the tour is narrated by ex-guards, you can learn who their favorite prisoners were. My sister and I are trying to plana new sister's trip for this upcoming year, and we think that visiting prisons could be really interesting. We should figure out if there are night tours offered in Alcatraz that could help us get more in the mood.

James Borst

Friday 1st of November 2019

My wife and I are thinking of going to Alcatraz while we are visiting San Francisco this summer. It is interesting that you can get a narrated guide with accounts from guards that actually worked there. We may pay for a professional tour so we don't miss anything.

Alcatraz guide: what to know before a trip to Alcatraz Prison

Alcatraz. The Rock. The most famous high-security prison in the world located on Alcatraz Island, only a mile and a quarter away from San Francisco. We’ve read about Alcatraz prison in books, we’ve seen it in movies (Clint Eastwood’s Escape from Alcatraz  is featured on our  Best movies set in San Francisco post!) and we’ve heard endless stories about its famous inmates.

Almost everyone visiting San Francisco has Alcatraz prison on their bucket list . To make it easier for you, I’ve created a complete Alcatraz guide, including important information and everything you need to know to plan your trip to Alcatraz.

1. Alcatraz history

Alcatraz Island is mostly known for its use as a high-security federal prison from 1934 to 1963. Before that however, it was a military fort, a military prison and even a lighthouse (the first lighthouse on the Pacific Coast from 1854!). During its time as a federal penitentiary, it was home to not only inmates, but also to the correctional officers, the warden and their respective families.

Alcatraz was closed in 1963 by order of US Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy. The last prisoner off Alcatraz island was Frank C. Weatherman, a gun smuggler. The Rock was briefly occupied by American Indian activists (you can read more about this further down ). It’s now managed by the National Park Service and is part of the Golden Gate National Parks Conservatory, holding a huge historical significance.

2. Famous Alcatraz inmates

Since its opening in 1934 until its closure in 1963, a total of 1,545 men did time in Alcatraz. The majority of them were incorrigible prisoners coming from other institutions, either violent or considered escape risks. They remained here an average of 8 to 10 years until they were no longer considered dangerous.

Some of the most famous Alcatraz prisoners include:

• Al “Scarface” Capone (whose exact cell is unknown)
• George “Machine Gun” Kelly
• Robert Stroud (aka the “Birdman of Alcatraz”)
• Alvin “Creepy” Karpis
• “Doc” Barker

3. Alcatraz Escape, June 1962

A total of 14 escapes from Alcatraz prison were attempted, but there’s one that stands out as the most elaborate. On the evening of 11 June 1962, prisoners Frank Morris and brothers Clarence and John Anglin were able to escape from their cells and left Alcatraz Island thanks to a makeshift raincoat floating raft, homemade wooden paddles and life vests. They are thought to have drowned, but since their bodies were never found, the true result of the most famous Alcatraz escape remains a mystery!

Their plan consisted of escaping through a loosened air vent in their cell wall. This led into an unguarded utility corridor and up to a concealed area above the the cell block where they set up a secret workshop. To fool the night guards, they created dummy heads out of plaster, paint and pieces of their own hair and arranged them in a sleeping position on their beds.

• When in Alcatraz: See the cells of Frank Morris and the Anglin brothers, as well as their makeshift dummy heads inside the cellhouse.

4. American Indian Occupation of Alcatraz Island

After the prison closed in 1963, Alcatraz Island was occupied by a group of American Indian activists as a statement for the American Indian rights movement. In fact, The Rock was occupied a total of three times: once in 1964 for just four hours, and twice beginning in 1969 and ending in 1971.

They reclaimed Alcatraz Island in the name of the “Indians of All Tribes” and offered to buy it from the Federal Government for $24 in trade goods. However, they were finally removed from The Rock after the struggle to supply them with food and water became imminent.

• When in Alcatraz: Check out the Alcatraz Water Tower next to the Military Chapel to see this iconic graffiti:  “Peace and freedom welcome. Home of the free Indian land.”

5. Battle of Alcatraz

Also known as  The Battle of ’46 , it resulted in the death of three inmates and two prison guards. Prisoner Bernard Coy took advantage of Alcatraz prison’s security flaws, used a makeshift bar spreader to squeeze between bars and entered the gun gallery to access some weapons. Five other inmates joined him and helped hold guards hostage. By the time they located the key to the recreation yard (which would secure their escape), the door was jammed from trying the wrong keys. The recreation key had been previously concealed (against regulations) by officer Miller, later killed. This resulted in the prisoners being trapped in the cellhouse.

• When in Alcatraz:  Keep your eyes peeled for the grenade marks on the cellhouse floor and the spread iron bars leading to the gun gallery.

6. Important information for before you visit Alcatraz Island

How to get to alcatraz island.

The only way to access Alcatraz Island is through Alcatraz Cruises. This is the official ferry of the San Francisco jail and includes a roundtrip to The Rock and back, as well as a selection of tours to visit the island’s buildings.

The Alcatraz cruise leaves from Pier 33 Alcatraz Landing on The Embarcadero waterfront, just a stone’s throw from San Francisco’s Fisherman’s Wharf.

Alcatraz ticket prices

Alcatraz tickets can be bought either online or at the Alcatraz Cruises Ticketbooth and include the ferry ticket and access to Alcatraz. We recommend buying them online in advance, as Alcatraz cruise tickets can sell out and same-day tickets might not be available to purchase onsite.

Alcatraz ticket prices range from $24.40 for children to $39.90 for adults for Day Tours. Senior and family pack tickets are also available.

Visit www.alcatrazcruises.com for more information.

Alcatraz opening hours and departure times

Alcatraz opening hours vary between seasons – from around 8.40am to 6.30pm in spring/summer, and 9.10am to 4.45pm in autumn/winter. Make sure you check the Alcatraz Cruises website in advance to plan your trip.

Ferry departure times are available around every half an hour.

Alcatraz is open every day expect for Christmas, Thanksgiving and New Year’s day.

What to wear to Alcatraz Island?

San Francisco’s weather is unpredictable and changes constantly. You can expect fog, clouds, rain and sun on the same day. We recommend bringing comfortable shoes, suncream, layers and a raincoat if possible. This also comes in handy when travelling on the ferry, as the cold water from the waves often makes its way onboard.

7. Visiting Alcatraz

How long does it take to see alcatraz.

We recommend allowing around 2.5h-3h to explore Alcatraz. The Day Tour is the best way to see Alcatraz at your own pace. It includes a round boat trip from Pier 33 Alcatraz Landing to Alcatraz Island and back, as well as exploring the outside buildings and the prison cellhouse.

An Alcatraz Night Tour, Behind the Scenes Tour and a combo Alcatraz and Angel Island Tour are also available throughout the year.

What to see at Alcatraz?

Apart from the areas mentioned above, you’ll be able to explore:

• Guard Tower
• Guardhouse and Sally Port
• Military Chapel
• Post Exchange and Officers’ Club: Which included a recreation hall with a dance floor, gym, bowling alley and a soda fountain! Unfortunately, a fire in June 1970 destroyed several of the buildings but you can still see their remains.
• Electric Repair Shop
• Baracks/Apartments: Where the prison guards and their families lived.
• Alcatraz Water Tower
• Military Morgue
• Warden’s House:  A large Mission-Revival style house initially used by the military prison commandant was later occupied by the warden.
• Alcatraz Cellhouse
• Recreation Yard
• Model Industries Building
• The Gardens of Alcatraz: One of them, “The Children’s Garden”, was used to plant small pots to keep the children occupied. It’s now part of the historic Alcatraz Gardens project.

Cellhouse audio tour

Audio guides are available in different languages and are provided at the entrance of the cellhouse. The Alcatraz cellhouse audio tour is a great way to learn more about life in the prison thanks to excerpts narrated by former inmates and correctional officers. Once inside Alcatraz prison, you’ll be able to enter some cells and solitary confinement cells, as well as the showers, library, cafeteria, recreation yard and the warden’s office. You’ll also be able to see the cells of Frank Morris and the Anglin brothers. Also, the grenade marks on the cell house floor and the spread iron bars from the Battle of ’46.

Remember to also visit the Alcatraz shop to get a souvenir to remember your visit too. I bought a postcard to add to my postcard collection !

 Map of Alcatraz  

Have you been to Alcatraz before? Is there anything that I’ve missed and you would recommend or anything else you’d like to know about Alcatraz? I’d love to know! If you loved our guide to Alcatraz , please leave us a comment, pin some photos and show us some love on social media using the buttons below.

Do you like exploring the world? Then check out some of our other travel guides:

• Things you must do in Prague
• Staycation ideas: Where to go on holiday in the UK

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Really interesting post with lots of good info! I would love to see Alcatraz at some point.

Thank you Alexis! Hope you get to visit Alcatraz soon – it’s a must!

Alcatraz has been near the top of my bucket list for most of my adult life. I am fascinated by it’s history, reading every book and watching every documentary that I have been able to find. To be able to walk around and see the location first hand would be amazing! Thank you for sharing – I loved seeing all of your photos.

Thanks Britt! Everyone visiting Fan Francisco should have Alcatraz on their bucket list. It’s definitely a place worth exploring. It’s strange walking around what was once a high-security prison; I’m sure it’ll make a huge impact on you as it did on us!

Excellent post. Really detailed and helpful. We went to Alcatraz years ago and I’d love to go again.

Thanks Graham! Alcatraz was always a place I was curious about. I would definitely recommend it to anyone visiting San Francisco.

Awesome post with a lot of interesting stuff to know. I was there when I was 17, I think. Loved the experience. I’d love to go back.

Thanks Dominique! So glad you liked the experience, it’s one I would absolutely recommend to anyone visiting San Francisco.

Alcatraz is one of the best tours I’ve taken. I usually hate the recorded tour with the headset but this was amazing, and loved the super creepy vibe of the island. Great informative post, and such great info on all the history. I’d love to do a night tour next time I’m there

Thank you Emma! I agree, Alcatraz is such a must for everyone visiting San Francisco. Great content and very informative audio guide!

This was cool but I think I’ll accept your tour as my visit… lol very interesting though I couldn’t imagine living there with my family like huh who?@&$ I love how the Indians tried to reclaim their land and left their mark! thanks for sharing,

Thanks for the comment! It can be quite sinister indeed, but definitely a place full of history!

Looks so charming like it’s not a prison. Really secluded island..

It’s actually pretty eerie inside! But a great place to explore nevertheless (now that it’s no longer a prison)!

I would love to visit Alcatraz if I ever get the chance, I hadn’t read anything about the escapees in 1962 before so I am going to have a little look online! Great post, really enjoyed reading it.

Thank you Sophie! You should absolutely visit Alcatraz when you get the chance. The audio guide is a fantastic way to learn more about the building and how it became to be what it is today x

Great post and pics!! We visited Alcatraz like 7 or 8 years ago and it was such an interesting experience!! The headset tour was very informative and we really liked the boat ride to and from!!

Thank you! Alcatraz is definitely worth visiting if you love learning about exceptional buildings!

Alcatraz is on my must visit bucketlist! I’ve known about it from series and movies and ever since learning about its history, I’ve wanted to go!

I’m so glad Alcatraz is on your bucket list! It’s an eerie place to visit, but it has so much history!

I got to visit Alcatraz a few years ago so loved reading your post! The audio guide was really informative.

The audio guide content was fantastic!

This is such an amazing place to visit.

It really is!

This is so informative! Enjoyed reading it and felt like I was there on tour too! Looking forward to more tours like this 🙂

Ann | http://www.annchoi.me

Thanks Ann! I’m glad you liked reading this post – hopefully it has inspired a little visit next time you’re in SF!

That’s a load of information and tips! Will be part of my itinerary when I visit SFO. Thanks for sharing the photos!

That’s amazing, glad you liked this post Vinn!

Wow! I didn’t even know this was an actual spot to visit. I thought it had been closed down and that was that. Very interesting and I loved all the facts that you mentioned.

Thank you! It’s a very interesting and eerie place to visit, but I’d absolutely recommend it if you have the time!

OMG! 😳What kind of punishment they give?

Being in prison is a punishment in itself!

I’ve lived in the Bay Area since I was 13 and have never gone, we never plan ahead and getting tickets day of never seems to work out. Gonna put this on my bucket list again to take my kids. Hopefully that will inspire me to get tickets in advance this time around.

Thanks for the great virtual tour!

Thanks for the comment Patty! We actually booked the tickets a couple of months in advance to make sure we had them. I’d recommend planning this trip beforehand and pick a day when you know you’ll be free!

Great post!! My husband and I traveled cross country and hit San Francisco right before Covid hit and that was one place we unfortunately didn’t get to visit. I heard about the escape however I never heard about the battle of Alcatraz. Very interesting! Next time I go to San Fran that’s on my list! I also thought I saw tickets for spending the night in Alcatraz 😶

Thanks Aslinn! I didn’t know you could spend the night there! But if that’s the case, I don’t think I’ll be doing it anytime soon lol!

Loved reading this post, Ive wanted to visit Alcatraz since I was little and makes me want to even more.

Thank you! Hopefully you can visit soon and tick it off your bucket list!

Wow! Never thought I’d say this but really want to visit this prison. LOL. Looks like such an interesting place to visit.

Thanks for sharing!

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It’s a strange place indeed, but very interesting to to visit!

Good post! We really enjoyed our trip to Alcatraz when we went!

Thanks Tamra! Glad you had a great time exploring Alcatraz too!

Wow I’ve always wanted to go! Looks like such a good trip

It is! Definitely one to add to your bucket list.

Very interesting information in this post! I was unaware of a lot of the history. I’ve never been, but I would love to check it out one day!

Thanks Cheyenne! Alcatraz is definitely a place worth visiting!

If I ever visit the US, this is one of the places I would love to see. It looks like a great tour, if not a little spooky! You have packed so much information into this post, so it will definitely help with planning the trip!

Thanks for sharing! Aimsy xoxo Aimsy’s Antics

Thanks for the lovely comment, Aimsy! I’m glad you’ve found it helpful and inspiring x

Oh my gosh this was so interesting! If I ever went to San Francisco, this would definitely be up there on the top things I’d want to do. I can imagine it’s so interesting but also pretty eerie at the same time.

Definitely! It’s a bit spooky to be in a former prison, but it’s very well done and you always know you’re on a tour! Definitely worth visiting when you’re in San Francisco! x

This is a really interesting post! I know a little about the history, but not the same amount that is mentioned here x

Thank you Kayleigh! I’m glad you’ve found this post interesting x

So amazing! Sometimes with the lore of it all you forget it really existed! Great post!

Awe thank you!

This looks so cool! I love true crime and I would have to listen to a million true crime podcasts before taking a visit here haha. I’d love to go to San Francisco one day and this is definitely near the top of my list!

Thanks Kalin, I’m sure you’ll love visiting Alcatraz! Hopefully you get to do soon x

Wow!! This is an interesting article. You’ve put in all the information available quite efficiently.

Thanks so much!

Very cool and what creativity to escape! I’m surprised they allowed inmates to have ukulele’s in their cell?

Inmates were allowed some personal items, so I guess it was up to the prison to decide which ones they could possess!

I have always wanted to go to San Fran & Alcatraz! My sister went last year and told me lots of this stuff! I love films about escaping from prison and I love The Rock!

Thanks for the comment Rosie! Hopefully you can get to visit soon yourself! x

Somewhere I’ve always wanted to visit. Even more so after reading this!

Yay! I’m sure you’ll have a great time exploring!

Isn’t it a little sadistic that we all want to go to Alcatraz

Very much so!

Thanks for sharing, this was a really interestijg overview of the history! Yiur advice in how to get there Nd what to see arw great. Maybe when travel opens up again we will get to visit 😊

Thank you! I’m glad you’ve found this post interesting!

very interesting and informative post.

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The Official Tour of Alcatraz Island and Prison

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.

CELLHOUSE AUDIO TOUR

No one can tell the Alcatraz tale like the men who actually lived it. The captivating Alcatraz Cellhouse Audio Tour brings history alive through the actual voices of the correctional officers and inmates who lived on the island during the infamous Federal Penitentiary era.

Hear both sides of life in the island prison including such famous events as escape attempts, “The Battle of ’46”, food riots, and surviving solitary confinement.

The Cellhouse Audio Tour is available in Dutch, English, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Mandarin, Portuguese, Russian and Spanish.

GARDENS OF ALCATRAZ

From the military to the penitentiary era, plants softened the Rock for those who called Alcatraz home. Through gardening, island residents created beauty in a place focused on defense, punishment, and confinement. The families of the guards enjoyed tea parties in the gardens, and gardening became a welcome pastime. For trusted inmates, the gardens were an escape from daily prison life. Even today, the thriving gardens are a stark contrast to the somber prison.

After closure of the prison in 1963, many plants survived decades without care. These survivors are excellent choices for gardeners in the Bay Area or other Mediterranean climates. Since 2003, The Garden Conservancy has been working in partnership with the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy and the National Park Service to restore these wonderful gardens and to share the stories with visitors.

Join a garden docent for an up-close look at the restored historic gardens of Alcatraz. Learn about the softer side of the Rock and how gardens made life tolerable for residents of the barren island. Tours leave the Alcatraz dock at 9:30 am every Friday and Sunday.

GUIDED TOURS

Join the island staff for a guided walking tour of Alcatraz Island. Programs are offered throughout the day and generally start either at the dock or lighthouse. Topics may include Famous Inmates, Escapes, Hollywood’s Rock, 200 Years of Alcatraz History, and Fortress Alcatraz. Some programs even take visitors into restricted areas of the island.

Guided tours generally last 45 minutes to an hour, and may involve walking moderate distances.

Tours and times vary daily, so check the Program Board when you arrive on the island dock. No reservations are required, and all programs are free.

ALCATRAZ: STORIES FROM THE ROCK

Alcatraz: Stories From the Rock takes viewers on a journey through the Island’s many chapters: its early role as a military fortress, the famous federal penitentiary years, the Indian occupation that altered the course of history, and finally the popular National Park and wildlife refuge it is today.

Alcatraz stands as a powerful symbol of protection and change. The film explores Alcatraz as it began, as it evolved, and as it stands today and allows viewers to discover the many layers that make it an incredible time capsule of history and human drama.

VIDEO: WE HOLD THE ROCK

The occupation of Alcatraz Island from 1969 to 1971 by “Indians of All Tribes” changed the course of U.S. and American Indian history, and brought world-wide attention to the plight of American Indians. The award winning video/exhibit, “WE HOLD THE ROCK,” produced by the National Park Service and the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy, is shown continually in the China Alley exhibit behind the main theater area near the dock.

ALCATRAZ AND THE AMERICAN PRISON EXPERIENCE

“Alcatraz and the American Prison Experience,” a major interpretive exhibit, explains the place of Alcatraz in the evolution of prisons in America from Colonial days to the present. Produced in partnership with the federal Bureau of Prisons, the exhibit also looks at family life on Alcatraz and trends in American penology. The exhibit is housed in two historic fortress storerooms in the China Alley display area near the dock.

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The Ultimate Alcatraz FAQ: Everything You Need to Know Before You Go

The ultimate insider guide: 32 faqs about planning and visiting alcatraz.

Hey there, friend! So you’re thinking about checking out Alcatraz, huh? Man, you’re in for an adventure that’s as chilling as it is thrilling. This iconic island has got it all—history, mystery, and some killer views of San Francisco Bay. Whether you’re an SF local or just passing through, this is one must-see attraction. To make your life a whole lot easier, We have rounded up all the need-to-know info for you. Buckle up, because we’re diving into 32 super useful tips that’ll make your trip to “The Rock” a total breeze.

Table of Contents

• Where to Purchase Tickets
• Advance Tickets
• Payment Methods
• Pricing & Family Discounts
• Alcatraz Location & Departure Pier
• Hours of Operation
• Night Programs
• Time Required
• Food & Dining
• Weather & Clothing
• Wildlife & Best Time to Visit
• Accessibility Features
• Rescheduling & Running Late
• Luggage & Bag Policy
• Guided and Self-guided Tours

Ticketing and Booking 🎟️

1. where can i purchase tickets.

Hey, guess what? You’ve got options! The  easiest and quickest way to grab your tickets is online through the official  Alcatraz City Cruises website . But if you’re old-school, you can also ring them up at  +1-415-981-7625 . They’re open seven days a week, from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm PST.

👉 Or if you’re the spontaneous type, you can waltz up to the ticket booth at  Pier 33 Alcatraz Landing . Just know they open an hour before the first tour departs and close when the last tour sails away for the day.  Spoiler :  Same-day tickets are often sold out!

2. Should I Purchase Tickets in Advance?

Absolutely, my friend! Trust me, you don’t want to show up and find out it’s sold out. Especially during the summer or holiday weekends, these bad boys get snagged weeks in advance.

3. Can I Pay with Cash?

Nah, sorry, no cash. Alcatraz City Cruises are all about those cards. So whip out that credit or debit card.

4. What About the Kiddos?

Little ones under 4 are free and don’t need tickets. For kids 5 and up, you gotta buy them tickets. Oh, and you can totally bring strollers, but just not on the S.E.A.T. Tram.

5. National Park Passes: Yay or Nay?

Big nope! Your National Park Pass won’t cut it here because the ticket price is actually for the ferry and audio tour, not an entrance fee to Alcatraz.

6. How Much is This Going to Cost Me?

• Adult: $45.25
• Child (5-11): $27.55
• Junior (12-17): $45.25
• Senior (62+): $42.65
• Family Pack: $131.85

7. Got Any Family Discounts?

Yep, they’ve got a Family Pack. It covers two adults and two kiddos for $131.85. Call them at  +1-415-981-7625  or get it in person.

Your Visit 🌉

10. where’s alcatraz what pier do i leave from.

Alcatraz is 1.25 miles offshore from SF. You’ll take a ferry from  Pier 33  operated exclusively by Alcatraz Cruises.

11. Different Tours, What’s the Deal?

Day Tour:  Plan to hang around for about 3 hours, including the ferry and cellhouse audio tour.  Night Tour:  A 3-hour evening tour with guided programs and dramatic SF skyline views.  Behind The Scenes Tour:  A 2-hour tour in smaller groups and access to areas off-limits in other tours.

12. What Time Can I Go?

First ferry is at  8:45 am . They leave every 30-40 minutes and the island closes at  6:30 pm in summer ,  4:30 pm otherwise . If you have not printed your tickets prior to your tour date then you may pick up your tickets at Pier 33 at the Prepaid Ticket booth (will-call). Please arrive  half an hour (one hour during peak seasons) prior to your departure time  to check-in.

13. Is Alcatraz Always Open?

Almost! It’s closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day. That’s it!

14. How About a Night Tour?

Night tours are available  Tuesday-Saturday . They feature special programs and a wicked view of the city skyline.

15. How Long Will I Be There?

For a Day Tour, block out  2.5 to 3 hours . That includes the 12-15 minute ferry each way.

16. Can I Bring My Own Lunch?

Nope! The island is a bird sanctuary. You can bring bottled water though!

17. Tell Me About the Audio Tour

You’ll get a pair of headphones and an audio guide that’ll walk you through the Alcatraz Cellhouse. It’s available in  11 languages , and you can get refunds on the island if you change your mind.

18. What Should I Wear?

Something comfy and weather-appropriate. SF can be super foggy and chilly, even in summer.

On The Island 🏝️

19. how much time do i need.

The rule of thumb is about  3 hours  for a complete experience. You’ve got the ferry ride, the walking tour, the audio guide, and maybe some chill time.

20. Is There Food on Alcatraz?

You wish! But nope, you gotta eat before you board or after you return to the mainland. No picnic spots on this island it’s a bird sanctuary.

21. The Audio Tour: How Long is That?

The audio tour lasts about  45 minutes , but you can pause, rewind, or fast-forward if you like. Plus, there’s tons of stuff to explore beyond what the audio guide covers.

22. What’s the Weather Like?

This is SF, baby! Expect the unexpected. It can be sunny one moment and foggy the next. Mornings are often chilly and afternoons can warm up, so  layers are your best friend .

23. What About Wildlife?

Seagulls are the real VIPs here. Also, harbor seals sometimes hang out around the dock. No squirrels though, in case you were wondering.

24. Best Time to Visit?

Honestly, anytime is a good time, but  spring and fall  offer the best combo of good weather and fewer crowds.

25. Accessibility?

Alcatraz is pretty steep and hilly, but there’s a  S.E.A.T. Tram  that can take you from the dock to the cellhouse. Much of Alcatraz is steep and hilly, so be prepared for walking long distances uphill. The distance from the dock to the prison at the top of the Island is about .25 mile (.4 km) and the elevation change is 130 feet (40 meters). This is equivalent to climbing a thirteen-story building. Visitors unable to make the climb up Alcatraz’s roads may take advantage of the  S.E.A.T. (Sustainable Easy Access Transport) Tram  — an electric shuttle that meets each scheduled arrival at the Alcatraz dock and transports visitors requiring mobility assistance from the dock to the prison building. S.E.A.T. returns visitors requiring mobility assistance from the prison building back to the dock at regular intervals throughout the day.

The following areas are completely wheelchair accessible:

• Alcatraz dock area
• Prison building main floor
• All bookstores
• Museum displays
• Island theater
• Pier 33 Alcatraz Landing
• All Alcatraz City Cruises vessels

Miscellaneous 🔍

26. can i reschedule or get a refund.

If something comes up, you can change the date/time for a  $6.50 fee per ticket . Refunds? Only if you cancel  72 hours in advance .

27. Running Late, What Now?

You gotta make it to your specific ferry, otherwise, your ticket is forfeited. No refunds or rescheduling if you miss the boat. Literally.

28. Luggage Policy?

Travel light! No luggage, backpacks larger than 16” x 20”, or coolers are allowed on Alcatraz.

29. What is there To See and Do on the Island?

Places you can wander and explore during the Alcatraz Day Tour include:

• The historic Alcatraz Cellhouse as well as the Cellhouse audio tour
• Eagle Plaza, Recreation Yard, the Sallyport, and the Rose Garden
• Iconic views of the Cellhouse, Building 64, Water Tower, Warden’s House, Officer’s Club, and Model Industries Building
• Native American Occupation era political messaging on the exterior of many Island buildings
• Special access to “Red Power on Alcatraz: Perspective 50 Years Later” – an extensive exhibit telling the story of the 19-month Native American occupation of the Island on display in the New Industries Building

A new permanent exhibit: The Big Lockup: Mass Incarceration in the U.S.

30. Can I Take Photos?

Absolutely, and you should! Just no drones, tripods, or commercial photography without a permit.

31. How Do I Get Back?

Ferries leave Alcatraz  every 30 to 40 minutes , and it’s all on a first-come, first-served basis.

32. Parking? Public transit?

No parking is available at Pier 33. There are fifteen commercial lots within a five-block radius of Pier 33 Alcatraz Landing with a total of more than 3,000 parking spaces. The closest and most convenient lots are located at 55 Francisco Street and 80 Francisco Street. Rates can range from as $40-$60 per day for parking. There are no parking validation services offered.

For the best public transportation route, please visit  511.org’s website  to map out the best public transportation routes. One option to get to Pier 33 is to take the F streetcar line that runs from Market Street down the Embarcadeo. This historic streetcar runs about every 15 minutes.

Alright, buddy, that’s a wrap! Visiting Alcatraz is more than just a ferry ride and a walk through an old prison. It’s a journey into America’s complex history, spiced up with incredible vistas and an eerie yet captivating atmosphere. So grab your camera, your sense of adventure, and maybe even a spooky story or two to tell when you get back. With these tips in your back pocket, you’re all set to rock “The Rock.” Trust me, this is one experience that’ll stick with you long after you’ve sailed back to the San Francisco shore.

Learn More and Plan a Trip to Alcatraz

Unlocking alcatraz: a deep dive into the four essential tours, travel like a pro: 17 tips for visiting alcatraz island, alcatraz history and how to visit, behind bars and beyond 21 movies and 14 tv shows that explored alcatraz – the rock, 17 fun and weird facts about alcatraz island and prison, want to explore san francisco on a private small group tour .

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My best tips for visiting Alcatraz – get it all to yourself!

• Post author: Amanda
• Post published: 4 April, 2020
• Post category: USA
• Post comments: 20 Comments

Tickets to Alcatraz usually sell out in advance. If you plan on putting this old prison, turned into a major tourist attraction, on your list of things to see in San Francisco, you’re far from the only one. Imagine spending hours among hundreds of tourists listening to the same audio tour – I don’t know about you, but it doesn’t sound too tempting to me. Luckily, there’s a way to get Alcatraz to yourself without paying anything extra. We did it last year when we visited, and I’m about to reveal how – this is my very best tips for visiting Alcatraz!

What should I know before visiting Alcatraz?

If you didn’t know it already, this prison in San Francisco Bay is situated on an island, as seen in the photo above. It’s accessible by a 15-minute ferry ride, which is included in the price of the ticket. There are a few different kinds of tours and experiences to choose from, such as a night tour and a behind the scenes tour. We went on a self-guided audio tour.

Alcatraz used to be full of prisoners, some of them have you likely already heard of, but don’t worry – the prison closed in 1963, so you don’t need to feel anxious about any unpleasant encounters. All you will find today is a place with a lot of stories to tell you.

Not only is Alcatraz a perfect destination for anyone interested in history (or tv-shows such as Orange is The New Black , or why not movies such as The Rock ), but you’ll also find a seabird colony on Alcatraz Island. In addition, Alcatraz also offers beautiful views of San Francisco and the Golden Gate Bridge.

Where do I buy my tickets to Alcatraz?

You can buy your tickets online on the official website . Have in mind that they often sell out in advance.

What is the Alcatraz self-guided tour like?

The self-guided tour lets you explore Alcatraz at your own pace. Your ticket will allow you to stay on the island for as long as you like, until the last ferry leaves to take you back to San Francisco. In other words, there’s no need to hurry.

Upon arrival, you will queue to get a headset. After that, you’re free to roam around Alcatraz while listening to your audio tour.

My best tips for visiting Alcatraz – how to get it all to yourself

Finally, it’s time for the secret I said I’d share with you – how did we get Alcatraz to ourselves?

Take the first ferry to Alcatraz in the morning

To begin with, you’ll need to take the very first ferry of the day. When we booked our tickets, they were called “early bird tickets”. They cost just as much as regular day tour tickets.

Taking the first ferry of the day will give you great opportunities to explore Alcatraz before the big crowd of tourists arrive. Stay close to the exit on the ferry so you’ll be one of the first to set your foot on Alcatraz Island. This will give you a huge advantage, and you’ll soon see why!

Arriving at Alcatraz – know where to go

When you arrive at Alcatraz, make your way directly towards the prison, up the hill. Some people will probably go this way directly as well, while some is staying down at the information centre for a while. Follow the people that are heading to the start of the audio tour, where you’ll later get your headset.

This is where you part ways from everyone else – don’t queue for the audio tour, but look to your left instead. If you see a staircase and an open door, like in the photo below, head over there directly! We were a bit unsure if we were allowed to go there, since nobody else did, so we asked one of the tour guides working at Alcatraz. “Yes, of course, you can go there, but then you might have to queue for a longer time to get your audio tour headset later”, he replied.

We didn’t hesitate and left for the “secret passage” directly – which immediately let us into Alcatraz and let us have the prison for ourselves for over 15 minutes. We couldn’t believe how lucky we were!

What’s the best way to see Alcatraz?

To me, this is the absolute best way to see Alcatraz. Take your time, wander around and take photos of Alcatraz without any tourists in sight. Then, when you’re done exploring on your own or when people start arriving with their headsets, you can make your way back to the place where the audio tour starts. Luckily, we only had to queue for about 10 minutes before we got our headsets.

If you want to get a unique experience, this is definitely my best tips for visiting Alcatraz. Wandering around the prison by ourselves was the highlight of our self-guided day tour!

Since we’re travelling on a budget , we rarely spend money on tours and tourist attractions. However, Alcatraz was one of the must-sees for us in San Francisco. I’m extremely glad we decided to go!

If your next destination is Los Angeles , don’t forget to check out all the beautiful stops along the way – make it a California road trip !

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This Post Has 20 Comments

Missed visiting Alcatraz during my visit to SFO ..will definitely visit next time

Yes, I can highly recommend it!

When I visited SF a long time ago I didn’t know I should have booked my ticket 2 months in advance therefore I couldn’t visit it. I was so frustrated so I swear to myself that the next time I will visit SF I will make sure to anticipate. Thanks to your super tip now I even know how to get it all to myself: amazing! Thanks for sharing!

Yes, I was lucky enough to check out the website in advance, otherwise i might not have got any tickets either. Next time you’ll be super prepared!

Oh, that’s a great tip! Always try to visit places when less people is around – we even managed to get to Louvre with halls practically empty. So, thanks for the tip, will definitely keep this in mind 🙂

Oh you did, that’s quite the accomplishment – it’s been super busy every time I’ve been there!

This is one place I really want to go. I’m so looking forward to being able to travel again.

Yes, me too. I hope you get to go when all this is over!

The audio tour of Alcatraz is the best I have ever done.

Yes, it was a really interesting one!

I visited Alcatraz in 2017 and it was one of the best experiences! I loved taking the Ferry over to the island. I wish I would have read your post before I went!

Yes, I agree, it was a cool experience. I also loved taking the ferry, such a beautiful environment!

Alcatraz is definitely on my list! I am curious about the history of Alcatraz.. were the prisoners treated poorly there? It seems almost ironic to have a massive prison on such a beautiful place.

From my understanding, there were different types of punishments for prisoners not behaving. One was being isolated in a completely dark room for days! Yes, I agree, the views from Alcatraz Island are stunning. I hope you get to go there one day!

I love a bit of dark tourism and visiting prisons and things like that are so fascinating! Useful information for someone planning to go!

Yes, it’s definitely an unique experience!

What a genius tip!! The main reason I tend to avoid super popular sights like this is because they are so flipping busy, it’s not so fun. Your way might be early, but it makes the whole experience sound more fun!!

Yes, same here – we either wake up really early or just skip the super busy attrations. So really gad we managed to get Alcatraz to ourselves, that was a surprise!

This is by far the most useful post I have ever seen! Tips to have an attraction to myself, yes please!

Thank you so much Audrey, I’m glad you like it! Totally agree, I prefer to have it that way haha!

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The new Alcatraz experience: Now is the time to escape to Alcatraz Island!

UPDATE, September 2021: Alcatraz Night Tours and Behind the Scenes Tours are back! Book one of these unique tour options to get a new view of Alcatraz Island and the Bay. No two tours are the same! 

Both tours allow time to enjoy the Parks Conservancy's award-winning audio tour, "Doing Time: The Alcatraz Cellhouse Tour." Use audio equipment provided to you onsite OR download the Alcatraz Experience app and use your own cellphone and earbuds during your visit!

There are lots of new items to check out on Alcatraz, including "The Big Lockup" exhibit. See our roundup of what's new here .

The following article was written in September 2020, and much of the info may have changed since then. Please check our Alcatraz park page for the most up-to-date info.

Standing at Eagle Plaza on Alcatraz Island, looking back at Nob Hill and the waterfront, San Francisco feels so, so close. 

But anybody who’s swam in those waters will tell you just how far away it is.

Right now, if you go to Alcatraz, you’ll get that photogenic spot almost entirely to yourself, no swimming required. With boats running at limited capacity and fewer crowds than ever, this is a perfect time to visit the island for the Bay Area’s most unique daytrip. Get your Alcatraz tickets here .

In this article, we’ll get you set up with some tips to explore Alcatraz like a seasoned park ranger. Visit for those views, for the lush gardens, and the history that ties into present-day social justice movements. You can take a deep dive into that history, learn about peregrine falcons on the island, and read special stories behind the colorful gardens, on our Escape to Alcatraz page . 

Here are some of our insider tips:

Tip 1: Get ready for a new experience

Your safety is the top priority for the Parks Conservancy and our partners at Alcatraz Cruises and the National Park Service (NPS). You’ll see social-distance markers at Pier 33 Alcatraz Landing and at the Alcatraz dock on the island side. Facemasks are required at all times at Pier 33, on the ferry boats, and inside all buildings including the Cellhouse.

When you arrive on the island, there are plenty of options to kick off your adventure. You can stop by the dock bookstore, get your “Discover Alcatraz” map at one of several stations next to the bookstore, or stop by the ranger station under the guard tower to chat with your friendly NPS rangers—from a distance. Sorry, they can’t take that selfie with your camera.

Tip 2: Take the cellhouse audio tour

The Parks Conservancy's award-winning audio tour, "Doing Time: The Alcatraz Cellhouse Tour" is back and tweaked to ensure safety of our visitors. 

The stories on the audio tour are based on interviews with those formerly incarcerated and correctional officers. Make sure you're ready to soak in this once-in-a-lifetime chance while you can!

Tip 3: Find views and history

Looking for some specific spots to track down? Check out the aforementioned Eagle Plaza, at the very top of the island on the south side of the Cellhouse, for great views of the city and the Golden Gate Bridge. Take the trail around the west side of the island to the Recreation Yard for a once-in-a-lifetime shot of the bridge. And make sure to stop along the path up to the Cellhouse for views of the Bay with the colorful Alcatraz Historic Gardens in the foreground.

As soon as you land on the Alcatraz dock you’ll start seeing political slogans like “Indian Land” that were first painted during the Occupation of Alcatraz by the Indians of All Tribes in 1969. The slogan at the dock was repainted in fall 2019 by original Occupiers during an anniversary event . You’ll also see political slogans on the water tower, and there is another slogan on the water-facing side of the storehouse. The Occupation was a turning point for Native American rights that has many echoes to present-day social justice movements. Now open, check out the exhibit Red Power on Alcatraz: Perspectives 50 Years Later in the New Industries Building.

Tip 4: Bask in the gardens

Another piece of history is all around you as you walk up to the Cellhouse: The Alcatraz Historic Gardens. These gardens were first planted around the turn of the 20th century when the island was a military fort, and have gone through various ups and downs since. Right now they’re colorful and thriving, thanks to 17 years of dedicated work by volunteers with the NPS and Parks Conservancy. 

Marvel at the dichotomy of bursting plant life amid the historic buildings all around. Even the award winning Alcatraz compost  has its own special story to tell .

Tip 5: Prepare yourself for a great trip!

There are several ways you can prepare for your visit to make sure you have an enjoyable and memorable daytrip.

Bring your camera, bring layers for the wind, and bring comfortable shoes as the walk up to the Cellhouse is steep. There is a tram on the island for those with mobility impairments. That’s one of many accessible features, find out more on the NPS Alcatraz accessibility page .

Make sure not to bring food, as there’s currently no food allowed on the island. You should plan on about 2-3 hours total for your trip, at least, to enjoy everything the island has to offer.

If you do get some great photos on the island, tag us on Instagram with #EscapeToAlcatraz and #ParksConservancy. You can find us on Instagram @ParksConservancy , @GoldenGateNPS , and @AlcatrazCruises !

And remember, the only place to get tickets to Alcatraz is via Alcatraz Cruises. Get your tickets from Alcatraz Cruises  and enjoy a wonderful day out on the island!

Peter Hockaday

Peter Hockaday joined the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy in summer 2018 as Director of Editorial Content & Strategy.

Related Content

Escape to Alcatraz

Just the essentials: How the Alcatraz gardens grow

Fledge spotting: Peregrine falcon pair nesting on Alcatraz island

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Tips for visiting alcatraz + the best alcatraz tours.

Few places in the world are as notorious as Alcatraz Island, most famously known for the prison of the same name that housed some of the United States’ most hardened criminals. Alcatraz is one of the most popular attractions in San Francisco thanks to its storied history, its infamous inhabitants, its unique location, and the role it plays in many Hollywood movies. In this post, I’ll share with you the best tips for visiting Alcatraz island.

This post contains affiliate links, which means that, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a tiny bit of income if you decide to make a purchase or booking. For more, check out my disclosure . 

Since I grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area, Alcatraz has always been one of those locations I was aware of, but wouldn’t put in the effort to visit. I’d gone on a field trip to Alcatraz Island in middle school (almost 20 years ago), but hadn’t been back until this year! A friend of mine was visiting from out of town and had Alcatraz on his San Francisco itinerary. So I obliged and went along for the ride.

I’m really glad I did! The cell block tour is incredibly well done, there is a history with Native Americans I was unaware of, the views are incredible, and there is a new exhibit at the end about the prison system in the United States. Plus, it doesn’t take all day and can easily fit into a greater San Francisco itinerary . 

If you’re wondering, is Alcatraz worth visiting? Hopefully, this post will convince you that yes, it deserves a spot on your San Francisco bucket list !

Alcatraz History

Most well known for the prison, Alcatraz, also known as “The Rock”, has played other important roles in US history as well.

The islands inception was that of a military base that turned into a military prison during Civil War years.

1934-1963: Alcatraz Prison

Alcatraz became home to a federal prison due to its history of a highly secure military prison. For almost 30 years he most notorious criminals called Alcatraz home. People like Al Capone, The Birdman of Alcatraz, and Machine Gun Kelly once slept in the cells you’ll see. During this time, not only prisoners lived on the island, but so did guards and their families. 

1969-1971: Occupation of Alcatraz

During this time a group of about 80 Native Americans occupied Alcatraz island in protest of the government’s termination act. This occupation shed light on the treatment of Native Americans and prompted Native American activism.

Alcatraz Tour

Alcatraz Tour Options

There are two Alcatraz tour options, the Alcatraz Day Tour and the Alcatraz Night Tour. Each tour provides a close up look at life on Alcatraz throughout the years.The tours are partially guided with a welcome talk upon arrival and via an audio tour of the cell block. 

The Alcatraz night tour includes the above in addition to a narrated ferry ride to the island and unique night exhibits. Plus, you could have the opportunity to watch the sunset over San Francisco from Alcatraz which would be a very unique experience.

Please be advised that walking around Alcatraz Island includes a few very steep climbs. However, there is a tram that offers transportation around the island if needed.

Cell House Audio Tour

The first place you’ll want to visit on Alcatraz Island is the main prison building. Climb up the hill, or ride the tram to the cell block entrance.

You’ll first enter the shower room where you’ll see shelves for the inmates clothing and an open area shower with shower heads coming down from the ceiling. 

At the end of this room is where you’ll pick up your audio. You can also listen to the audio via an app on your phone if you prefer.

From here you’ll visit various aspects of the prison

• Cell block: you’ll see what the cells looked like and also see where escape attempts were made
• Recreation yard: a small yard with steps that provide a view of the city and Golden Gate Bridge.
• Library : where inmates could check out books or hold a job
• Solitary confinement : you’ll see where prisoners ended up for days or even years at a time and learn how they kept themselves sane.
• Kitchen : you’ll be able to see the large kitchen where meals were made. This is where you’ll return your audio guide.

While you’ll get to see all of these locations in the prison, the best part of the audio tour is that in addition to interesting facts about the famous prison, it also provides the sounds of the prison when it was full. You’ll hear from inmates and guards. You’ll hear the clanking of cell doors and the wind howling on cold nights. 

It’s honestly one of the best audio tours I’ve done as it provides an almost immersive experience into what life was like for prisoners of Alcatraz.

The Big Lockup: Mass Incarceration in the US

The Big Lockup is a new exhibit at the end of the cellhouse audio tour. This exhibit shows the role that Alcatraz played in the larger context of the US prison system. It provides a look at how the US has over 2.3 million incarcerated individuals, more than any other country in the world.

It makes you question why there are a disproportionate number of people of color, those born into poverty, and those with low literacy behind bars. Plus, it shows the ripple effect that this has on communities.

But it also asks the question of is there a better way to move forward from the prison system the US has built.

It’s a sobering exhibit to be sure.

Red Power of Alcatraz: American Indian Occupation

Besides the infamous inmates, you’ll also see evidence of the American Indian population that occupied Alcatraz island from 1969-1971.

As soon as you step off of the ferry, you’ll see in red spray paint the words “Indians Welcome” and Indian Land.

A group of Native American activists lived on Alcatraz in protest to the United States’ termination act which called to disband tribes and sell their land.

For 19 months the Indians of All Tribes, which they called themselves, held the rock. During which time they set up schools to educate their children, elected a council, and ensured everyone voted on all decisions.

Eventually, the federal government removed them, however, that did not change the fact that this occupation incited a new level of activism among the community.

Gardens of Alcatraz

After visiting the cell house and the exhibits, take some time to walk through the grounds of Alcatraz. 

These gardens, including the rose garden, were planted by some of the Alcatraz prisoners and have been flourishing as the buildings around them crumbled.

Now, I’m not a plant expert, but I have to say that the vibrant and lively color of the plants set next to the imposing yet decaying buildings is quite beautiful.

Alcatraz Combo Tour

You’ll see many tour packages offering combo Alcatraz tours. Many tour companies combine an Alcatraz tour with a San Francisco city tour or a guided bike tour. In complete transparency, Alcatraz is incredibly easy to visit yourself.

The only Alcatraz combo tour I’ve seen that looks worth the money is combined with Muir Woods and Sausalito. If you don’t have a car, it can be difficult to get to Muir Woods, but it’s one of the best places to see Redwoods near San Francisco. And Sausalito is a charming town with great food and views of the city skyline.

You can book the Alcatraz and Muir Woods combo tour here .

How to Get to Alcatraz Island ?

Alcatraz is located on an island in the middle of the San Francisco Bay, about 1.5 miles off the coast of Fisherman’s Wharf. The only way to get to Alcatraz Island is via ferry.

Alcatraz City Cruises is the official ferry to Alcatraz. The ferry departs from Pier 33 Alcatraz Landing every 30 minutes starting at 9:30 am.

Pier 33 is very well located on the Embarcadero near other famous landmarks like the Ferry Building and Pier 39. It is an easy walking distance from many downtown and North Beach hotels.

Once on board the ferry it’s a short 15 minute boat ride across to Alcatraz.

Public Transportation to Pier 33

However, if you need transportation to Pier 33, MUNI has three stops within a few blocks of the Pier.

• F Line Historic Streetcar – use the Bay Street stop
• #8 Bayshore – use Kearny Street & North Point stop
• #82X Levi Plaza Express – use Levi Plaza, Sansome & Filbert Street stop 

Parking at Pier 33

If you choose to drive to Pier 33 know that street parking in this area is hard to come by. If you do happen to find a spot on the street, it is likely metered parking for a maximum of two hours and you’ve got a good chance of getting a parking ticket if you overstay.

Instead, pay to park in a lot. There are parking lots at Pier 39, 27, and 29.5. I also use the app SpotHero to find parking lots and pay in advance.

Cable Cars to Pier 33

If you’re staying in Union Square, you could ride cable cars to Pier 33! Hop on the Powell-Mason cable car line to the end at Bay & Taylor in North Beach . It’s a 6 block walk to Pier 33 from there and you’d be checking off quite a few fun things to do in San Francisco.

How Much Does it Cost to Visit Alcatraz?

Alcatraz ticket prices depend on the type of tour you’re planning to do.

An Alcatraz day tour costs:

• $46.65/senior

An Alcatraz night tour costs:

• $56.50/adult
• $53.00/senior
• $36.60/child

Included in the price of the ticket is the round trip ferry ride, the cell block audio tour, docent talks, and two additional exhibits. 

While Alcatraz is run by the National Park Service, the America the Beautiful National Park pass does not work here.

Be advised during the summer months Alcatraz tour tickets sell out well in advance. If visiting this top San Francisco tourist attraction is a must do for your visit to San Francisco, book in advance from the official website of Alcatraz City Cruises.

How Long is the Alcatraz Tour?

On my recent visit to Alcatraz it took us 2.5 hours from boarding the ferry at Pier 33 to boarding the ferry from Alcatraz island. During this time we did the cell block audio tour, walked through the gardens, and saw the two exhibits. The best part about your Alcatraz visit is that you can take it at your own pace.

As you’re not following a tour guide around, you can linger over areas of interest or enjoy the views of San Francisco from one of the walking paths. Once you’re done, visit the gift shop before you go if you’re so inclined then enjoy the short ferry ride back to Pier 33 and the rest of your San Francisco adventure!

Are you planning to visit Alcatraz Island during your trip to San Francisco? I hope you found the information in this post helpful in planning your very own Alcatraz tour. If you have any questions, leave a comment below and I’ll be sure to answer them!

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Tips for Visiting Alcatraz Island, Tickets + The Great Alcatraz Escape

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Share the post "Tips for Visiting Alcatraz Island, Tickets + The Great Alcatraz Escape"

Visiting Alcatraz Island is a popular historical attraction that is at the top of many people’s bucketlist. Should you take your kids to Alcatraz? Is it worth the price to get to Alcatraz? How DO you get to Alcatraz? Did anyone really escape from Alcatraz?

What famous criminals lived on Alcatraz Island? This and SO MUCH MORE below! PSSST – We actually MET one of the former Alcatraz INMATES!

First, getting to Alcatraz sounded a little more confusing online when I was researching it than it really was! We decided to just show up the day of (with plenty of time of course!) to search for somewhere to park. Just scroll through below for tips on the logistics of how to get to Alcatraz, buying tickets, and where to park.

Then keep scrolling past that for our experience on Alcatraz Island and things you should know before you go!  A special thanks to Alcatraz Cruises for providing me a media ticket to visit the island.

How do I buy tickets for Alcatraz?

There are 3 ways to purchase tickets for Alcatraz:

• Buy Tickets Online here !
• Over the phone: 1-415-981-ROCK
• At the Pier 33 Alcatraz Landing Ticketbooth.

Note – Although National Park Passes are not accepted, they do offer family ticket discounts!

Alcatraz Cruises is the official concessioner to the National Park Service so I highly recommend using Alcatraz Cruises for your tickets so that they are guaranteed and the lowest price! PLUS don’t forget to look up at the top of the ferry boat! They have solar panels and special wind turbines that help to propel the boat, powers lights, light up displays, work the audio system and more!

How Far in Advance Should I Buy my Tickets?

I recommend buying them as soon as you know you want to visit – at least a week or more in advance if you can! As you can imagine with over a million visitors a year, Alcatraz is a popular destination! You CAN walk up and try to get a ticket but they are extremely popular and seem to be always sold out so I definitely wouldn’t go this route if you have another option to pre-plan.

Where can I park to go to take the ferry?

This was the most confusing part of my research, especially not being familiar with the San Francisco area! If you’re not familiar with the area there are several Piers off of the Bay that you will come across as you drive down The Embarcadero. You’ll see Pier 3, 7, 9, 15, 27, 29, 31, 33, 39….you get the idea. Alcatraz Landing, where you will meet to buy/pick up tickets and get on the ferry boat, is at Pier 33.

Just before you get to Pier 33 on the right hand side (the bay) there are several parking lots easily visible and accessible from the street! Parking costs varied but ran from $20-$35ish depending on how far you wanted to walk. We got cheaper parking about a block from the pier (approximately 5 minutes walk).

Since we were a little early for our tour we decided to continue walking down to Pier 39 which has plenty of sea lions to enjoy in the bay!

Take a 90 Second Tour of Alcatraz Island:

What famous criminals were in Alcatraz?

Although there were over 1500 inmates housed at Alcatraz in it’s years of operation, here are a few names you might recognize: Clarence Anglin, John Anglin, Frank Morris, Joseph Bowers, Al Capone, Meyer Cohen, Theodore Cole, Volney Davis, Herbert Allen Farmer, Ellsworth Raymond Johnson, Alvin Francis Kapavicz, George Celino Barnes, James C. Lucas, Robert Stroud, and Irving Wexler…..to name a few.

How many people escaped Alcatraz?

Over the 29 years that Alcatraz operated as a Federal prison, 36 men (including two who tried to escape twice) were involved in 14 separate escape attempts. Of these, 23 were caught, 6 were shot and killed during their escape, and 2 drowned.

Clarence Anglin, John Anglin, and Frank Morris made the great escape from Alcatraz in 1962, although to this day there is no public knowledge of what actually happened to these men. You can imagine the conspiracy theories swirling around this mystery! For many years it was assumed they didn’t make it past the San Francisco Bay, but fairly recently that idea has been challenged with multiple other theories.

There has been no final conclusion and these men remain on the “wanted” FBI list to this day. Allen West was supposed to have escaped with the 3 in 1962 but a series of unfortunate events made his escape impossible.

Also in 1962, inmate John Paul Scott successfully swam from Alcatraz to Fort Point (the southern end of the Golden Gate Bridge) where he was found be teenagers and suffering from hypothermia. After recovering in a local hospital he was sent back to Alcatraz.

Why did they close Alcatraz?

March 21, 1963 Alcatraz Prison closed it’s doors and transferred its last prisoners. Famously known as “The Rock”, this 12 acre island has been known in history as one of the most inescapable prisons.

Although many people believe that Alcatraz was closed down due to the 1962 prison escapes, the real reason is much simpler. It simply was too expensive to continue in operation.

You can read more about the history and specific details about the cost of operations here .

Inside Alcatraz:

When we first got off of the ferry we had absolutely no idea where to go. There were no signs or directions from rangers. We literally just started walking until we could figure out where we were.

We discovered an open room not far from port that had an interesting video about the history of Alcatraz Island – not just about the popular known jail itself. It was home to far more than simply a prison. In fact many kids lived on the island as well!

The Audio Tour:

For the actual “prison” side of Alcatraz I wish we had known to start at the very top of the hill, up where the cell block was. There we had access to free audio tours which gave us far more history and background to the island than we arrived knowing. You begin by walking through the shower room, laundry room, and then you will wind around through the cell blocks.

The audio tour will tell you exactly where to go and turn if you are interested in following along with that. Signs for the cellblock row “names” are hanging just above your head on each row of the prison. The displays are great although more than likely will be very busy!

The headsets were very easy to use and you could pause them at any time you felt you needed more time to look around.

Can you go INSIDE the prison cells at Alcatraz?

YES! Well, you can go inside SOME of the prison cells including several solitary confinement cells! Some are closed of course due to deterioration and for safety reasons (many toilets are broken with jagged pieces of ceramic sticking out) but there are enough cell blocks for photos and to get the feel of being inside one. You can see the audio tour headphones around our neck above.

Alcatraz Facts:

• Did you know that some of the first metal detectors EVER were used at Alcatraz?
• The first lighthouse in California was on Alcatraz!
• Alcatraz Island actually had a Civil War fort and military prison in 1907.
• The average cell block size in the prison was 5 feet by 9 feet.
• There is an extensive garden on Alcatraz Island ! Originally a volunteer garden from the 1860’s-1963 it is now flourishing again.
• In 1969, a group of Native American Indians claimed Alcatraz as Indian land with the hope of creating a Native American cultural center and education complex on the island.
• Alcatraz became part of the National Park Service in 1972 and opened to the public in 1973.

Morgue on Alcatraz Island:

For those interested in the darker side of life like I am, you will find this makeshift morgue on Alcatraz Island interesting. It has a rather lackluster history as it was never actually used for an autopsy and only saw one body for an overnight stay. There were actually not many deaths at the prison itself that required use of a morgue but above you can still see the interior.

Birds of Alcatraz:

There are 5 main bird species found nesting on Alcatraz Island:

• Western Gull (babies seen in the photo above)
• Pigeon Guillemot
• Snowy Egret
• Black-crowned Night-Heron

What I wished I knew before visiting Alcatraz:

• Bring water and snacks! I wish I had thought of bringing lunch with us because we were SO hungry! Thankfully Alcatraz Cruises has fabulous tables and chairs and a snack bar on the ferry which we took full advantage of after our tour!
• You can bring strollers! We took our umbrella stroller and it was easy peasy! A few things to note, however. Strollers cannot go everywhere but if you’ve got a munchkin who needs a stroller I’d rather have one than not have one! We just left it outside when we went inside any of the buildings. I will say though, that pushing a stroller up those steep hills is no easy feat!
• You CAN wear flip flops! So this tip is for those of you who are DIE HARD flip flop wearers like me. I was deterred from wearing flip flops due to the strong cautions against it but I regretted wearing sneakers and got plenty of blisters from my visit. If you hike, sleep, and breathe in flip flops – don’t worry, I would wear them if they are more comfortable for you! You will be doing a lot of walking, and more importantly – STEEP walking. Wear what you would normally wear for such an occasion.
• Bring a jacket or sweatshirt!   We visited in the end of June and it was FREEZING out on the bay. Don’t be fooled by the beautiful sunshine! There are places you can sit indoors on the Alcatraz Cruises ferry boat but I wanted my first visit to Alcatraz Island to be up front and center. I asked the captain where the best view would be and staked my claim there – for better or for worse. It was frigid! Painfully frigid. You’ll probably warm up though hiking around the island so be warned you might need to carry your jacket eventually.
• There are multiple gift shops on the island! I was surprised that there are multiple gift shops on the island – and they are all different. So if you’re looking for a souvenir I definitely recommend checking out each of the gift shops – they really had some fantastic stuff!
• Alcatraz maps are for donation so bring a dollar!  The map layout is simple but really great and we found it beneficial to have one.

Meeting a former inmate of Alcatraz:

One thing that I didn’t know before I visited the island was that we would have the absolutely incredible opportunity to meet a former inmate of Alcatraz! YES – an INMATE! We met Bill “William” Baker, former inmate #1259 who was  an inmate in Alcatraz prison from 1957-1960.

He originally landed in the prison due to 3 escape attempts and 3 previous prisons and made use of his time in the “Rock” by learning how to make counterfeit checks which landed him in and out of prison for the following 50 years.

Since then he has written a book and can often be found in the gift shop on the island signing his books and talking with visitors. In fact my son had the chance to talk to him and Bill signed his postcard! I really wish I’d gotten a better photo but I LOVE the fact that my son now has a small connection to the history of this iconic prison in history.

A few more photos around the island:

About Crystal

I'm the product of a family who never travelled and now I can't get enough! Please leave a comment or send me a message with some of your favorite lesser known places to visit - my bucket list in the USA is always expanding! My passion for travel motivated me to drag along my husband and 3 kids until now they are as eager as I am to hit the road! What should we visit near you?

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13 Tips for Visiting Alcatraz To Make Your Visit Amazing

Alcatraz may be one of the most well known prisons around the world and luckily enough it’s one you can actually visit! The highly secured prison is located on its own island right off of San Francisco’s coast. It’s arguably THE attraction that you have to do while visiting San Francisco and the area in general. Given how popular the prison is there are plenty of tips for visiting Alcatraz that would make your visit so much more enjoyable and I have of course put a bunch of them together for you below! So read on for everything could you possibly need to know before visiting Alcatraz.

Buy your tickets ahead of time

I can’t stress this one enough. If you listen to nothing else on this list, do make sure to buy your ticket in advance. The tickets can sell out weeks in advance and if you’re looking at special tours like Alcatraz at Night or the Behind the Scenes tour, it’s even more likely to sell out. If you only have a couple of days in San Francisco then it’s even more important to buy your tickets in advance. It’s also a great thing to plan the rest of your itinerary around so it can kick start your planning. Tickets are available 90 days in advance and I would highly recommend buying your Alcatraz tickets as soon as you know the actual dates that you will be in the San Francisco area for.

Standby tickets are occasionally sold on the same morning but they sell out very quickly and it would be quite a risk to leave seeing Alcatraz to whether you can get standby tickets or not.

Make sure to buy the right ticket

If you google Alcatraz tickets you’ll actually get a number of hits on different companies that offer Alcatraz tours. Majority of these companies are actually offering a boat tour around the island of Alcatraz and while those tours may be great, they’re most likely not the ones you’re going for. The only tour that will actually allow you to get off at Alcatraz and walk around the prison is the Alcatraz Cruises company. Beware of resale companies that will mark up tickets with their own fees as well!

Of note here, depending on the type of ticket you buy you may get to see some extra things like the hospital and additional floors so be sure to check out all the tickets to make sure you’re getting the one you wanted! We did the early bird general one and were quite happy with it.

Take transit or Uber to the pier

Parking around the pier can be quite difficult, time consuming and expensive. I highly recommend taking transit towards Pier 33 where the cruises depart from or parking closeby-ish and then taking an Uber the rest of the way. This is a tip I give from the hard experience of not having followed it myself. We got tickets for the early bird tour (8:45 am departure) so I really thought we’d have zero issues with parking. But nope, that was not the case. I think we ended up forking over like 15 USD for a few hours and having to sprint to catch our boat. Definitely not something I recommend!

Bring a valid piece of ID with you

You’ll be asked to show a valid ID when you board the cruise and/or pick up your tickets (if you don’t print yours). If one person bought the tickets for everyone in your party that person will for sure have to have their ID with them. They do accept copies of passports so you don’t need to bring the original passport with you!

Give yourself enough time

I recommend booking an early morning tour to avoid feeling rushed towards the end of the day. You should give yourself about 2.5-3 hours to enjoy the tour and the surrounding buildings but you are allowed to stay on the island all day if you choose to so keep that in mind when planning your itinerary.

I’d also advise to be 20-25 minutes early for the cruise departure since you have to go through security before boarding on the way to the island and since the line up for the boat ride back usually gets quite busy. If you’re at the top of the prison it’ll take you about 10 minutes to come back down to the docks. You can see the departure times on the official website here .

Don’t skip the audio tour

I’m sure we’ve all visited some places where the audio tours have just been absolutely dragging but in Alcatraz this is not the case! The audio tour is already included in your ticket so you are able to turn it down and ask for a partial refund but in my opinion it would be such a waste. The audio tour is great for pointing out details around the prison that I can almost guarantee you wouldn’t be able to find on your own. The sound effects brings the prison to life during your tour and while I could go on and on about it, suffice it to say I highly recommend utilizing the audio tour during your visit!

The audio tour is available in 11 languages including Dutch, English, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Mandarin, Portuguese, Russian and Spanish.

Make sure to read the signs

There are a number of exhibitions all around the cell block that are worth looking at. There’s also lots of signs around the path you take during the audio tour that has a ton of additional information on them and it’s totally worth taking the time to read them. In particular the ones in the dining area!

Plan your visit

It’s tempting to get off the boat ride and head straight up towards the main building with the big crowd but I’d recommend walking around the other buildings on the outskirts including the Barracks building where you can watch a Discovery Channel documentary on the prison itself. Once you’ve done this the crowds will thin a bit and you can enjoy your walk up (and your pictures!) while a bit less crowded!

Take advantage of the cruise to and from Alcatraz

You’re blessed with two great views while coming to and from Alcatraz. One is of the island itself and another is of the skyline of a part of San Francisco. I would recommend focusing on one for each direction of your boat ride. There’s something super cool about watching the Alcatraz side while approaching the prison and imagining how prisoners must have felt knowing they wouldn’t be leaving the island for many, many years to come.

Dress for any kind of weather

While typically nicer than Toronto where we’re from, San Francisco does have some unpredictable weather sometimes and the combination of that with the fact that you’re on an island and outdoors for portions of it, means that it can get a bit chillier and windier! I’d recommend bringing some kind of wind/rain jacket so you can enjoy walking around without being cold!

Eat a meal before you go

Because you’re planning to spend a few hours there and majority of it is walking around, I would recommend making sure to have eaten something before you go. We were asked to throw out our drinks etc. in the security line and while they do sell some snacks on the cruise it’s discouraged to eat/drink on Alcatraz itself. You will be allowed to eat at the dock/picnic area and you can carry a water bottle around with you but you may end up finding yourself hungry if you don’t make sure to eat before hand!

Bring your camera

This one goes without saying. Alcatraz has a number of fantastic elements to shoot and the buildings are super photogenic. Make sure to bring your camera or you’ll regret it!

Don’t miss taking a picture inside the cells

There a few cells that you can step inside of and take a picture in and it’s an absolute can’t miss! I found them slightly creepy though so keep that in mind!

There you have it, my tips to get the most out of your visit to Alcatraz! Have you been? Did you enjoy it? And as always, pin this post for your own upcoming visit!

My family has been thinking about visiting Alcatraz this July while we are in California for the summer holiday. Thanks for that it might be best for us to get some food beforehand because the tour can be a little long. That is good for us to be aware of because my little brother wouldn’t have fun if he was hungry.

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Alcatraz tours and guided experiences

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Is The Alcatraz Tour Worth It: Review & Tips to Visiting the Prison

I have lived in the Bay Area since 2017 and have done the Alcatraz tour three times, and I can confirm that it is totally worth it!

However, when visiting a city like San Francisco, which is bursting at the seams with iconic sights and an endless array of activities, I understand why you may be wondering if the Alcatraz tour is worth it.

You only have time for so many things, should Alcatraz stay on that list?

After visiting Alcatraz Island as many times as I have, I can personally share with you what you can expect on the tour, tips for visiting, reasons you may not want to visit, and how to combine Alcatraz with other top attractions.

Ultimately by the end of this post, you can decide if Alcatraz is worth visiting for you. Let’s dive in!

Best Tour Of Alcatraz For the ultimate tour of the main sites in the city book the One Day in San Francisco Tour with Alcatraz Also, it boasts many 5-star ⭐ reviews, so you can’t go wrong!

Is the Alcatraz Tour Worth It

While you are visiting San Francisco, Alcatraz is a must-add attraction to your itinerary. The reason why I feel this way is because Alcatraz offers a unique and one-of-a-kind experience that you cannot get anywhere else.

For one, to just reach Alcatraz you have to get on a ferry boat across the Bay to the island. Gliding across the San Francisco Bay with panoramic views of the city skyline is an experience in itself.

Then once you arrive, you get to learn about the fascinating history of the infamous prison. The audio guide does a really incredible job teleporting you back in time and unfolding the layers of Alcatraz’s past. You also get to tour the prison at your own pace, which is nice that you can take as much or as little time as you need.

I too had my hesitations about Alcatraz and thought it could be a tourist trap or an overhyped attraction. However, my in laws who were visiting from Seattle wanted to go so we tried it out and really enjoyed it. After that, I took two groups of friends there, and they also loved it.

And if you still don’t believe me, Alcatraz is hands down one of the most popular attractions in the city.

What to Expect on the Tour

Your Alcatraz adventure starts at Alcatraz Landing, where you’ll board the ferry which is the only way to reach the island. While the necessity of a boat ride may seem inconvenient at first, rest assured it’s a swift and scenic journey that adds to the anticipation of exploring the storied prison.

Once you arrive on the island, you will get a quick introduction to Alcatraz and then you will be free to explore the infamous federal prison at your own pace. You will wander through the cellblocks and facilities while listening to a fascinating audio tour that recounts tales of notorious inmates and daring escape attempts.

Including the infamous Alcatraz escape of 1962 of three prisoners that remains one of the most daring prison breaks in history. Despite intensive searches, their fate remains a captivating mystery, as they were never found.

Lastly, one of the best parts about visiting the island is witnessing the island’s surprising natural beauty, all against the backdrop of sweeping bay views. If you go at sunset it is especially beautiful.

The stunning upfront view of the sunset over the Golden Gate Bridge and San Francisco is breathtaking, with the sky transforming into a vivid canvas of oranges, pinks, and purples, casting a magical glow over the cityscape and the iconic bridge.

Review of the Alcatraz Tour

The entire island exudes a very eerie and mysterious ambiance that is incredibly intriguing. As you walk the historic halls, you want to uncover more and more about the day-to-day lives of the infamous prisoners. It’s an experience unlike any other.

In my opinion, I think that the Alcatraz Tour is absolutely a tourist attraction. However, I would not consider it to be a tourist trap.

In fact, if you are interested in history, ferry rides, a gorgeous view of the city, and are looking for a unique thing to do in San Francisco, you will be disappointed with booking an Alcatraz Tour.

Booking Your Alcatraz Tour

There are a ton of options for tours to Alcatraz and honestly, it can be a little overwhelming to decide which one you should book. So I am going to share some essential tips to help guide you in selecting the ideal Alcatraz tour for your experience.

You can only visit Alcatraz Island by tour, so it is essential to secure your tickets well in advance! Especially during high tourism season in San Francisco, Alcatraz tickets sell out fast. Tip, on the official website, tickets are released 90 days in advance.

If tickets happen to be sold out, follow these three tips:

• Check for canceled tickets on the official website
• Book a combo ticket from a participating partner
• Purchase a standby ticket at the box office during the day for a night tour.

Which Tour Should You Pick?

If you want a tour that only includes Alcatraz Island without additional Bay Area attractions, then book your tickets with Alcatraz City Cruises . They are the official website and will offer the cheapest price. Their tours include a Day Tour, Night Tour, and Behind the Scenes Tour.

If you do a Day Tour, the first tour of the day is the best time to go because you will experience fewer crowds. The Night Tour typically sells out quicker than the day tours because they are limited to only a number of people per night and offer many perks that the day tour does not.

Lastly, if you are interested in learning and seeing even more about Alcatraz, the Behind the Scenes Tour allows you to discover areas not available to the public. However, it involves a lot of walking up steep hills, climbing stairs, and standing for long periods of time.

If tickets are sold out or if you want to see more sites in the city like Sausalito or Muir Woods on your tour, then I suggest One Day in San Francisco Tour with Alcatraz .

🏆 Overall Best Tour: One Day in San Francisco Tour With Alcatraz

⭐ RATING : 5 out of 5 Stars | ⏳ TOUR LENGTH: 9 hours | ✅ BOOK NOW

As someone who has visited Alcatraz numerous times and lives in the Bay Area, I highly recommend the One Day in San Francisco Tour with Alcatraz . I think this tour has great value and you will experience all of the city’s highlights in a single day’s adventure.

With your expert guide, you’ll explore San Francisco’s most iconic landmarks, including Fisherman’s Wharf, Chinatown, and the majestic Golden Gate Bridge. Enjoy a scenic lunch in Sausalito, my favorite spot is Scoma’s , followed by a visit to the serene Muir Woods, renowned for its soaring redwood trees. The tour concludes with a ferry ride and a captivating visit to Alcatraz Island.

It is a packed day and one con I would say about this tour is that you do not get a lot of time at each location since you are squeezing in so much in one day.

✅ Check rates and availability for One Day in San Francisco Tour with Alcatraz here

How to Get to Alcatraz Island

First things first you will need to get to Pier 33 Alcatraz Landing, which is where you ferry boat will depart from. If you are staying in San Francisco, then I highly suggest you arrive by public transportation or by Uber/Lyft. There is no parking at Alcatraz Landing and parking in San Francisco can be very expensive!

However, if you are driving from outside of the city, you will need to park at one of the nearby commercial parking lots. I do not recommend on-street parking, a lot of the meters only allow a 2-hour time limit, and car break-ins are rampant in San Francisco.

Your ticket to Alcatraz Island will already include ferry transport to and from the island. It is about a 15 minute ferry ride there and back.

Top Tips For Visiting Alcatraz

• Dress Appropriately : The weather on Alcatraz can be unpredictable, often cooler and windier than in San Francisco even in the summer. Dress in layers and wear comfortable shoes, as there’s a fair amount of walking.
• Arrive Early at the Pier : Alcatraz cruises depart from Pier 33. Arrive at least 15 to 30 minutes before your departure time to ensure a smooth boarding process.
• The Return Ferry Schedule: You will want to make sure to take a look at the Ferry schedule so you have an idea in advance of how much time you will have on the island
• Pack a Lunch or Eat Before Your Tour: There are no food services on the island, but you can bring snacks and water. Eating is only allowed at the dock area.
• Allow for 2.5 to 3 hours to tour Alcatraz Island : This includes the cruise to and back Alcatraz and exploring the island.
• Prepare for a Little Physical Activity : The walk from the dock to the main prison building is uphill and can be strenuous. There is a tram for those who need assistance, but it’s good to be prepared by wearing comfortable shoes.
• There is Limited Parking Near Alcatraz Landing: If you are staying in San Francisco, I suggest public transportation.

The Cons of Visiting Alcatraz

As with anything, there are some cons to visiting Alcatraz that you may want to consider before you book your tickets.

It is Expensive

Visiting Alcatraz can be relatively expensive, especially for families or groups. One ticket for a Day Tour is $45.25, and ticket prices just go up from there.

Ticket Availability

Due to its popularity, tickets to Alcatraz can be difficult to obtain, especially if not booked well in advance.

Alcatraz Can Be Crowded

Alcatraz is by far one of the top tourist attractions in San Francisco. This popularity leads to large crowds, especially during peak seasons, which might detract from the experience.

If crowds do bother you, then I suggest booking the first tour of the day or a night tour. The night tours allow a smaller number of people than the day tour.

Time Consumption

A trip to Alcatraz can take a significant portion of the day, which might be a consideration if you have limited time in San Francisco and want to see multiple attractions.

The Verdict: Is The Alcatraz Tour Worth It

Despite some of the cons like the expense of the ticket and crowds, overall, I think the Alcatraz tour is worth it! The tour offers a very unique experience that you can only find in San Francisco.

Where else should you go in the Bay Area? Check out all of my top posts below!

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• 10 Best Alcatraz Tours San Francisco: Tips & Ultimate Guide
• Sutro Baths Hike: Ultimate Guide & What To Do Nearby
• Sausalito Day Trip From San Francisco

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• Is Muir Woods Worth Visiting: Why You Should Or Should Not Visit
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Alisha Rose is the founder of TTWT and has lived in California since 2016. She is a Registered Nurse, but loves exploring her beautiful home of California every chance she gets with her family and two Golden Retrievers. Also a world traveler, she has traveled to over 21 countries, a total of 5 continents, and 27 states in the US.

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Alcatraz Tour Options

As the official concessioner to the National Park Service, Alcatraz City Cruises offers in-depth visits to Alcatraz. Your visit includes round-trip transportation to the Island and outdoor National Park access.

Alcatraz Tour Options Overview

Pertinent information.

At Alcatraz City Cruises, our guests’ well-being is our number one priority. We have proudly implemented new COVID-19 procedures to keep everyone safe & healthy.

Age Policy Adult- 18-61 / Junior- 12-17 / Senior- 62+ / Child- 5-11 / Toddler 4 and under are Free

Minors under the age of 18 are not allowed to tour Alcatraz Island without the accompaniment of an adult.

Group Tours If booking a group of 20 or more people, please contact the Alcatraz City Cruises Group Services Department at 415.438.8361; or e-mail  [email protected]

Ticket Price

Please refer to our  Fee Breakout FAQ  for complete overview of Alcatraz Island ticket prices.

Alcatraz Island Named #1 Landmark in the U.S.

Alcatraz City Cruises is a Proud Partner and Authorized Concessioner of the National Park Service

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The 7 Best Alcatraz Tours [2024 Reviews]

Alcatraz, the notorious prison situated on an island in San Francisco Bay , is a must-see for Bay Area visitors. Tour operators offer visitors unique experiences by combining a visit to Alcatraz with additional outings.

Each of these tours includes the self-guided audio tour offered by the National Park Service, plus the addition of an exclusive adventure.

Adding extra excitement to your Alcatraz trip isn’t just fun. There’s another benefit – accessibility. Tickets to Alcatraz are in high demand, and waiting until the last minute to reserve may leave you in the lurch.

If you find yourself in this situation, booking a combo tour will ensure you get to see this legendary icon of American History and have some extra fun in the process.

Best Guided Tours of Alcatraz

Be sure to see our reviews of wine tours to Napa & Sonoma Valley . Yosemite Tours and Muir Woods tours .

Quick Answer: The 7 Best Rated Alcatraz Tours For 2024

• Best Budget Tour: Alcatraz Inside and Golden Gate Bridge Bay Boat Cruise
• Best Small Group Tour: San Francisco Small Group City Sightseeing and Alcatraz Tour
• Best Full Day Tour: Alcatraz Tour plus Muir Woods and Sausalito Day Trip
• Best Half-Day Tour: Alcatraz with San Francisco Bay Cruise
• Best Combination Tour: Big Bus San Francisco Hop-On-Hop-Off Open Top Tour and Alcatraz
• Best Alcatraz & Bridge Tour: Alcatraz Inside and Golden Gate Bridge Express Visit
• Best Bike & Alcatraz Tour: Alcatraz Island Tour Packages

We have reviewed the 7 top guided tours of Alcatraz, providing overviews and highlighting the details of each.

Alcatraz Tour Reviews

1. best budget tour: alcatraz inside and golden gate bridge bay boat cruise.

• Departure Point : Alcatraz Landing, Pier 33
• Departure Time : 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM
• Duration : 3 hours (approx.)
• Includes : Alcatraz Island Cellhouse Admission, Alcatraz Audio Tour, Golden Gate Bridge Bay Cruise

We recommend this tour for someone who is looking looking to take in two of San Francisco’s attractions: Alcatraz and a cruise of the bay.

The first part of the tour starts with the ferry ride to Alcatraz where departs from Pier 33. Enjoy the views and listen to the captain tell you about the history of the infamous Alcatraz island, or “The Rock” as it was called when it was a prison.

The intriguing audio tour of Alcatraz runs approximately 2.5 hours and goes into detail about some of its most notorious inmates and their crafty attempts to escape the well-guarded penitentiary.

Next up is the bay cruise where you will go under the Golden Gate Bridge, see the Transamerica Pyramid from the bay, Treasure Island, Coit Tower, Angel Island, and the Sausalito waterfront.

See the sea lions on sunning themselves on the rocks, pelicans flying overhead and if you are lucky you may even see whales in the bay! The onboard guide will give you the history of all the landmarks and of the city.

More Information & Tour Booking

100% refund for cancellations within 24 hours of tour experience, other experiences you may enjoy:, 2. best small group tour: san francisco small group city sightseeing and alcatraz tour.

• Departure Point : Hotel pickup offered / Alcatraz Landing, Pier 33
• Departure Time : 9:30 AM
• Duration : 7 hours
• Includes : Round-trip ferry from San Francisco to Alcatraz Island, audio walking tour of Alcatraz, Sightseeing tour of San Francisco in an open-air Jeep

We recommend this tour for those who want to make the most of their day. You won’t waste your time figuring out what’s worth visiting; and you won’t have to deal with public transport or fighting for a parking space because this tour offers hotel pick-up and drop-off.

This outing is limited to a maximum of 10 people, so if you enjoy individualized attention, this is definitely a tour to consider.

This tour is great for adults and kids alike. The guides are skilled at adapting their tour to captivate and inform everyone in the group.

If you’re the adventurous type who’s interested in getting the inside scoop on all things San Francisco, as well as touring Alcatraz, this tour will definitely exceed your expectations.

The initial leg of this tour begins with a 4-hour tour of San Francisco in an open air jeep- safari style. You’ll be sure to enjoy all the must-see areas like the Golden Gate Bridge and Twin Peaks.

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During the jeep portion of the tour you’ll have plenty of opportunity to ask your driver/guide about insider tips for restaurants and entertainment.

This safari-styled urban tour of will keep you entertained while your guide shares wacky facts about the area, driving you through quirky neighborhoods, and taking you off-the-beaten path into areas only the locals know about.

During your city tour, you’ll stop for lunch (not included in price of tour) at a locals-approved locale, such as Gus’ Market.

After finishing the city portion of your tour, you’ll be dropped off at Pier 33 where the 15-minute ferry ride will deliver you to Alcatraz Island. Before starting your 2.5 hour audio tour of Alcatraz, you’ll be given a brief history of the Island.

When you finish the Alcatraz tour, you’ll take the ferry back to Pier 33 where the jeep will pick you up for a convenient hotel-drop off.

3. Best Full Day Tour: Alcatraz Tour plus Muir Woods and Sausalito Day Trip

• Departure Point : 478 Post St or 2805 Leavenworth Ave.
• Departure Time : 8:00 AM
• Includes : Transport by luxury air-conditioned coach & Professional Tour Guide, admission to Muir Woods, round-trip ferry from San Francisco to Alcatraz Island, audio walking tour of Alcatraz

We recommend this tour for those who are short on time but want to see as much as possible during their stay in the Bay area. It’s also a good choice for those who don’t mind larger groups.

The Muir Woods/Sausalito leg of your tour will include transport by coach (free wifi and restroom on board).

Make the most of your day by consolidating three different experiences into one day. Tour Alcatraz, see the spectacular redwoods of Muir Woods, and make a stop to explore the picturesque town of Sausalito.

The three legs of this tour can make for a long day, so if time isn’t a consideration during your stay, consider breaking this into a 2 day venture.

Please note, this isn’t a tour in the tradition sense, as you won’t be picked up and dropped off at your hotel by a guide, or in between the ferry and bus. It involves more DIY action than most.

This excursion starts with your arrival at the ferry to Alcatraz. After enjoying the audio tour there, you will then make your way to Gray Line Buses at Union Square for departure to Muir Woods and Sausalito.

When you return to San Francisco you will arrange your own transport back to your lodging/hotel.

4. Best Half-Day Tour: Alcatraz with San Francisco Bay Cruise

• Departure Time : Variety available
• Duration : 2 to 4 hours (approx.)
• Includes : One Day Hop-on Hop-off Ticket, round-trip ferry to Alcatraz Island, audio tour on Alcatraz Island, 60-minute San Francisco Bay Cruise

This tour is geared more for families with younger children as if they are 4 and younger they go for free!.You need to check in 30 minutes before departure so use this time to wander the waterfront and explore the shops.

You have three start options available of 9am, 10am or 2pm offering you lots of flexibility. The ferry ride to Alcatraz gives you some good views of the bay and the captain will give you some background on the former prison.

Once on Alcatraz you’ll enjoy the self-guided audio tour that you can do at your own pace. The audio guide will give you all the background of the notorious prisoners and their escape attempts. You have seen it in the movies but there is nothing like being there and seeing it for yourself and standing in the prison cells!

Next up is the bay cruise. Once on the ship, you’ll cruise under the Golden Gate Bridge, which offers amazing angles for unique pictures. You will cruise past historic pier 39 and see the sea lions sunbathing. Take pictures of San Francisco’s iconic skyline from the bay.

The ship has a guide that will give you all the history and background the landmarks as you sail by them making this an informative as well as beautiful cruise of the bay .

5. Best Combination Tour: Big Bus San Francisco Hop-On-Hop-Off Open Top Tour and Alcatraz

• Departure Point : Start anywhere on bus route
• Departure Time : Anytime
• Duration : All day
• Includes : Hop on – hop off bus, ferry from San Francisco to Alcatraz Island, audio walking tour of Alcatraz

We recommend this tour for adults and families alike, and for those who feel comfortable touring with a larger group of fellow visitors.

Participants explore the city in an open-air bus, allowing for better views of the sites. Enjoy being a very important person during this full-day tour. Beat the crowds with an early entry to Alcatraz and enjoy the prison and its surroundings, minus the commotion that can come with hordes of tourists

During your early-entry tour of Alcatraz you will wander around the legendary prison and its grounds with an audio tour that gives great detail about his history and some of its most infamous inmates.

After you wrap up the Alcatraz portion of this tour, you’ll head back on the big bus and sit comfortably while you make your way through the windy streets of the city.

The animated tour guides are well-versed in the offbeat details and history of the area, and they really seem to enjoy sharing this knowledge with visitors. They make sure to tailor your experience to the group, including kids, if you’ve got your little ones along for the ride.

There is an array of options for touring Alcatraz, lots of them offering combinations with other fun activities. These combinations offer the opportunity to spend time with a local tour guide who can give insider tips and share interesting information about the area.

6. Alcatraz Inside and Golden Gate Bridge Express Visit

• Duration : 3 hours
• Departure Time : Varies
• Departure : 250 Beach St., San Francisco, CA 94133
• Includes : Alcatraz ticket, ferry ride to island, roundtrip Fisherman’s Wharf mini bus seat, Golden Gate Bridge stop for photos (SF side only)

San Francisco is one of the most beautiful cities on the planet, and to fully take advantage of its splendor, I highly recommend this next tour. Alcatraz may not be all glitz and glamor, but it plays a significant role in the history of the city.

The Alcatraz Inside and Golden Gate Bridge Express Visit Tour is a great way to get acquainted with the city and see two of the most important landmarks in a way most don’t get to experience.

Clocking in at 3 hours and with various start times, it’s easy to fit into even the busiest of schedule. It departs right from Fisherman’s Wharf which is already a big tourist spot, so it’s easy to access as well.

Set off on the included ferry ride as you make your way to Alcatraz Island, surrounded by both manmade and natural beauty.

Upon arrival, you’ll be instantly transported back in time and get a glimpse into how prisoners were treated. Some very notorious people were locked up here, including famous mafioso, Al Capone, and you’ll learn all about him and more during the 45-minute audio presentation of the cellhouse tour.

After that, you’ll head back to Fisherman’s Wharf and board a mini bus as you make your way to the impressive Golden Gate Bridge. I was actually shocked at how big it was, and seeing it on our way to Alcatraz made me realize just how enormous it really is!

We were allowed a 30-minute stop at Vista Point where we were able to take plenty of videos, which ended up being fantastic mementos.

Oh, and we even got to see the Palace of Fine Arts Theatre, which was just as impressive as the other sites we saw that day! It looks like something from ancient Rome, and it was very interesting to learn that it was built in just a couple years!

7. Alcatraz Island Tour Packages

• Duration : 2 to 3 hours
• Departure : 571 Post St, San Francisco, CA 94102
• Includes : Official Alcatraz ticket, ferry ride to the island, audio tour of the Alcatraz Island inside the prison, bike rental for 24 hours (includes helmets and locks)

If you ask me, two of the best ways to see San Francisco are by two modes of transportation: the ferry and by bike. The Alcatraz Island Tour Packages experience combines both of them, leaving you with all-new insight into this magical city filled with history and mind-blowing architecture!

They even include the natural beauty surrounding the bay, offering expert guidance to further enhance your time spent exploring!

I absolutely loved how lively and entertaining the guides were, right from the very beginning! Our tour started with a guided bus tour over the Golden Gate Bridge, which was so impressive to me!

Learning about the history of the massive structure and the events that have taken place on and around it was fascinating.

Our first stop was at the Muir Woods National Monument, which had quite possibly even larger structures than the bridge! To call the Redwood trees “towering” doesn’t even do them justice – you just have to see them in person to believe it!

The average age of these beauties are anywhere from 600 to 800 years old, with the oldest reaching over a whopping thousand years old!

After taking photos of the trees and the stunning city skyline, we then headed out to the island of Alcatraz by ferry. This was a really fun trip, and we were grateful to have been able to secure tickets as I know it’s common for them to be sold out!

We got to really see a lot of the island and learned even more, thanks to the intriguing 3-hour audio tour!

After that, we headed back to the mainland where we were informed we had access to a free 24-hour bike rental to explore the city even further. Just be aware of the intense hills – my quads were definitely burning after!

Tour Guides

The San Francisco Helicopter and Alcatraz Tour is our Editor's Choice as the best Alcatraz tour with its combination of sites seen, tour guides and value.

Krysha Thayer

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• Alcatraz Tours
• Alcatraz Night Tour

By  Karen

Updated December 27, 2023.

The Alcatraz Night Tour

The night tour has been voted the best tour of Alcatraz, and it books up even faster than the day tour.

So, how much better is the night tour, and should you make an effort to get night tour tickets? 

The Night Tour vs. the Day Tour. What's the difference?

In many ways, the night tour is pretty similar to the day tour. But as the sun starts to go down, and the crowds thin out, it takes on a magical quality not present during the daytime.

I'd been out to the Rock many times, but seeing it at night had a very different feel; the prison was eerier and the island more charming somehow.

Plus, it was cool getting to see areas not open during the day and hearing stories about the prison and its inmates from the park rangers.

Included in the night tour:

• Transportation out to Alcatraz on the ferry.
• A narrated tour as the ferry circles the island.
• A guided tour up to the cell block.
• Audio self-guided tour inside the prison.
• Extra programs like guided tours of areas not accessible to the day tours. 

Visitors are also able to explore areas outside the prison, including the Civil War buildings, gardens and the area around the lighthouse and ruins of the warden's house.

There is an interesting film about the history of Alcatraz, shown in the theater on the dock, which you can watch before or after the tours.

How the Night Tour works:

Getting to alcatraz....

The night tour ferries leave from Alcatraz Landing on Pier 33. In summer , there are two sailings out to the Rock (Tuesday through Saturday) at 5:55 and 6:30 pm, and in winter (starting Nov), only one sailing (Tuesday through Saturday) at 3:50 pm (two over the Christmas holidays).

Normally, the ride out to the island takes about 15 minutes, but on the night tour, the captain sails around Alcatraz before docking on the island. 

On the trip out, there's a live narration about the history of Alcatraz and what's available on the island, but I have to say it was pretty hard to hear it over the noise of the engines.

It's fun seeing all sides of Alcatraz, which you don't see on the day tour. 

On the island...

When the boat arrives on Alcatraz, the passengers are divided into three groups so that the entrance to the cell block is staggered.  The first group is assigned a guide, who gives a brief intro talk, then leads them up the hill. 

On the way up, the guide gives a presentation about the island and what to expect on the evening's tour. Then the first group enters the cell block and gets their audio gadget and headset to do the self-guided exploration of the prison.

Same process for the second and third groups, so they don't all arrive at prison at the same time.

The tram is also available on the night tours for visitors with difficulty walking up the steep hill. They run about every 30 minutes, and meet the ferries at the dock.

The Audio Tour of the Prison

When you enter the cell block at the top of the hill, you'll find yourself in the prisoners' shower room, where the audio tour gadgets and headsets are handed out.

You can choose from English, French, German, Dutch, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, Russian, Japanese, Mandarin and Korean.

When you get your audio device, you are directed to a sign near the entrance to the cell block which says Tour Starts Here  and told to turn on the recording.

The whole audio tour lasts 45 minutes.

The gadget is delightfully simple: red and green buttons. It's either going or not going. Beautiful!

You can pause it any time, and rewind or fast forward. You don't have to put in a number for a location like in many museums.

The audio narration tells you where to go and plays recordings of actual prisoners and guards from Alcatraz telling their stories. 

You'll hear the sound effects of the shoot-outs, clanging doors, etc. Very well done.

Tips for avoiding the crowds...

One  advantage of the night tour is that only two boats go out to the island during the evening (and only one in winter), whereas 15 (!) boats go out during the day, and numbers can build up as the day goes on, since visitors can take any boat back.

But all the day tour folks have to leave the island before the night tours start going out.

Even so, I found the crowds pretty intense, because the corridors are not that wide, and everyone in the group is trying to see the same cell at the same time.

One solution: (which I didn't think of until later)... be one of the last ones off the boat to be in the third group.

Then once you get into the cell block for the audio tour, hang back and let the group start ahead of you.  Start your audio tour after most of the group has moved on.

Otherwise, you may find yourself waiting for a turn to see each place on the tour and trying to peer over people's heads.

Another idea : head outside when you first get to the cell block, explore the island, then come back inside after 7:30 pm (summer schedule) when the visitors on both boats will have finished their audio tours.

Here's what the corridors look like later in the evening (after 7:30 or so) when most people are outside.

It's really cool to wander through the prison when there's hardly anyone around. You can go into the open cells and explore on your own; it's a bit haunting and you can get a better feel of the prison atmosphere.

Special programs

The night tour gives you a choice of extra guided tours to areas not normally available during the day.

It used to include the hospital, but they're doing repairs on it at the moment, so you'll see other areas like the second floor cells and A Block which is usually closed off.

On one of our night tours, there was a guided tour of areas associated with Machine Gun Kelly. 

There are also extra lectures on various topics. For our first night tour, there was a talk on the lives of the guards and families, and another one on a notorious kidnapper sent to Alcatraz.

Tidbit: kidnappers of rich tycoons were looking at $250,000 in ransom money, quite a haul in the 1930's. 

On our second night tour, a ranger gave a talk on the 1930's gangsters' method of robbing banks vs. the modern pattern (the gangsters were more organized, and more violent, and a number of them ended up in Alcatraz), and another ranger gave a talk on escape attempts.

The guide announces the times for these tours during the trip up to the cell block, and they are also posted in the building, near the prison entrance and in the bookstore/gift shop in the prison building.

Exploring outside the prison.

When you finish the audio tour inside the cell block, you can head outside to the area where the Alcatraz lighthouse sits.

From there, you can see the ruins of the warden's house and can follow the paths down to other areas of the island.

Other things to see: buildings from the Civil War era, gardens, and nesting areas for birds.

If it's a clear night, the views of the city and the Golden Gate Bridge are spectacular as the sun goes down. 

Note:   There's been a fair amount of construction going on at Alcatraz for the past couple of years to repair the damage done by decades of salty air, but it's winding down now. 

Consequently, certain areas may not be accessible on the night tour, depending where repairs are being done at the time. But most of the areas normally open on the tour are available now, including the prisoners' exercise yard. 

The Birds on Alcatraz

Alcatraz is a major nesting site for large numbers of sea gulls, snowy egrets, cormorants and other sea birds. It's not so obvious during the day, but as the sun goes down, the resident birds come in for the night and the numbers are impressive.

The squawking of the gulls and flapping of all the wings makes you realize just how many are living on the island.

The birds are building nests and laying eggs in April and May, and the chicks are born in June. There's a good map that shows their nesting areas on this  Park Service publication .

Very few birds lived on Alcatraz while it was a prison (the Bird Man didn't keep any birds while he was here; that happened in Leavenworth).

The cormorants spend their whole lives out on the open ocean and only come to land during the spring to nest and raise their chicks.

The Bird Man of Alcatraz didn't raise his birds on Alcatraz. He did that at another prison prior to his time on Alcatraz.

This article contains affiliate links and I get a small commission if you book through them, at no additional cost to you. This helps me provide all the free information on the site. Thank you!

Tickets for the night tour

Alcatraz night tour tickets can be purchased 3 ways:

• Online from City Experiences, the official company that has the tour concession from the Park Service, at cityexperiences.com
• By phone at 415 981-7625.
• At the ticket booth on Pier 33, Alcatraz Landing (9 am-6:30 pm).

Current night tour prices:

• Adults: $56.30
• Ages 12-17: $55.10
• Kids (5-11): 33.00
• Seniors (62+): $52.25
• Under 5: free

Night tour departure times:

As the length of daylight changes during the year, the departure times change as well. The night tours run 5 evenings a week , year-round.

Most of the year,  t he night tour runs Tuesday through Saturday, with two sailings each night; departures are at 5:55 and 6:30 pm.

In winter , the tours leave once a day at 3:50 pm (with two sailings over the Christmas and New Years holidays).

The return times  also vary with the seasons; they're posted at Pier 33 and on the dock on Alcatraz. You can return on any of the boats. But check the notices for the current departure times.

Holiday schedule. There are two sailings a night from Dec 16-Jan 7. 3:50 and 4:45 pm, last boat returning at 7:40 pm.

Getting night tour tickets

It can be a challenge. Alcatraz night tour tickets are the toughest to get because there are a lot fewer of them.

By mid May, they are usually sold out two months in advance, often almost three months, and aren't included in most of the combination tours. But now there are a few packages that include the night tour! See night tour combos below for a list.

Winter is easier; you can probably snag some night tour tickets just a few days away (as of late December 2023, they are available one week out).

Insider tip: the night tour is included in the Behind the Scenes tour, so if the night tour tickets are sold out, check for Behind the Scenes tickets. They tend to be scarce as well, but you might get lucky. 

More info on the Behind the Scenes tour.

Night tour tickets sold out?

There are ways to get  night tour tickets even if they're sold out for the day you want.  

Here are three ways to score tickets for sold out days:

• Check for canceled tickets  on sold-out days on the official website, cityexperiences.com. And keep checking. You might get lucky!
• Check the combination tours (see below) for tickets. Now there are combo tours that include the night tour.
• Night Tour standby tickets . You can still get same-day tickets for the night tour and there's  a good chance of getting on the boat.  See standby tickets  for more details.

Night Combo Tours

Another option:  do the night tour together with another activity, in a combination package.

This is one of the ways of getting those hard-to-get night tour tickets when they're sold out.

Until 2018, it wasn't possible to find a combination deal that included the Alcatraz night tour, but now there are a smallish number of them.

They disappeared during Covid, and are just starting to return.

Two night tour combos are now available (December 2023):  

Alcatraz Night Tour combos:

Alcatraz Night Tour & SF Bay Cruise.

  Go on the Alcatraz Night Tour and do a boat tour of the bay.

Sail around San Francisco Bay, out under the Golden Gate Bridge, and along the waterfront, with a great view of the city skyline.

See Alcatraz Night Tour & SF Bay Cruise  for info and booking.

Alcatraz Night Tour & HOHO City Bus Tour.

Alcatraz by night, plus a ticket to ride the Hop On Hop Off bus to a long list of San Francisco attractions. 

See  Alcatraz Night Tour & HOHO Bus Tour  for info and booking.

Otherwise, you can book a Day Tour by itself or a Day Tour combined with other San Francisco attractions, like the popular Alcatraz/Muir Woods/Sausalito Tour , or the Alcatraz/Bay Cruise Tour .

See Alcatraz day tour combos for a list.

Is Alcatraz haunted?  There aren't any ghost tours on Alcatraz, but there are plenty of ghost stories about it!

Check out the  spooky encounters  some visitors and staff have reported.

Heading home

There are currently two return boat to get back to the city after the night tour, but don't miss the last one!

Return times vary by season. In summer, the return boats leave at 8:40  and 9:25 pm, but the winter departure is at 6:40 pm, so be sure to check the signs for the current times.

They blow a warning horn and do a search of the island each night before the last boat leaves to make sure there aren't any overnight visitors!

We went out in summer on the 5:55 pm ferry and found 2.5 hours was plenty to see and do everything, so we took the 8:40 pm boat back.

It was pretty dark by that time, but Alcatraz is well lit at night, so finding our way back down to the dock was easy.

In mid-summer, you'll have to take the last boat back to see the city lights.

It was so pretty out on the island with the lights of the city sparkling in the distance.

Alcatraz seemed more intimate and magical after dark; not at all scary, but very welcoming and friendly. Almost like being on a private island. Highly recommended!

For information on the other  Alcatraz tours available, see Alcatraz prison tours .

For more tips for visiting the island,   including where to catch the ferry, transportation and parking, see  visiting Alcatraz .

Is Alcatraz sold out , for both the day and night tours?

See my suggestions on getting the tickets .

The Dinner Cruise

If you want to experience the city lights at night from the bay, City Experiences has a fun dinner/dance cruise .

We had a great time on it. See my dinner cruise page for info and photos for my experience

Check rates and availability to book it.

More to explore...

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Get the latest tips on visiting San Francisco.

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Want to Visit Alcatraz? Here is What You Need To Know

D o you want to roam the halls of a prison that once held some of the world’s most dangerous criminals? Would you like to spend time on a mysterious island? Do you enjoy haunting history and natural beauty? You can experience all this and more at Alcatraz Island, a national park site unlike any other. We will outline everything you need to know to visit Alcatraz. 

At First Sight, No Second Guessing

The first thing most visitors to San Francisco Bay recognize is the famous Golden Gate Bridge. Shortly after, an island catches your eye a mile and a quarter from the bustling city’s shoreline. 

With a fortress and a towering lighthouse, there is something strange yet appealing about the island. It is a rare combination of natural beauty and haunting history. The island disturbingly beckons you.

Alcatraz Island is renowned for being a maximum security federal prison. Some bristle at the thought of touring a prison. Is it odd to want to see a place where feared villains lived? Probably. 

Do not let fear keep you from such a fantastic experience. It is creepy yet exhilarating and educational. Touring Alcatraz is one of the best things to do in San Francisco and a unique national park site experience. You will be glad you answered the call.

Essential Information for Your Alcatraz Visit

The National Park Service (NPS) manages Alcatraz Island, part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area. It is one of many national park sites in and near San Francisco .

Hours of Operation

The park is open daily from 10:00 am to 8:00 pm except Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Days.

Alcatraz Island Location

Alcatraz is an island that sits 1.25 miles from San Francisco’s vibrant shores. Its address is Alcatraz Island, San Francisco Bay, CA 94133.

How to Get There: Alcatraz Landing Location

There is only one way to reach the island: by ferry. The Alcatraz Ferry Terminal, also known as Alcatraz Landing, rests on the Embarcadero near the intersection of Bay Street at Pier 33. 

Its exact location and the more critical physical address for you is Alcatraz Landing, Pier 33, Suite 200, San Francisco, CA 94111.

To give you another reference point, Fisherman’s Wharf sits at Pier 39, less than a 0.5 mile away. It is a short, easy walk between the two iconic locations.

Although all tours depart from and return to Alcatraz Landing, the area does not have parking. Nearby commercial parking lots typically fill up quickly. Due to limited parking, the NPS suggests visitors use public transportation .

Would you expect the weather to be perfect on a mysterious island that housed convicted felons? Of course, the weather is unpredictable, almost sullen, and moody. The only thing predictable about the weather is that it suddenly changes regularly.

Mornings are often cold and foggy. When the fog clears, visitors usually experience sunlight. However, blustery winds and fog often return. 

Spring and fall typically offer the most pleasant weather, while summers are cool and foggy. Winters tend to be gloomy and rainy. No matter when you visit, we suggest a light jacket.

Throughout the year, temperatures rarely exceed 75 degrees Fahrenheit or dip below 38. Dress accordingly and embrace the weather. It is all part of the experience, setting the tone for your adventure.

Internet and Cellular Access

WiFi is not available. Most guests find cell reception very limited on the island. Again, it is all part of the theme.

Entrance Fees and Passes

Alcatraz Island does not charge an entrance fee per se. What does this mean? 

Although the park technically does not have an entrance fee, you must purchase a ticket for a park tour and ferry rides to and from the island. In other words, a national park pass does not grant you free access to Alcatraz.

To visit Alcatraz, you must secure a reservation by purchasing a ticket. The NPS strongly recommends visitors make reservations in advance. Tours can and do sell out, especially in summer and around holidays.

The NPS partners with Alcatraz City Cruises , the only approved vendor, to provide ferry services for all tours. Please click on the provided link to check availability by type of tour, day, and time and to purchase Alcatraz tickets. Or, you can call them at (415) 981-7625.

Tour Options

Alcatraz tours come in three flavors, all beginning and ending at Alcatraz Landing. Let’s review your ticket options.

• Adult: $45.25
• Child (ages 5-11): $27.55
• Junior (ages 12-17): $45.25
• Senior (ages 62+): $42.65

Note that prices may change at any time. 

The day tour provides access to the island’s open areas, including exhibits, gardens, the historic cellhouse, dining hall, and recreation yard. It includes a self-guided cellhouse audio tour where you hear from prisoners, guards, and wardens as you make your way through the cold, damp halls. The audio tour provides some fascinating history, transporting you back in time as the cells and corridors practically come to life.

• Adult: $56.30
• Child (ages 5-11): $33.00
• Junior (ages 12-17): $55.10
• Senior (ages 62+): $52.25

The night tour delivers more of a personal touch. Groups are smaller, and park rangers provide information and tell exciting stories. Like the day excursions, you will take a self-guided cellhouse audio tour. Visitors at night get to explore an unannounced area that is not typically open during the day. And the icing on the cake is your spectacular sunset views of the city skyline, bay, and the Golden Gate Bridge.

Behind the Scenes Tour

• Adult: $101.30
• Junior (ages 12-17): $97.10
• Senior (ages 62+): $94.25

The behind-the-scenes tour provides the most intimate outing, with group sizes capped at 30 people. Best of all, you gain access to areas not available to the public on the other tours, such as tunnels, underground jails, and unique gardens.

Eating and Smoking

The island has one area near the dock where visitors can eat and smoke. Consuming food and tobacco products is prohibited in all other parts of the island. Why is this? The rule is to help protect the island’s seabird populations. Note that you can purchase and eat food on the ferry.

How Long is the Tour?

Plan on 2.5 to 3 hours for the entire experience, including the ferry rides and tour. Each ferry ride is about 15 minutes.  

Your ticket shows the ferry departure day and time. Plan to arrive before your scheduled ride so you can catch your ferry.

If you take a day tour, ferries return from the island about every half hour. Return trip departure times are posted on the ferry and at the island dock. You have an assigned ferry time to the island but may ride on any returning ferry.

Accessibility

The Alcatraz Landing entrance has an accessibility drop-off zone. Nearby commercial parking lots provide accessible spaces, operating on a first-come, first-served basis. Those with a valid disabled parking permit may park in the area at blue-painted curbs or blue zones .

Accessible features at Alcatraz Landing and Alcatraz Island include a tactile model of the island and Pier 33, accessible restroom facilities, an audio-described tour with Braille posts for wayfinding, assistive listening devices, and a Braille transcript of the cellhouse tour.

The prison sits atop a steep hill, about .25 miles from the dock, with an elevation change of 130 feet. Visitors requiring mobility assistance can ride an electric shuttle, Sustainability Easy Access Transport (SEAT). The tram meets each arriving ferry at the dock and makes regular return trips from the prison to the dock throughout the day.

Wheelchair-accessible areas include:

• Alcatraz Landing
• Alcatraz dock
• The main floor of the prison
• Museum displays
• Island theater

Deaf visitors can watch an American Sign Language (ASL) version of the cellhouse tour on a handheld digital device. Upon arrival, a park staff member can provide you with a handheld device for the ASL tour.

When is the Best Time of Year to Visit Alcatraz?

Your primary goal will impact the answer to this question. The best weather occurs in April, May, September, and October. If summer fits your schedule, prepare for bigger crowds and surprisingly cold, foggy weather.

For those who want to avoid crowds, the following windows offer the best experience:

• First two weeks of November
• First two weeks of December
• January through March (rainy season)

The best time to observe nesting seabirds is February through August. April and May bring nest building and egg laying, with chicks beginning to hatch around mid-June.

Best Time to Go

Based on your perspective, the best time to go is a matter of opinion. However, if you aim to escape crowds, morning is the best time. For those who seek the possibility of some warm sunshine, midday is best. Consider the night tour if you love sunsets or desire a unique excursion.

What to Expect When You Visit Alcatraz

Now that we have discussed essential information, what can you expect on your visit to Alcatraz Island?

The ferry ride to the island takes approximately 12 to 15 minutes. Water can get choppy sometimes, but the boat is large enough to absorb the waves, making it reasonably smooth. Along the journey, you gain fantastic views of the island, city skyline, and Golden Gate Bridge. Savor the vistas and enjoy!

Arrival and Exploration

After disembarking the ferry, a park ranger will greet you and deliver a brief orientation talk. If you are taking a day tour, you can freely explore the island after your briefing. A park ranger escorts visitors to the prison during the night tours. The behind-the-scenes tour is a ranger-guided tour with additional time for visitors to explore independently.

Attractions

The park is considerably different from most national park sites. So, what can you do on the island? Alcatraz is primarily about walking and exploring an island with a fascinating history. That history is disturbing, yet it leaves you feeling exhilarated and educated.

The park houses a museum, bookstores, theater, and exhibits to explore. You will encounter information placards throughout the prison and its grounds. The two primary exhibits are:

• Red Power on Alcatraz: Perspective 50 Years Later
• The Big Lockup: Mass Incarceration in the U.S.

Understandably, the prison is the main attraction for many visitors. The self-guided audio tour takes approximately half an hour, leading you through the prison corridors, dining hall, and recreation grounds. You have an opportunity to step into a jail cell if you dare.

The audio tour is a fantastic way to experience Alcatraz as you hear the voices of former guards, wardens, and prisoners. Even if you do not enjoy audio tours, I highly recommend this one. The combination of the audio and exhibits gives you a glimpse of the harsh conditions and hopelessness the prisoners must have felt. Walking through the prison without the audio is excellent, but the commentary gives you historical information and perspectives you would otherwise miss.

Park rangers hand you the audio device, which includes headphones and a neck strap, leaving your hands free to take pictures with your phone or camera. The tour is available in multiple languages, including English, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Dutch, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, and Mandarin. You can request a transcript if you prefer. An English Braille version of the transcript is available as well.

Where many national park sites fill your soul with beauty, Alcatraz floods your mind with vivid images of its past. Seeing it firsthand is oddly rewarding.

I want to ensure your visit is well-spent by giving away only a little information on the history. Alcatraz was a military fort protecting San Francisco Bay in the 1850s. It was an army prison beginning in 1859. Alcatraz gained its fame as a maximum security prison for the worst of criminals from 1934 to 1963. Most inmates got transferred from other prisons after proving to be troublemakers or escape risks.

“The Rock” was believed to be inescapable, located on an island in the middle of San Francisco Bay, resting atop a large rock. Notorious inmates include Al Capone, George “Machine Gun” Kelly, Robert Stroud, “The Birdman of Alcatraz,” and Alvin “Creepy” Karpis.

The inmates’ history and escape attempts are essential to its lore. Thirty-four men made fourteen separate escape attempts from the federal prison. The infamous escape attempt in 1962 saw Frank Morris, John Anglin, and Clarence Anglin make it to the bay. The trio was never found, presumably drowning.

American Indian political activists occupied Alcatraz three times in the 1960s and early 1970s. Congress created the Golden Gate National Recreation Area in 1972, resulting in Alcatraz being under the organization and part of the NPS.

Rock Gardens

When most people envision Alcatraz, they picture a drab facility with harsh conditions. Surprisingly, despite this haunting history, the Rock harbors beautiful gardens of lush plants and colorful blossoms. In 2003, the NPS, Garden Conservancy, and the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy began collaborative efforts to restore and preserve the historic gardens. 

The island contains a beautiful trail that is widely unknown. You can visit Alcatraz almost any day of the year. Still, the Agave Trail, a short path between the dock and Parade Ground, is typically open only from late September through January. The path skirts along the island’s edge, delivering exceptional views of the island and bay. It is closed for the rest of the year to protect nesting birds.

Alcatraz Birds

Although not a highlight for some visitors, many beautiful waterbirds call Alcatraz Island home. Accordingly, park rangers close some parts of the island for your safety and theirs.

Due to abundant birds, early Spanish explorers named the island after alcatraces or seabirds. Most birds disappeared for years while the island was a military fortress, prison, and federal jail. 

When the prison closed in 1963, the seabirds returned. The National Historic Landmark now harbors more than 5,000 nesting birds, including western gulls, cormorants, black-crowned night herons, snowy egrets, and pigeon guillemots. 

Park rangers first spotted a pair of peregrine falcons on Alcatraz Island in 2019. The NPS announced the birth of four peregrine falcon chicks in early April 2023.

The historic Alcatraz Lighthouse, lit in 1854, was the first built on America’s west coast . It has gone through many changes over the years. The current 84-foot concrete tower was built in 1909, replacing the original. Shortly after the prison closed in 1963, the lighthouse was automated. It is not open to the public for tours. However, the beacon adds a touch of beauty and mystery to the island.

Is Alcatraz Haunted?

Guests have reported hearing moans or cries from empty cells. Legends say an inmate from the infamous cell 14D died after incessantly screaming that a ghost was after him. Many visitors report feeling cold when passing that same cell. Perhaps ghosts roam the halls, or maybe it is the wind blowing through the corridors, or just wild imaginations or fears getting the best of us. I will let you decide for yourself.

Tips Before You Visit Alcatraz

We suggest you reserve your Alcatraz Island tour tickets in advance. Attempting to purchase last-minute tickets is risky since many tours fill up days or weeks before.

Plan to arrive twenty to thirty minutes early for your scheduled ferry ride. Your spot is reserved for a specific day and time. Once on the island, you can take your time and catch any returning ferry.

Wear comfortable but sturdy shoes due to the park’s uneven and steep walking surfaces. Your initial climb from the dock to the prison is steep.

The park does not offer storage facilities of any kind. Although we suggest packing layers, including a light jacket, only bring what you can comfortably carry.

Since the island only allows food in a small area near the dock, plan to eat shortly before your tour. Or, you can eat a snack during the ferry ride. 

Bring your camera to capture views from the ferry and Alcatraz Island. While touring the island, do not focus solely on the prison. Remember to savor the spectacular views of San Francisco Bay, the city skyline, and the Golden Gate Bridge.

Wrap-Up: How to Visit Alcatraz

With an odd combination of haunting history and natural beauty, Alcatraz Island delivers a riveting experience, unlike any other national park site in America . Use our guide to plan your Alcatraz escape!

Featured image credit: Rodrigo Soares

More Articles from Miles with McConkey

• Redwood National Park  
• Carlsbad Caverns National Park

The post Want to Visit Alcatraz? Here is What You Need To Know appeared first on Miles with McConkey .

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Act Fast or Miss Out: The Top 10 Housing Markets Where Homes Are Selling the Fastest

The spring housing market may be off to a rocky start , but that doesn’t mean buyers can take it easy if they hope to succeed in purchasing a home.

While homes nationwide spent a median of 50 days on the market in March, they’re selling in less than half of that time in certain places, according to the most recent Realtor.com® data for median days on the market in the 200 largest metropolitan areas.

These fast-moving markets are spread out across the country, excluding the South. Some of these places are affordable, such as Rochester, NY , which tied for No. 2 on our list and on our most recent hottest markets ranking , where buyers can score a home for a median of $279,900 in March. Others are among the most expensive in the country, such as Silicon Valley’s San Jose, CA , which also tied for the No. 2 spot, where the median home costs $1.48 million.

These places tend to have lower unemployment rates, says Realtor.com Chief Economist Danielle Hale . Several have strong tech industries as well.

“Many of them are fairly expensive markets,” says Hale. “When prices are high, it’s expensive to just let [properties] sit when you’re trying to sell.”

Four of these brisk real estate markets are in the Boston area. These metropolitan areas include Manchester, NH , the No. 1 metro on our list, which was named America’s hottest housing market 22 times over the past three years. The other Boston-area markets are Worcester, MA , at No. 4; Boston , at No. 5; and Springfield, MA , at No. 7.

“You’ve [also] got markets that are close to popular, large markets,” says Hale.

Manchester, about an hour northwest of Boston, “is a very competitive market,” says local real estate broker Pamela Young , of eXp Realty. “An agent will delay showings until the open house. People go to the open house, and there’s 70 people there. Typically, an offer will come in from the open house.”

About 70.1% of those looking for homes in the Manchester area are from other states, according to Realtor.com data . Roughly 20% were from Boston and its suburbs, while 10.6% were from Manhattan.

That’s because buying a home in the Manchester metro area, with a median list price of $549,000, is about 37% cheaper than in the Boston area, where the median home price was $879,950 in March.

Young has seen homes sell within four days of being listed. These properties are typically in good condition and priced below what they’re worth to create competitive bidding.

As the stock market has soared, more people have jumped into the San Francisco Bay Area housing market, competing for a very limited number of homes for sale, says Patrick Carlisle , chief market analyst for the Bay Area for Compass.

The Bay Area includes the priciest markets on our list, San Jose and San Francisco , which tied for sixth place.

“It’s the hottest the market has been since the pre-pandemic housing boom. It’s the home of Nvidia, Google, Apple,” says Carlisle. “When people feel a lot wealthier, they feel better about buying a new home.”

So where do buyers need to pick up the pace? Here are the top 10 metros where homes are selling the fastest, plus how long it takes.

1. Manchester, NH

(Realtor.com)

Median days on the market in March: 19 Median home list price in March: $549,900

2. Rochester, NY

Median days on the market: 22 (tie) Median home list price: $279,900

3. San Jose, CA

Median days on the market: 22 (tie) Median home list price: $1,481,397

4. Worcester, MA

Median days on the market: 23 Median home list price: $499,999

5. Boston, MA

Median days on the market: 24 Median home list price: $879,950

6. San Francisco, CA

Median days on the market: 27 (tie) Median home list price: $999,000

7. Springfield, MA

Median days on the market: 27 (tie) Median home list price: $350,000

8. Columbus, OH

Median days on the market: 29 (tie) Median home list price: $379,900

9. Milwaukee, WI

Median days on the market: 29 (tie) Median home list price: $365,000

10. Seattle, WA

Median days on the market: 29 (tie) Median home list price: $767,875

Clare Trapasso is the executive news editor of Realtor.com. She was previously a reporter for the Associated Press, the New York Daily News, and a Financial Times publication. She also taught journalism courses at several New York City colleges. Email [email protected].

Twitter Follow @claretrap

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Sleeper Picks: RBC Heritage

Sleeper Picks

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Taylor Moore (+6600) … When a guy keeps fulfilling targets as he did for a Top 5 at +900 for the Texas Children’s Houston Open (T2) and again for a Top 20 at +400 at the Masters (T20), both after an impressive T12 in his first-ever title defense at the Valspar Championship, is he really a Sleeper anymore? Better yet, because he keeps fulfilling the targets, there’s a progression that what the work is yielding must be piggybacked. So, here he is yet again, but this time to win. He debuted at the RBC Heritage last year with a T11 and he’s among the best on approach on the PGA TOUR this year. He’s also guaranteed a 16th consecutive payday, so he’s been in a groove for far longer than the recent surge.

Tommy Fleetwood (+333) … In full disclosure, the Brit was supposed to be in the Power Rankings. I simply glossed over my handwritten note that he was one of the 15 to include. My shortlist was at 19 but I wound up including one of the four that I had cut. That’s OK because, while continuity over time is important for that weekly preview, 15 still is an arbitrary target. So, perhaps that’ll be a happy accident that’ll follow the purposeful likes of Will Zalatoris at The Genesis Invitational (+650), Taylor Moore at the Texas Children’s (+900) and Collin Morikawa (+750) as golfers who have converted on this bet in Sleepers in 2024. Now, Fleetwood is but sixth-shortest for the same at the RBC Heritage, but part of that is a product of the fact that there are only 69 golfers in play. The rest is all him. He’s 3-for-4 at Harbour Town with a personal-best T10 in 2022, and he’s on the bounce of a T7-T3 the last two weeks. Also, he was a winner earlier this year at the Dubai Invitational.

Tommy Fleetwood finishes with birdie on No. 18 at Valero

Thomas Detry (+650) … While he’s rested since a co-runner-up at the Texas Children’s three weeks ago – his second top-four finish and fourth top 20 of his last eight, including a T4 at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am where greens are similarly as small as Harbour Town’s – this is just as much about the overall fit for the track. En route to missing the cut in his debut last year, the course beat him up during his opening, 3-over 74, but among those who slammed trunks – well, gently lowered the liftgate via the key fob – no one scored lower than his 3-under 68 that followed. Proving that his game improves nearest the hole, he led the field at Memorial Park in scrambling.

Tom Hoge (+200) … Focusing only on the golfers for whom the kickback is at least twice the outlay, the available subset is thin in a small field, but it was a bona fide surprise to find him in it. He’s cashed only twice in six appearances, but that he continues to return is proof that he’s fond of Harbour Town. With the guarantee of four rounds for the first time this week, whatever demons he fights about the place won’t be a factor as it concerns contributing to the season-long cause, but his form in 2024 has been strong enough to bury the demons for good, anyway. He arrives with a consecutive cuts-made streak of nine that includes two top 10s and another four top 20s. Also, inside the top 20 on TOUR in greens hit and adjusted scoring, and he’s No. 1 in proximity to the hole and par-3 scoring.

Adam Svensson (+200) … With no cut and only 69 commits, BetMGM split the difference between a customary market for a Top 40 and presented this. And in a similar vein as the Top 20 market, the objective is to focus on the options that would double the return on investment. Among the dozen or so options is the Canadian in his third start, the first of which resulted in a T26 in a full field in 2022. He’s struggled of late but his skill set as a tee-to-green performer plays up at Harbour Town, so it’s not surprising that his scoring average in eight rounds on the par 71 is 69.38.

Odds were sourced at BetMGM.

For resources to overcome a gambling problem, call or text 1-800-GAMBLER today.

Rob Bolton is a Golfbet columnist for the PGA TOUR. The Chicagoland native has been playing fantasy golf since 1994, so he was just waiting for the Internet to catch up with him. Follow Rob Bolton on Twitter .

Your guide to 2024 NFL draft in Detroit: Registration, map, parking, things to do and more

Are you going to the 2024 nfl draft on april 25-27 in downtown detroit here's everything to know, including registration, parking, transportation, draft parties and things to do in detroit..

The NFL world descends up Detroit this week , just months after the Detroit Lions earned their first playoff wins in decades and made an incredible run to the NFC championship game.

The 2024 NFL draft is in downtown Detroit this Thursday through Saturday . Hundreds of thousands of people are expected to be there, with fans of all 32 teams looking to celebrate their teams' draft picks near the stage at Campus Martius and checking out the NFL Fan Experience at Hart Plaza.

If you're traveling to Detroit for the draft , here's a guide to make your draft experience easy and unforgettable. Information on registration, parking, travel, street closings, and draft day activities are all below.

When is the 2024 NFL draft?

The 2024 NFL draft is April 25-27 . The rounds break down as follows:

• 8 p.m. Thursday, April 25: Round 1
• 7 p.m. Friday, April 26: Rounds 2-3
• 12 p.m. Saturday, April 27: Rounds 4-7

Where is the 2024 NFL draft?

The 2024 NFL draft is in Detroit , spanning from Campus Martius to Hart Plaza in downtown with additional events in Beacon Park, Capitol Park, Grand Circus Park, Harmonie Park, and along Woodward Avenue. Here's how Detroit got the NFL draft .

2024 NFL draft registration, tickets, sign-up

The 2024 NFL draft is free to attend and open to the public. If you're planning to attend, though, you will need to register using the NFL OnePass app or online through the website .

Registering for the event only guarantees you the NFL draft footprint in downtown Detroit. You must buy tickets separately for the actual draft theater.

Ticket packages are available for purchase for the second and third rounds starting at $950 per person — the fourth through seventh rounds start at $550 per person as well. Please be wary of potential ticket scams .

• More on NFL OnePass: How to download the app, what it will tell you

2024 NFL draft map

Downtown detroit transportation.

Detroit has multiple public transportation options to get around downtown. The city has a streetcar , an elevated rail system , bike share , and bus system to get you where you need to go.

These include:

• The   Detroit People Mover , which will operate 24 hours a day from 7 a.m. April 25 through midnight April 28.
• The  QLINE   along Woodward Avenue, which will run from 8 a.m.-12 a.m. April 25 through April 27. The stops include Harper Ave., 116 Lothrop St., 6540 Cass Ave., John R & Piquette and 6230 John R St.  
• Bus service: SMART will have park-and-ride services from various points in metro Detroit, including Great Lakes Crossing, several Meijer store locations and Oakland County Community College. It also has its FAST service on Gratiot, Woodward and Michigan Avenue. DDOT services will operate with modified downtown routes because of road closures.
• Shuttles and drop-offs: There will be designated shuttle and ride-share drop-off points throughout downtown on Woodward, Jefferson and Fort Street. Detroit Air Xpress, or DAX, is a nonstop coach bus service connecting downtown Detroit to Detroit Metro Airport, and  D2A2  is an express coach bus that connects downtown Detroit to downtown Ann Arbor.

Fan shuttle locations:

• Bagley Mobility Hub , 1501 Wabash St.  
• River East Garage , 214 Rivard St.  

Hours: 11 a.m.- 12:30 a.m. Thursday and Friday, 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday

• More: Service details released about Detroit public transit options

Detroit parking for 2024 NFL draft

If you decide to drive  downtown , make a plan and prearrange parking. Many off-street lots and garages are booked, and street parking will be limited or restricted in the area. Parking regulations will be enforced; vehicles may be towed. Those planning to park downtown are encouraged to arrive by 10 a.m. You may find off-street parking options on the Park Detroit app or on Park Whiz.

You can pay for metered parking through Park Detroit's website or app. There are also options for private parking throughout the city.

More: Downtown Detroit parking lots to see upgrades ahead of 2024 NFL draft

Detroit road closures for 2024 NFL draft

The City of Detroit is conducting six phases of road closures leading up the 2024 NFL draft and during it. It started March 29 and will go through May 7. Be mindful of these closures as you're driving downtown.

Here's a detailed look at each phase of road closures in downtown Detroit.

Security, bag policy at the 2024 NFL draft

Detroit police say they've got a safety plan in place that includes increased police presence downtown, weapon detectors and video monitoring .

Detroit police have partnered with the NFL and local businesses on the security plan, as well as state and federal law enforcement, according to 3rd Precinct Cmdr. Matthew Fulgenzi.

The NFL will have weapon detectors installed that attendees must walk through at the gates of the event, which will take place at Cadillac Square, Campus Martius, Hart Plaza and a portion of Woodward Avenue. The NFL has a clear bag policy to enter the draft area, Fulgenzi said. 

Here's more on security measures and policies at the 2024 NFL draft in Detroit.

2024 NFL draft schedule of events, parties

2024 NFL draft day activities are from noon to 10 p.m. on Thursday and Friday. On Saturday, events go from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Use the NFL OnePass app to find more on what's planned and when throughout the NFL draft blueprint.

Activities include a Pro Football Hall of Fame exhibit and an autograph signing opportunity with current and former NFL players, as well as a 40-yard dash, vertical jump, deep throw accuracy challenges, and more. There will also be a collection of Detroit-based food trucks for participants who attend.

Here are more ideas on what to do at the 2024 NFL draft:

• NFL draft parties: District Detroit, Greektown, hotels, restaurants and more
• At Ford Field: Lions to host NFL draft event for season ticket holders
• NFL Shop: Where to find the NFL's pop-up store in downtown Detroit
• Art and murals: Detroit's DCLEATED exhibit across town ... plus 8 downtown murals to see
• Roller skating and games: Next Level by RollerCade set to open right near the draft
• Check out the lights: Detroit's People Mover will light up for the draft

Things to do in Detroit during the 2024 NFL draft

Detroit is a city rich with museums, restaurants and activities throughout. If you're interested in exploring the area outside of the draft, you can go to the Motown Museum, the Michigan Science Center, check out golf-rich southeast Michigan , and even catch a Detroit Tigers game on April 26, 27 or 28 when they host the Kansas City Royals. And get a souvenir while you're in the city.

Looking for ideas? Check out these guides we put together for you:

• Where to eat: Your guide to breakfast, lunch and dinner in Detroit
• Where to shop: 7 places to get Detroit souvenirs , plus Somerset Collection and Born In Detroit pop-ups
• Where to see concerts: Big Sean, Detroit Youth Choir lead list of performers
• Where to golf: The top 10 golf courses to play near downtown Detroit
• Where to take your kids: Top kid-friendly events to check out at the NFL draft
• Where to take photos: Iconic Detroit places where you can snap photos while you're here
• Must-see attractions: Where to go in Detroit while you're here

What else is Detroit doing for the NFL draft?

Here's a list of other attractions and events planned for Detroit and the 2024 NFL draft:

• The Detroit "Hollywood-style" sign is constructed along eastbound Interstate 94. Here's how to scope it out .
• Plus, there are 5 "Welcome to Detroit" signs going up on other stretches of highways.
• Country star Jelly Roll is planning an intimate "Night Before" concert at Fillmore Detroit on April 24.
• Detroit City Distillery has several NFL draft events planned .
• Circuit Court at Detroit city hall will suspend in-person services during NFL draft week.

Download the NFL OnePass app to stay up to date on what's happening during the draft.

Follow the Detroit Free Press on Instagram ( @detroitfreepress ), TikTok ( @detroitfreepress ), YouTube ( @DetroitFreePress ), Twitter/X ( @freep ),   and  LinkedIn , and like us on Facebook ( @detroitfreepress ).