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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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• Alcatraz Prison Tours
• 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 ! 

It's a great place to interact with me and others who know the area well.

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!

Come join the fun here !

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Visiting Alcatraz in San Francisco

By: Author Monica

Categories USA

From the shore, Alcatraz Island doesn’t look too far away.

I squinted into the distance and could just about see the tiny island 1.5 miles from mainland San Francisco. A low cloud hung over ‘The Rock’ giving it an eerily ominous appearance.

Despite the creepy air of mystery surrounding Alcatraz, I still thought I could swim the distance.

“Yea, I could swim it,’ I said cockily, making one of those brave statements I know I’d never have to prove, therefore making me say it with even more self assurance.

I wasn’t the only one with this self-belief in my non-existent swimming ability. Reportedly, 36 men attempted to escape from Alcatraz and “officially’ not one man made it.

But is this really true…?

Alcaztra was a military prison in 1868 and a federal prison from 1933 until 1963. It is situated on a rocky outcrop within San Francisco Bay. It may only be 1.5 miles to the mainland but due to the strong currents and cold water temperatures, it’s almost impossible for prisoners to escape. Or so they were told.

Prisoners were purposely fed on rich, fatty foods with plenty of bread and large portions. All this food combined with very little exercise led most prisoners to be unfit and overweight, making that 1.5 mile swim even more difficult. This was made even worse (or better depending on how you look at it) by the fact that prisoners were treated to luxuriously warm showers meaning they couldn’t become acclimatized to the icy temperatures of the sea. They were also told that the surrounding sea was teeming with sharks that circled the island and would gobble them up as soon as they dipped a toe in the water.

Alcatraz was reportedly one of the most secure prisons in the world and nothing could destroy that reputation faster than an escaped prisoner. So what happened when a prisoner escaped…? Well, it wasn’t reported.

Who knows how many people really escaped from Alcatraz. Five prisoners are said to have escaped in 1962 and their whereabouts are unknown. At the time, prisoners were told they drowned but maybe they survived. Maybe they’re living a quiet life in a sleepy little town in the US. Maybe they’ve gone back to their law-breaking ways and they’re living the lives of criminals in South America. I kind of hope they had treasure chests filled with gold and they’re living the hi-life somewhere exotic.

Alcatraz is now a popular tourist attraction thanks to our obsession with dark history. We want to know all about life in a high security prison and discover what the evil genius’ inside got up to.

Famous inmates have included Alphonse “Scarface” Capone (who was eventually sent to prison for tax evasion of all things!), George ‘Machine Gun” Kelly and Arthur “Doc” Barker.

Alcatraz may have been a desolate place of isolation, punishment and suffering but it’s now a national park – weird, I know. It’s now home to historic gardens, tide pools, bird colonies and beautiful bay views. While I wouldn’t recommend visiting purely for the flora and fauna, you might be surprised at how beautiful the island is. And you have to admit, it’s one of the most fascinating National Park sites you could wish for.

If you’d like to visit Alcatraz you can book tickets through Alcatraz Cruises for $30 for one adult. Some unofficial websites charge more than this so make sure you go through the proper site.

Tickets do sell out, particularly during peak travel times, so it’s worth booking in advance. The Early Bird Tickets and the Day Tours include the cell house audio tour and other tours will be available once you arrive. When booking a ticket and selecting a time, this is the time your boat will leave. You’re then pretty much free to explore the island at your own pace.

Keep in mind that you can’t buy food on the island so if you plan to stay a while I’d bring some snacks.

I visited Alcatraz while I was road tripping through the USA with Trek America. I took the Westerner 2 trip which included 2 days in San Francisco with plenty of free time to explore the city.

Miss Classy

Wednesday 10th of January 2018

I visited Alcatraz in Summer 2015 and it was absolutely amazing. Most I liked the Audio Tour, it was so interesting. Love your photos of The Rock!

Kind Regards Doris www.miss-classy.com

The Travel Hack’s Guide to TrekAmerica | Travel Blog

Monday 22nd of May 2017

[…] Visiting Alcatraz in San Francisco […]

Stevo Grubor

Friday 1st of August 2014

I last visited Alcatraz when I was a kid and only remembered bits and pieces of our visit. We just recently visited again and the kiddies (7 and 9) really loved seeing the former prison and doing the audio tour, hearing about it (the escapes were their favorite). If you're a history buff this is a really cool site to see as an adult too! If you're thinking about visiting make sure you buy your tickets at least a month in advance - they sell out fast!

TheTravelHack

The escapes were my favourite too!

Tamara (Globe Guide)

Thursday 31st of July 2014

I've heard the night tour of Alcatraz is a must do!

Carmen @CarmensTravelTips

Wednesday 9th of July 2014

We were just recently in San Francisco with friends who had never been before. They wanted to go see Alcatraz and I told them that it would be impossible to get tickets at the last minute. Last time we visited we booked our ticket months in advance. When we went on our tour their was a guy signing books at the end. His name Jim Quillen, he was a prisoner of Alcatraz. ( Alcatraz from Inside: The Hard Years, 1942-1952). He told us his interesting story. One of the prison cells that you see doing the tour was his.

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

Founder & 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.

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Alcatraz Tours

• Visit Alcatraz

By  Karen

Updated December 27, 2023.

Visit Alcatraz Like an Insider

Before you visit Alcatraz, check out these tips from a local.

I've been out to Alcatraz a number of times in the 30 years I've lived in the city, and I've done all three of the Alcatraz tours.

• How to  get to Alcatraz .
• Getting tickets to Alcatraz.
• Where to  catch the boat  to Alcatraz.
• Driving or public transportation ?
• Tips for  taking the ferry .
• What to expect  on the island .

They are back to the normal ticket schedule now, and the Cell Block is open now for the audio tours.

How to Visit Alcatraz

The only way to visit Alcatraz is to take one of the ferries operated by the  City Experiences company.

Other Bay cruises may include a trip past or around Alcatraz, but they don't let you get off on the island (see  other San Francisco Bay cruises ).

The boats leave from  Pier 33  on the San Francisco Embarcadero, the waterfront boulevard running from Fisherman's Wharf to the Ferry Building.

Pier 33 is also called  Alcatraz Landing . See maps below.

City Experiences offers four ways to visit Alcatraz:

• Day Tour of Alcatraz
• Alcatraz Night Tour
• Behind the Scenes Tour

For information on what is included during these tours and the free guided tours on the island, as well as information on what you'll see in the prison, see  Alcatraz Prison Tours .

To find out more about what the the  night tour  is like, and photos, see  Alcatraz night tour .

For the scoop on the newest tour, see the  Behind the Scenes tour .

Taking the Alcatraz Ferry

The ferry to Alcatraz leaves from Pier 33 (Alcatraz Landing) on the Embarcadero.

The City Experiences company operates the ferries to Alcatraz.

This ferry only goes to Alcatraz (and Angel Island on the combination tour).

Reservations are required via City Experiences at cityexperiences.com .

Boat Schedule

Day Tours.  The Alcatraz ferries for the day tours depart from Pier 33 daily, every 30 or 60 minutes (depending on the day and season) from 8:40 am to 3:50 pm (1:35 pm in winter), or later, and return every 30 or 60 minutes.

Departure times for the return boats are posted at Pier 33 and at the dock on Alcatraz. You can take any boat back, but  don't miss the last one!

Night Tours.  The night tour runs Tuesday through Saturday, at 5:55 and 6:30 p.m, in summer, and lasts about 2.5 hours. Return boats leave Alcatraz at 8:40 and 9:25 pm.

In winter the boats leave at 3:50 pm.

It varies with the seasons; winter has only one night tour sailing, and summer season has two.

The  Behind the Scenes tour  also runs five days a week, two sailings.

4.5 hours for the tour.

In winter, the sailings are at 2:25 and 2:45 pm, summer sailings are later in the afternoon.

Alcatraz Tour Tickets

Buying tickets to alcatraz.

City Experiences  is the official concessionaire for the U.S. Park Service which administers the island and prison.

They sell the Alcatraz tickets online, at  cityexperiences.com , by phone at 415 981-7625, or at the ticket booth on Pier 33, 9 am to 6:30 pm.

How the Tours and Tickets Work

The ticket that you buy from City Experiences includes:   1. The ride to and from the island   2. The Audio Tour of the prison

The Night Tours and Behind the Scenes tours have additional activities.

See  Alcatraz tours and tickets  for tips on buying Alcatraz tickets and what to expect on the various Alcatraz island tours.

If you don't plan on doing the  Alcatraz Audio Tour  (which is excellent) because of time constraints, language difficulties, restless children, etc.,  you can get a refund  for that portion of the tour ($8.00 for adults, a bit less for others).

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

How to get the refund : Unfortunately you can't get it when you buy your tickets. When you enter the prison, you will be offered the headsets for the tour. Tell them you don't want one and you will get the voucher. The refund is only available on the Day Tours.

The rest of the  activities on the island  are  free :   (a) Guided Tours: volunteers with the National Park Service give 45 minute tours on various topics (English only).   (b) Videos on the history of Alcatraz.   (c) Walking through the cell block and recreation area.   (d) Exploring the island, including the old Civil War fort and the nature preserve.

When you arrive at Pier 33, you can get a brochure with a map of Alcatraz and other information.

Booklets about Alcatraz are available on the Alcatraz dock for $1, in English, French, German, Spanish, Italian and Japanese.

There is also a bookstore on the island with a large selection of material about Alcatraz.

Alcatraz Combo Tours

Another way of getting Alcatraz tickets is to purchase a combination tour, where Alcatraz tickets are paired with one or more other San Francisco attractions or activities.

Since there are no discounts for Alcatraz tickets, getting a package deal can be one way of saving some money, if there are other tours you plan to do while you're here.

Also, it's one way to get tickets for Alcatraz when the official seller, cityexperiences.com, is sold out.

Alcatraz can be be paired with a large variety of other activities, where the total cost can be less than buying the tickets individually.

If you're planning to do a  city tour , or see  Muir Woods  or  Sausalito , or go on a  bay cruise , you can find tours like that combined with Alcatraz.

Also things like food tours , Segway tours , beer pub tours , and lots of other fun things may be available along with Alcatraz.

I may earn a small commission if you make a purchase through some of the affiliate links on this page, at no extra cost to you. See  disclosure policy . This helps me provide all the free information on the site. Thank you!

Alcatraz & SF City Tour.  You can get Alcatraz tickets and a bus tour of the main SF attractions, with pickup from your hotel. $160. See  Alcatraz & City Tour  for more info and booking.

Alcatraz & Bay Cruise.  See Alcatraz and also spend 60 minutes sailing around the bay and under the Golden Gate Bridge. Gorgeous views! $138. See   Alcatraz and Bay Cruise    for info and booking.

Alcatraz and Bike Tour.  Do Alcatraz one day and another day do a guided bike tour, along the SF waterfront, across the Golden Gate Bridge, and down into the charming town of Sausalito. $179. See  Alcatraz and Bike the Bridge  for info and booking.

Alcatraz, SF City Tour, Muir Woods & Sausalito.  Tour Alcatraz, San Francisco, and explore the ancient redwoods of Muir Woods all in one day, with a stop in the charming, seaside town of Sausalito. $109. See  Alcatraz, SF, Muir Woods & Sausalito Tour  for info and booking.

To check out the  available Alcatraz combo tours , see  combination tours  (lots to choose from!).

Alcatraz tickets sold out? Don't despair! There are ways to get tickets. See  Last Minute Tickets

The Alcatraz ferries and tours run all year round, but the island is closed on Christmas Day, New Year's Day, and Thanksgiving.

What is the best time of year to visit Alcatraz? 

The best time of year to visit Alcatraz is in the fall , September or October, our most reliably warm and sunny months.

The ferries run rain or shine, but some months are rainier than others.

As a general guide,  September  and  October  are the warmest and sunniest months,  November, December, January and February  are the coldest and wettest,  March  can be wet, but not that cold,  April  is variable (often sunny, with occasional rain), and  May, June, July and August  are often foggy, but with no rain.

Our rainy season is nothing like Seattle's; even in a typical "wet" year, it will rain off and on for two or three days, then we get a few sunny days, so you can get a good day any time of year.

Blessed as we are with a quasi-Mediterranean climate, even in wet years the rain usually disappears by May, often by April, and doesn't start up again until November.

See more about our San Francisco weather  and the best times to visit San Francisco .

What to Bring With You When You Visit Alcatraz

No matter what time of year you visit Alcatraz,  be sure to bring a jacket!  

What may look like a warm sunny day when you start out often turns into a cold, foggy and windy afternoon, especially in the "fog season": May, June and July.

Also, it tends to be colder and windier out on the Rock.

If you forget, however, you can always buy one of those "Alcatraz" sweatshirts once you get there, in the bookstore on the dock or in the gift shop at the prison!

City Experiences has some requirements for boarding the ferries:

 # 1. Don't forget to  bring an ID with your photo  on it when you visit Alcatraz. It is required as a safety precaution, first to purchase or pick up your tickets at Pier 33, and as you are boarding the ferry if you have a pre-printed ticket. If you used a credit card on the phone, you will need to show them the card used to buy the ticket. Only the person who purchased the ticket on the phone or online needs to show ID.

 # 2. Certain items  cannot be taken on the boat , in addition to the obvious ones like weapons. They include:

• Oversized backpacks (larger than 16" by 20", or 40 by 50 cm)
• Skateboards
• Roller Blades/Skates

And  parents take note :

• Shoes with Wheelies

There is no place to store stuff at Pier 33 while you visit Alcatraz. A few bike racks are available, but they can fill up.

The California Visitors Center at Pier 39 used to store luggage for a small fee but it appears they don't do that anymore.

More things to bring:

Bottled water. Bring your own, or you can buy bottled water at the shop on the dock. You can carry your water bottle all over the island.

Current food rules: They prohibit eating anywhere on the island except on the dock, so you could bring something to eat either before or after you tour the island. They are serving food and drinks on the ferry again.

Your mobile phone or other camera.

The  best  views of San Francisco (in my opinion) are from a boat out in the Bay.

It's worth going to visit Alcatraz just to see the City from this amazing vantage point.

The usual items . Sunglasses, sunhat, sunblock, etc. Anything you think you might need for the next 3 or 4 hours.

Shopping is  very  limited on the island, unless you need a shirt, baseball hat, bottled water or a special Alcatraz prison cup!

Getting on the Ferry

Covid rules:  no vaccination proof is required to get on the boat, and masks are recommended, but not required, in the loading area, on the boat, and on the dock at Alcatraz.

Thirty minutes before departure, there will be a long line waiting to get on the boat.

Should you get there early so you can be at the front of the line and get a good spot?

No.  Good News!  There is plenty of seating and the best spots are standing along the railing anyway. People rush on and take the seats on the open decks up above.

When the boat starts, many people leave their seats to go over to the rail where the view is better, or walk around the boat, so the seats will open up if you want one.

You also have a choice to sit outside on the decks or inside and look out the windows.

The ferry company asks you to be at the pier 30 minutes prior to boarding, but you don't have to be in the line for 30 minutes.

There is a snack bar and shop on Pier 33 next to the departure point, so you can relax and have a cappuccino while you're waiting to visit Alcatraz.

Have a snack, too; no food is available on Alcatraz.

On the Island: food, drink and more...

The Park Service has strict rules about food and drink when you visit Alcatraz. 

No eating or drinking  other than water is allowed anywhere on Alcatraz (except eating is okay in the dock area).

On the ferry, there's a snack bar serving sandwiches, hot dogs, nachos and snacks, plus beverages (beer and wine are served only on the return trip). 

Something new: you can now pre-order food and drinks to eat on the ferry. See food & drink preorder . Not sure what the advantage is, though.

The ride over to Alcatraz is gorgeous and only 15 minutes, so I recommend getting some snacks in the snack bar before you get on the boat so you can enjoy the views, and not be standing in line to get food on the ferry.

Your visit to Alcatraz will last several hours, so I suggest bringing a snack or sandwich with you to eat on the dock before or after you explore the island. 

The only beverage allowed past the dock area is water. Cold bottled water is for sale in the bookstore. Good idea to take some with you; it can be a warm hike up the hill to the prison.

Are there bathrooms on Alcatraz? Yes, there are bathrooms on Alcatraz. However...

A word to the wise, especially those traveling with children: there are  only two restrooms  on the whole island.

One bathroom is on the dock, but the other bathroom is at the top of the hill near the Alcatraz lighthouse, a long way from the dock.

You won't get to it until after the climb up the hill and at the very end of the Audio Tour in the prison.

The climb up to the prison is a rather steep and long: a distance of 1/4 mile (.4 km) with one switchback. You will be climbing a hill 13 stories tall.

Wear comfortable  walking shoes  when you come to visit Alcatraz.

Prior to the federal penitentiary, the island was used as an  army fortress , and later as a military prison.

Confederate prisoners were held here during the Civil War. You can explore some of the buildings still remaining from that period.

Some of the buildings were burned during the Indian occupation of Alcatraz in 1969-1971.

The warden's house on top of the hill was one of the casualties; only the shell remains.

Special transport  is available for those with difficulty walking.

An electric vehicle pulling two small cars carries passengers from the landing dock up to the prison every 35 minutes. Ditto going down.

Shopping on Alcatraz

If you're interested in getting  Alcatraz souvenirs , there is a large selection for sale on the island.

The bookstore has some, but the biggest collection is in the gift shop at the top of the hill, just as you leave the prison.

Along with the usual T-shirts, hats, mugs and posters, you can stock up on replicas of prison clothing, cell keys, official guard pins and tin prison cups!

There are lots of books and DVDs about Alcatraz as well.

Getting to Pier 33

Pier 33 is located on the Embarcadero, near Francisco and Beach Streets.

Going by Car - Parking Tips

Street parking in this area is dismal.

There are a few metered spots, but not long enough to visit Alcatraz, so plan to use a parking garage or lot (expensive) or park on the street without meters in another neighborhood (like the Sunset District) and take public transportation.

Or use the Spot Hero app to book a space in one of my recommended parking garages. You can often get good discounts for parking that way.

Best Spots for Parking Near Pier 33

There's no parking available right at Pier 33, but there's a cluster of parking garages in the general area of Pier 33 and several parking lots.

Unfortunately, this area, like a number of other popular tourist areas, has become a favorite hunting ground for car burglars.

I've changed my recommendations for where to park near Pier 33 because of the frequent car-break-ins at certain locations. 

I put together a new group of best places to park in this area that appear to have a lower likelihood of break-ins.

See my article on  Embarcadero parking  for details and maps showing their locations.

You can see my suggestions for Alcatraz parking as well as parking for other attractions on the Embarcadero.

The easiest parking used to be at the lot right across the street from Pier 33, or in one of the cavernous pier garages like Pier 19 ½, Pier 23 or Pier 29. But these have become the favorites of thieves, so I don't recommend parking there.

There's a big lot at Pier 27 which is convenient and not as risky as the other lots on the Embarcadero, but I wouldn't say it was safe, either. 

In any case, be sure never to leave anything valuable in your car, or anything visible.

I have parked at the lot across from Pier 33 (2 Bay Street lot) for two of my visits to Alcatraz and my car was okay. But one time when we got back after dark, after doing the Night Tour, one of the cars in the lot had been broken into. I've used the lot at Pier 27 also, without a problem. But others have reported break-ins there. 

Parking Caveat  for self-park lots. There have been instances of thieves pretending to be parking attendants and collecting parking fees at unattended lots.

Check carefully to see what the payment arrangement is for the place you're parking. You'll see signs telling you to get a ticket from the machine to place in your car (and see the machines) if it's a self-park lot or garage. This has happened at the Pier 27 lot and other places.

Taking BART to Alcatraz Landing

If you're coming into the City on BART, get off at  Embarcadero station  and come up to the surface on Market Street.

There is an F-Line trolley stop in the same block (see map below); you will want to be on the south side of Market Street (going towards the end of Market Street where the Ferry Building is).

The next F-Line streetcar  stop is Steuart Street, just past the end of Market Street towards the Ferry Building and the bay.

Take the trolley along the Embarcadero to the  "Bay Street" Stop  at Pier 35, and walk back a short distance to Pier 33.

(Also see  Map of F-Market Line and Bart Stations  for the entire F-Line route).

Standard adult fare  on San Francisco buses and streetcars is  $3.00, exact change required . Youths 5-18, and seniors 65 and over, pay $1.50.

Or use the Muni Mobile app , $2.50 per adult.

Market Street Trolley San Francisco has a collection of antique streetcars from U.S. and European cities that run on the F-Line, from the Castro District along Market Street to the Embarcadero, past Pier 33 and Pier 39 to Fisherman's Wharf.

The Alcatraz stop is " Bay Street " at Pier 35, close to Pier 33.

Buses The #10 Townsend bus stops at Pier 33.

You can go to a page to download a  Downtown Transportation Map  showing the BART, bus and streetcar routes.

Using public transportation in San Francisco.  There are now alternatives to needing exact change on the buses and trolleys.

See  getting around SF  for my transit tips and a description of the passes, mobile apps, and cards you can use instead of cash.

Walking from Embarcadero BART station . Come up on Market Street and head for the Ferry Building, straight ahead one block at the end of Market Street, then go left and walk along the Embarcadero to Pier 33.

About a 16 minute walk at a brisk pace.

Coming from Fisherman's Wharf

Take the "F-Line" Trolley  along the Embarcadero and get off at the  Bay Street  stop at Pier 35, and walk a short distance further to Pier 33.

If you want to take the trolley, get on at the first stop on Jones Street and Jefferson Street. It gets really full and for later stops you probably won't get a seat and sometimes can't get on at all.

Or  walk the whole way  (about 7 minutes along the Embarcadero from Pier 39, and 20 minutes from the Hyde Street Pier at the other end of Fisherman's Wharf).

There are also pedicabs that go from Fisherman's Wharf down the Embarcadero.

Enjoy your visit to Alcatraz!

What should you wear to visit Alcatraz?

• Wear layers, even if it's a warm day in the city. It can be cold and breezy out on the island. 
• A warm jacket is handy all year round, except for maybe September and October.  
• Consider wearing a sun hat and sunglasses on sunny days because you will be outside for a good part of the time.

Can you eat on Alcatraz?

They don't want visitors eating on Alcatraz, and there is no food to purchase on the island. It used to be okay to eat on the dock, but I don't know how strict they are about that now. Better to eat before you go. They don't serve food on the ferry going over now, either.

Is Alcatraz wheelchair accessible?

Yes, the cell block area is wheelchair accessible, as well as  the ride up to the cell block.

Other areas require going up and down stairs, but the cell block is the most interesting area. You would need someone traveling with you to help you get on and off the transport vehicle needed to go up to the cell block. It would be difficult or impossible for someone to push a wheelchair up the hill to the cell block.

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HOW TO VISIT ALCATRAZ, SAN FRANCISCO

By Author Katie

Posted on Last updated: January 31, 2024

One of the most memorable days of our last American trip was our day exploring Alcatraz – San Francisco’s famous federal prison and top of our San Francisco bucket list. We are sharing our tips on how to visit Alcatraz so that you can have a fantastic experience too.

Alcatraz tours

Alcatraz cruises are the official tour company that offers tours of the prison, although other companies may offer a whole day package that includes this tour.

There are different tour options available:

• Day Tour ($39.90)
• Early Bird Tour ($39.90) – Recommended – this is the first tour of the day so the prison is a lot less crowded.
• Night Tour ($47.50) – includes a guided tour and extra activities
• Behind the Scene tour ($92.30) – Includes a behind-the-scenes tour, including areas not open to the public
• Alcatraz and Angel Island tour ($78.65) – Includes a tram tour

Tours begin at 8.45 am (for the Early Bird tour) and from 9.10 am for day tours. Ferries back run every 20 – 30 minutes.

It is advised that you book your tickets in advance to avoid disappointment.

Visiting Alcatraz tips:

• Buy your tickets in advance , tickets can sell out 7 weeks ahead of your visit!
• Bring ID – You are required to bring a form of ID to collect your tickets.
• Use the audio tour – the audio tour is very well done and moves you through the experience dramatically whilst keeping you deeply interested.
• Pack small – there are no locker or storage facilities on the Island. You will want to pack small anyway as the tour takes up to 3 hours.
• Bring a bottle of water – drinks are allowed and food is allowed to be eaten in the docks area.
• Ferries leave from Pier 33.

Our experience

After catching a taxi to Pier 33, we found ourselves munching on a breakfast burrito and waiting to board the 8.45 early bird tour to Alcatraz. Remember to bring a photo ID if you are collecting tickets at the entrance but I strongly advise you to print the tickets before arriving to save time and avoid queuing.

Creative tip: Get the earliest Alcatraz Cruise to avoid the crowds.

The boat to the island took around 15 minutes and I do recommend you to wear layers when getting any ferries around San Francisco as the high speeds can make the journey rather chilly. Once we arrived at Alcatraz Island we headed straight up the hill to the entrance; there was a welcome speaker introducing the history of the island but we decided to move on and head straight up to avoid the crowds and we are glad we did!

Once we made it to the entrance of the prison, it took just a few minutes to get our audio tour headphones and head in. The audio tour guides you around each cell and pathway of the prison, feeding you factual and fascinating information along with inmate stories and the life of the federal prison throughout the years. You learn about the different escape attempts along with what life would have been like as an inmate.

Looking through the small windows of the prison, you can begin to understand how torturous the island must have been for its inmates; being able to see the developing city that is San Francisco but never being able to get near it.

The tour takes approximately 2.5 hours with an Alcatraz store selling the usual merchandise you would expect. Throughout the day there are some talks about various aspects of the prison for those who wish to learn more.

As it was still fairly early when we finished the tour, we had no problem catching the ferry back to pier 33; which runs every 30 minutes.

The History of Alcatraz

The island acted as a military prison for civil war prisoners from around 1861. In 1867, a brick prison was built and so came about Alcatraz; a detention center for long-term military prisoners. In 1934, the island became a Federal Bureau of Prisons. Prisoners who caused problems in penitentiaries were sent to Alcatraz with most inmates being notorious bank robbers and murderers.

In its 29 years of use, Alcatraz saw infamous lawbreakers such as Al Capone, George ‘Machine gun’ Kelly, Robert Franklin Stroud (The Birman), and Alvin ‘Creepy’ Karps; Alcatraz’s longest-serving inmate as well as Rafael Cancel Miranda, a member of the Puerto Rican National Party who attacked the U.S Capitol building in 1954.

During these 29 years, the penitentiary claim that no prisoner ever successfully escaped however 36 prisoners made escape attempts with 2 men trying twice, 23 being caught alive, 6 were shot, 2 drowned and 5 are listed as ‘missing and presumed drowned’, although there is some believe they have been sighted since their escape. Due to the incredibly high costs of running the prison, it was closed on March 21, 1963. On the tour, you learn about each of these famous inmates in more detail along with the most intricate escapes devised.

We really enjoyed our time visiting Alcatraz – send us a message if you have any questions about our visit! Heading to San Fran? We have a mini-guide to help you plan your visit PLUS our top things to do , a guide to Fishermans Wharf and our day visiting the Zig Zag Lombard street. 

What is your favorite thing to do in San Francisco? Let us know in the comments below. 

Helpful Resources

Travel essentials:

• We LOVE this camera for our travel photography.
• For a cheap, easy and compact camera, we use this to vlog and take photographs. 
• We use this travel drone (but make sure to check drone laws in your chosen destination first). 
• This is our favourite travel Insurance because it covers so many activities and travel situations that could arise on longer trips but also offers year coverage.

What to pack

• No matter where we travel to, I always take these trusty hand sanitizers and a mini first aid kit.  
• We love these toiletry bags (especially great for smaller bathrooms) and choose a laptop bag like this as our hand luggage. 
• We keep our devices charged on long travel days with these lightweight battery packs  and bring these worldwide travel adaptors on all our trips. 
• I still struggle not to overpack so stick to using an expandable suitcase like these and always take my trusty luggage scales to avoid being charged at the airport. 

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

Jessica Nemire Last Updated: October 26, 2023

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

How to Visit Alcatraz Island: Hours and Info

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

Alcatraz Island is closed on the following days:

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

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

Tickets and Pricing for Alcatraz Island

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

How To Get to Alcatraz Island

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

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

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

• Car/Rideshare Services

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

By Trolley:

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

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

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

By Car/Uber:

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

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

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

What to See and Do on the Island

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

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

Alcatraz Island Tours

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

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

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

Facts and History of Alcatraz

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

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

Where To Stay in San Francisco

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

About Jessica Nemire

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

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

Big Cities Historical West

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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Visiting “The Rock”: How to get Alcatraz Tickets and Everything Else you Need to Know

• San Francisco

Everyone has heard of Alcatraz Island, but only those lucky enough to visit San Francisco get the opportunity to visit the famous rock. We think that everyone visiting, or even living in San Francisco should experience this historic place. 

But a visit to Alcatraz comes with lots of questions, like how to buy Alcatraz tour tickets and where to board the Alcatraz ferry. Maybe you want to know everything your Alcatraz ticket includes. 

In this article, we will include all of that and more. Below you will find an outline to help you navigate this page.

What and Where is Alcatraz?

Alcatraz island hours of operation.

• How and Why you should Visit Alcatraz Island

How to Buy Alcatraz Tickets

• Alcatraz Tour Ticket Options and What they Include
• What to Bring
• What NOT to Bring

How Long to Plan for an Alcatraz Tour

Getting to alcatraz landing (pier 33).

• Pier 33 Alcatraz Landing

Basic Alcatraz Ferry Info

Onboard amenities , arriving on alcatraz island, walking up to the prison, the cellhouse audio tour, exploring alcatraz island.

• Island Amenities

Key Alcatraz Takeaways

Alcatraz island ticket faq, alcatraz island basic info.

Alcatraz Island , also known simply as “The Rock,” is an island in the San Francisco Bay. It has been many things over the years, but is most famous for being a maximum-security federal penitentiary from 1934 to 1963. Notorious criminals were held in this inescapable prison, such as Al Capone and Machine Gun Kelly.

Today, Alcatraz Island is part of the Golden Gate Recreation Area and managed by the National Park System. The Island offers visitors the opportunity to explore the history and natural beauty of Alcatraz at their own pace.

Alcatraz Island, also known simply as “The Rock,” is an island in the San Francisco Bay. It has been many things over the years, but is most famous for being a maximum-security federal penitentiary from 1934 to 1963. Notorious criminals were held in this inescapable prison, such as Al Capone and Machine Gun Kelly.

Alcatraz Island is open every day of the year except for Thanksgiving, Christmas Day, and New Year’s Day. Their hours of operation change with the season and tours offered, but ferry departures are scheduled approximately every half hour beginning at 8:45am.

Note: Certain sections of the Island are closed to the public during seabird nesting season. For example, the Agave Trail is only open in fall and early winter.

How and Why You Should Visit Alcatraz Island

The only way to visit Alcatraz Island is to take a ferry. It is an island, afterall! Alcatraz tour tickets include this ferry ride, entrance onto the island, the cellhouse audio tour of the prison, and more. Details depend on which Alcatraz ticket you choose. More on that below. 

Once on the island, you have the freedom to explore as you wish. Take the Cellhouse audio tour to learn about the prison from past prisoners and guards, walk the scenic Agave Trail for beautiful views of the Golden Gate Bridge and downtown San Francisco, or join in on a free Park Ranger presentation. 

A visit to Alcatraz Island is a San Francisco must do. The views are stunning and the history is intriguing. There really is nowhere in the world like it.

Alcatraz Tickets

Morning Guided San Francisco Sightseeing Tour

Most complete and entertaining San Francisco city tour available. Stops to explore Golden Gate Bridge, Palace of Fine Arts, Land’s End, and Twin Peaks.

Guided Alcatraz and San Francisco City Tour

This full-day guided tour breaks you into Alcatraz and explores the Palace of Fine Arts, Golden Gate Bridge, Land’s End and Twin Peaks.

So now that we have convinced you that you need to visit, let’s get to the Alcatraz ticket details you need to know. 

There is only one company that can dock on Alcatraz Island. You will see many other San Francisco Bay cruises and ferries mention Alcatraz, but these boats can only sail past or around the island. Make sure you buy the right ticket!

In order to buy the correct ticket, only purchase an Alcatraz ticket in one of the following ways:

• Online or over the phone through Alcatraz City Cruises. Tickets become available 90 days or more before the tour date. As soon as you know what date you want to go—buy the tickets! When buying Alcatraz tickets in advance, you will receive a QR code containing your tickets. Either print your tickets yourself or take a screenshot of this QR code and take it with you to the willcall ticket booth.
• In person on Pier 33 (Alcatraz Landing). If there are tickets available, they can be purchased in person at the Alcatraz City Cruises ticket booth on Pier 33. We do not recommend leaving this to the last minute, as the lines can be very long and many people are turned away when tickets sell out. 
• As part of a combination tour with a reputable company. Several tour companies in San Francisco offer tours that combine Alcatraz Island with a Guided City Tour . If you buy a tour through a site other than that link, make sure to read the fine print and confirm it includes access onto the Island, and not just a view of it.

Insider Tip: If Alcatraz tour tickets sell out for the date you want to go, try finding a combination tour like the one linked above. Often they have availability when City Experiences sell out. Plus you will get another awesome tour! Win, win. 

Alcatraz Tour Ticket Options and What They Include

When purchasing Alcatraz tickets through Alcatraz City Cruises, you will have 3 ticket options. Each comes with a different price tag and experience.

• Alcatraz Day Tour. This is the most popular Alcatraz tour ticket. This ticket includes the ferry ride to and from the island, the Cellhouse audio tour, Park Ranger talks, and free time to explore the island on your own, including the Alcatraz theater, several historic buildings, and interpretive exhibits. If you purchase a combo tour, this will most likely be the Alcatraz ticket you will receive. Adult day tickets are around $50.
• Alcatraz Night Tour. This tour takes you to the Island after dark and includes special tours, presentations, and activities not offered during the day. These Alcatraz tickets are limited, popular, and sell out quickly. Ticket prices are about $10 more than the Day Tour. Offered Tuesday-Saturday. 
• Alcatraz Behind the Scenes Tour. This is the Alcatraz Island ticket for the ultimate Alcatraz fan. Get access to off-limits areas within the Cellhouse on a live, guided tour. Groups are limited to 30 guests aged 12+. This experience also includes everything included in the Night Tour above. Ticket prices are over twice that of the Day Tour, and you can expect a tour duration of 4-5 hours. Offered Tuesday-Saturday. 

Before your Alcatraz Tour

After you have your tickets purchased, you can start looking forward to your visit! Here is what you need to know to prepare for your Alcatraz Tour. 

What to Bring to Alcatraz

• Photo ID and the Credit Card used to purchase your tickets 
• Ticket QR code and backup printed paper copy
• Bottled water (no glass)
• Jacket. The weather can be completely different on Alcatraz, and can change rapidly.
• Comfy walking shoes

What NOT to Bring to Alcatraz

• Big backpacks/bags. Nothing bigger than a standard size backpack will be allowed and there are no storage lockers available. 
• Anything with wheels (Ex. skateboards, roller skates, wheelie shoes…). Wheelchairs are the exception of course.
• Food. While they won’t stop you from bringing snacks to the island, you can only eat them on the dock. So we recommend most people just eat plenty beforehand and leave food at home. 
• Alcohol. Alcoholic beverages can only be purchased on your return ferry trip.

As a San Francisco tourist (or even a local!), we know that you probably have your day in the city planned out to the minute. So how long does a tour to Alcatraz take exactly?

The beauty is that the answer is mostly up to you! Once on the island you can choose any of the returning ferry departures offered for your Alcatraz ticket type. So especially if you purchase a Day Tour ticket for a morning ferry departure to the island, you could spend many hours there before heading back to San Francisco. 

Note: The Night and Behind the Scenes Tours have their own limited evening return ferry departures. This means there may be a little less flexibility with these options, depending on the season. 

We think the minimum time it would take to get to the island, walk up to the Cellhouse for the audio tour, and then catch a return ferry to the mainland is just under 2 hours. But that is without exploring anything else the island has to offer and assuming the return ferry is leaving at exactly the right time.  We recommend leaving 3-4 hours free to fully explore and enjoy Alcatraz Island. You may only be there once after all! Watch the documentary in the theater, listen to a ranger talk, explore the special exhibits, pose with the oldest lighthouse on the West Coast, and peruse the shop for a souvenir.

The Alcatraz Ferry

The ferry to Alcatraz Island leaves from Pier 33 along the Embarcadero, also known as Alcatraz Landing. Here it is on a map:

As you can see, it is right at the end of the Fisherman’s Wharf tourist area and under a ½ mile from Pier 39. This is great news because…

There is no parking lot at Pier 33.

There are pay-to-park lots nearby, the closest being the lot at 80 Francisco St just a couple blocks away. We would not, however, suggest you drive to Alcatraz Landing. Driving in San Francisco is often slower than other means of transportation, and the parking lots will definitely cost you more money. 

The best options to get to the ferry terminal include walking, the MUNI F line streetcar (Bay Street stop), bicycle rental, or rideshare app. Of course, if you book a combination tour, the tour guide will drop you off right where you need to be!

Insider Tip: There is limited, accessible parking at Pier 33 for vehicles with valid disabled placards. These spots are first come first served.

Even if you have your Alcatraz tickets in hand, you should arrive at the ferry dock no less than 30 minutes before your scheduled ferry departure . You will probably notice on arrival that people are already standing in line. While you can absolutely join the line if you would like, there is not much need. More on this later. 

Pier 33 Alcatraz Landing 

Pier 33 Alcatraz Landing consists of the ticketbooth, waiting and boarding areas, restrooms, and exhibits about Alcatraz. When you arrive, head to the willcall ticket booth line with your QR code and photo ID to pick up your tickets if you didn’t print them. Then you will be free to enjoy the area until boarding.

Now it is time to load onto the ferry and head to Alcatraz! There is a sign on Pier 33 that announces which departure is boarding. Just make sure to double check that sign and your ticket to confirm the departure time matches.

The Alcatraz Ferry has both indoor and outdoor sections , each with ample seating and great views. They do not oversell the ferry’s seating capacity, so if you have a ticket, you are guaranteed a seat on that ferry. 

When your ferry loads, all of the people standing in line usually rush straight to claim the best seats. But here’s the truth of the matter: most of those people end up standing along the railing to get the best views and take pictures anyway, especially on a nice day. 

And the ferry ride is only 15 minutes each way. So unless you have trouble standing that long, you will most likely want to stand along the edge and watch the views and ignore the seats entirely.

And boy is there a lot to see from the Alcatraz Ferry! The views of San Francisco, the Golden Gate Bridge, Bay Bridge, Angel Island , and, of course, Alcatraz Island itself are incredible. Make sure to bring a camera or a well-charged phone to capture the moment.

The Alcatraz Ferry is well appointed, especially for such a short boat ride. There are accessible restrooms and a snack and drink bar. 

Insider Tip: Don’t waste your precious time on the ferry standing in line at the snack bar! You only have 15 minutes to take in the views afterall. Eat before the ferry ride and enjoy the beautiful San Francisco boat ride you paid for. 

You can now preorder food and drinks for the return ferry journey. While this does maybe save you from waiting as long for your food, we don’t see much point. The Alcatraz Ferry is not known for their gourmet food or drink. So if you can wait until you get back on the mainland and have hundreds of restaurants and bars to choose from, that is our suggestion. 

Alcatraz Island Tour Details

Now we have made it to the really exciting part of the tour — your time on Alcatraz Island! Here are all of the details you need to know. 

First, an Insider Tip: When you arrive on Alcatraz Island and step off of the ferry, you will see a sign on the dock listing the return ferry departures for that day. Take a photo of this sign, especially if you don’t have a brochure.  

When you walk off of the ferry onto Alcatraz Island you will be welcomed by a Park Ranger. They will introduce you to the Island and some of the things to see and do. It is a good plan to pay attention to the intro, even if you are an Alcatraz expert, as seasonal changes and closures do happen. 

The walk up to the prison for the Cellhouse Tour surprises some people. It is just a ¼ of a mile and paved, but it is steep. When you reach the top you will have climbed the equivalent of 13 flights of stairs. There are flat sections where you can stop, rest, and take in the views throughout the route, so make ample use of those if you need to.  Those that have any trouble walking can reserve a spot on the electric tram. The S.E.A.T tram is a completely free service that transports folks up and down from the dock to the Cellhouse on a regular schedule.

The Cellhouse audio tour is the most popular thing to do on Alcatraz Island. It is a fantastic walking tour of the historic prison, including Al Capone’s cell, the recreation yard, the punishment cells, the prison library, and more. The tour is given by former inmates and prison guards. These narrators really bring a personal connection to the stories and bring the history to life. 

The audio tour is available in the following 11 languages: English, Spanish, French, Italian, Dutch, German, Japanese, and Mandarin, Korean, Portuguese, and Russian. There are also large print, braille, and sign language versions of the tour available upon request. The Cellhouse tour is also wheelchair accessible, with elevators available to reach the upper floor. 

Remember that you can pause the audio tour at any time . The tour runs 45 minutes, but you can make it much longer if you wish to. Pause at any time to look longer at something or even to go back and listen to a section again. The recorded tour really gives you a lot of flexibility. 

After you have finished the audio tour and handed in your device, you will leave the prison through the gift shop and be right where you started the tour. 

Insider Tip: You do not have to do the Cellhouse tour first. Most people will get off the ferry, climb the hill, and immediately start the audio tour. You absolutely can do it this way, but it is 100% not a requirement. If big groups at each stop during the audio tour will detract from your experience, consider exploring the island a bit first. 

Check out the documentary playing in the theater, hike the Agave Trail and look for seabirds, or go check out the lighthouse. If you time your start of the audio tour for inbetween ferry arrivals, you will have more elbow room.

There is more to do on Alcatraz than just the Cellhouse tour. 

Make sure to check out the exhibits on display. They cover a range of topics pertaining to the island like the Native American occupation, the American Justice system, and seabirds. You can find rotating exhibits in Building 64, the New Industries Building, and the Cellhouse. 

If you like old historic buildings, or at least the remains of them, you’ll be happy on Alcatraz. You can see the lighthouse (the first on the West coast!), Warden’s home, Officer’s Row, the Guardhouse, Officer’s Club, the power plant, the morgue, the water tower, and more, in just a quick loop around the island.

Don’t forget to check out Building 64 down by the dock either. This is where you will find the theater and bookstores. This is also where you can find out about the ranger programs on schedule for the day. The park rangers on Alcatraz are full of knowledge and they give great talks. 

Let’s not forget about the nature on Alcatraz! When you walk around you will see multiple gardens, some even planted by the inmates themselves. And if you are visiting from September-January, make sure to take a walk on the Agave Trail. The 0.7-mile trail is lined with eucalyptus and multiple species of agave. It begins near the dock and goes right down to the water where the birdwatching and views of the Bay are fantastic. 

Alcatraz Island Amenities

There are two public restrooms on Alcatraz Island. One is near the ferry dock and the other is up the hill near the Cellhouse and Lighthouse. 

There are basic snacks, water bottles, and hot beverages sold at the bookstore near the dock. Keep in mind that you can only eat in the designated area on the dock. 

The bookstore also sells… books! If you are interested in reading further about the island, definitely pick up a book for further reading. If you are looking for something a bit more souvenir-like, also take a look through the gift shop at the end of the Cellhouse tour. They sell things like inmate shackles, officer badges, and novelty clothing.

That was a lot of info! So here is a checklist of the most important takeaways from this article and things to remember:

• Buy your Alcatraz tickets in advance
• Bring your photo ID to the ticket booth
• Eat beforehand
• Leave large bags at home
• Bring a jacket
• Explore more of the island than just the Cellhouse

When is the best time to visit Alcatraz?

Alcatraz Island is open 362 days a year, but that doesn’t mean it is always the same experience. The most crowded times on Alcatraz are Holidays and weekends during the summer. If you plan to go during those times, definitely buy your tickets way ahead of time and be ready to share the space.

The best time to go to Alcatraz may be in the fall months. San Francisco often experiences a second summer, and fall days are sunny and warm. The Agave path will also be open this time of year, for an added activity and bonus for nature lovers. 

Having said all of that, there is something a bit perfect about visiting Alcatraz on a dark and dreary day too. The spooky weather just adds to the atmosphere of the Island. Just bring a rain layer and your sense of adventure, and you will have a great time, no matter the weather.

Where can I buy an Alcatraz Island ticket?

Purchase your Alcatraz tickets directly through Alcatraz City Cruises, either on this Alcatraz City Cruises website , on the phone, or in person at the Pier 33 ticket booth.  The other option is to combine an Alcatraz Ticket with another tour on a combo tour like this Alcatraz Island and Guided San Francisco City Tour .

What does an Alcatraz Ticket Include?

An Alcatraz tour ticket includes:

• Ferry to the island
• Cellhouse Audio Tour
• Access to special exhibits and Ranger talks
• Freetime to explore all open areas on the island
• Ferry back to Pier 33

Published on: February 5th 2024

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• About Alcatraz
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• Before You Visit
• Accessibility & Parking

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Group Sales: What if I have 15 or more people in my party?

Are backpacks or luggage allowed on alcatraz island, is the cellhouse audio tour available in other languages besides english, how far in advance should i purchase tickets to alcatraz, how do i purchase tickets for others, do you offer any discounts to alcatraz, how many tickets can i purchase, how do i book tickets if i am a tour operator/travel agent, what time of year is the best time to visit alcatraz, how much time should i allow for the visit to alcatraz, what can you do on alcatraz island, how should i dress for alcatraz island when visiting, what time will we come back to the mainland from alcatraz island, where do i pick up my tickets, do i need to being a photo id if i print my tickets off at home, is there parking available, is alcatraz island accessible, may i cancel my reservation, how can i reschedule my visit, are minors under 18 allowed to visit without an adult, do you provide american sign language interpreters, should i book my tickets on the the day of my arrival.

The National Park Service has strict requirements for groups of fifteen people or more, so we're unable to handle requests beyond the maximum fourteen (14) tickets online. Group sales and youth group requests require additional paperwork, so we need to direct you to the Alcatraz City Cruises Group Sales Department. You may reach Group Sales directly by phone: 415-438-8361 or by e-mail: [email protected] .

Bags larger than a standard backpack, 16" x 20", are not allowed on Alcatraz Island. Small packs and bags are permitted. Each visitor is required to go through extensive security prior to boarding the ferry to Alcatraz. There is no storage available at Pier 33 or Alcatraz Island.

Yes, the Cellhouse Audio Tour (included in the Day and Night Tours) is available in English, Spanish, German, French, Italian, Japanese, Dutch, Mandarin, Portuguese and Korean.

Tickets to Alcatraz Island can sell out weeks in advance. We suggest that you secure your reservation as far in advance as possible to ensure that your desired tour date does not sell out.

Tickets cannot be purchased for others at this time. The name of the person purchasing the tickets must be present at the time of the tour.

We do not offer any discounts at this time.

Each visitor may purchase a maximum of 14 tickets.

Alcatraz Island tickets must be purchased in the client’s name and credit card. The client must be attending the tour with a valid photo ID and the credit card used to secure the reservation.

The best time of the year to visit Alcatraz is in the winter months (January - March) if you want to avoid long crowds. The best months to visit due to weather are April - May or September-October. The summer months can be cold and foggy on Alcatraz Island.

You should allow for at least 2 to 3 hours to visit Alcatraz Island.

There are guided programs offered by the National Park Volunteers and Guides throughout the day. The guided tours will take you into places that visitors rarely see. The Cell house audio tour is provided for you to listen to the voices of former inmates and former guards as they describe life on the rock. The Audio tour is available in eight languages: English, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Spanish, Dutch, and Mandarin. There is also an orientation video shown every half hour describing the history of Alcatraz Island. Museums and bookstores are available. Nesting Season is from late September to February 1st.

You should bring a light jacket or sweater when visiting Alcatraz Island as the weather can be unpredictable. Winter months can be wet so we suggest that you bring a raincoat or wet gear. Comfortable shoes are necessary because much of Alcatraz Island is steep and hilly.

The ferry ride to and from Alcatraz will take around 10-15 minutes. The return trips are listed on the Ferry Schedule page. Times are also posted at the dock. Ferries are first come, first serve.

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. You will need to present a valid photo ID and the credit card used to purchase your reservation.

Yes, your photo ID will be checked while you are waiting in line prior to boarding the ferry. One member’s name must match the name on the reservation.

On-Street Parking is available near the Fisherman's Wharf area but can be hard to find. Parking Meters take nickels, dimes, and quarters. There are at least 15 commercial parking lots within the area of Pier 33. The closest commercial lot is located at 80 Francisco at Kearny.

Alcatraz Island is steep and hilly. You should be prepared for long walks uphill. Visitors unable to make the climb around Alcatraz can use SEAT - Sustainable Easy Access Transport, an electric shuttle that transports visitors from the docks to the prison. The SEAT runs on a regularly schedule each day. Families with small children and strollers cannot use SEAT. Seating is available on a first come, first serve basis. The following areas are wheelchair accessible: Alcatraz Dock Area, Prison Building Main Floor, All Bookstores, Museum Displays, and the Island Theater.

No, all Alcatraz Ticket sales are final. Cancellations are not allowed at this time.

All tickets sales are final. Requests to change your reservation must be made 72 hours prior to tour. There will be no compensation for no-shows.

No, minors under 18 are not allowed without an adult and the adult must be with them at all time on Alcatraz Island.

You can request Assistive Listening Devices at the ticket booth on Pier 33. Assistive Listening Devices may be used on all Ranger Led tours; but remember, you will need to request a device at the Pier 33 ticket booth. ASL interpreters are available on request. To request a Sign Language Interpreter we must be given at least five days advanced notice in order to guarantee that an interpreter will be available. To make a request please call the Accessibility Program Manager at (415)561-4958 or click here to email. http://www.nps.gov/goga/planyourvisit/american-sign-language-interpretation.htm Individuals who are deaf, hard-of-hearing, deaf/blind or have speech disabilities may utilize the following Federal Relay Service numbers: (800) 877-8339 Federal Relay Service (877) 877-6280 VCO (877) 877-8982 Speech to Speech (800) 845-6136 Spanish (866) 893-8340 TeleBraille

You should not book your reservation on the day of your arrival to San Francisco due to flight and travel delays. Changes and cancellations cannot be made on the same day of the tour under no circumstances.

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Thank you for visiting www.alcatrazislandtickets.com . Reservations and E-tickets are genuine for the tour which includes the ferry service. We also provide extended around-the-clock customer care seven days a week, including holidays. We're a private Customer Service and Booking company. Our goal is 100% customer satisfaction. Please share your experience with us at: Customer Care . This website isn't affiliated with any government entity and isn't the official box office. Total at checkout may exceed face value.  

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