visit alcatraz island san francisco

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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10 Things To Know When Planning A Visit To Alcatraz

Sharon Odegaard

• Activities and Interests
• Destinations
• History and Culture
• San Francisco
• United States

Alcatraz Island sits so close to the city of San Francisco that it’s as if it’s beckoning to you to visit. It’s visible from all along the wharf and from the high hills of the city, and it’s sure to pique your curiosity.

You’ve likely heard of its reputation as a maximum-security prison, but the island is more than old buildings with barred windows. Alcatraz provides hours of fascinating sights. And the boat ride there, with its stunning views of the Golden Gate Bridge and San Francisco, makes the trip worthwhile before you even set foot on the island.

Tours of Alcatraz have grown in popularity, and you will want to book ahead to ensure you get a spot.

Here are 10 things to know before you go to ensure you enjoy your visit to the fullest.

1. Be Sure To Book Ahead

If you postpone making a tour reservation until the week you are visiting San Francisco, you may be disappointed. Book at least a few weeks in advance, if possible — you can order tickets up to three months in advance. Only one company, Alcatraz Cruises , sells tickets for island tours. Go online and choose a day tour, night tour, or behind-the-scenes tour. Your ticket will be for a specific time. Boats depart until mid-afternoon, so even the last boat of the day will allow for plenty of time to tour Alcatraz.

Some sites sell bay cruise tickets that include “seeing” Alcatraz from the boat, but not landing there. Be sure to book through the official site if you want to do more than a sail-by.

2. Wear Layers And Comfortable Shoes

You’ll be walking up steep hills and old steps, so wear flat-soled shoes. I wore tennis shoes that were nicely cushioned, which turned out to be perfect for the somewhat uneven paths and worn stairways.

San Francisco can be chilly even in the summer, and fog and rain are common. A windbreaker jacket is a good idea at any time of year. Dress in layers if the weather is iffy.

3. Arrive Early For Boarding At Pier 33

It’s tour day! With your pre-purchased timed ticket in hand, head for Pier 33 about a half-hour early to check in. The numbered piers on the wharf begin at the Ferry Building and go in order toward the popular Pier 39 and Fisherman’s Wharf just beyond. You’ll have no trouble finding Pier 33.

Board the boat at your assigned time and settle in for a lovely 20-minute cruise with views of the Bay Bridge, the Golden Gate Bridge, Angel Island, and the city of San Francisco. Little white sailboats dot the water. It’s quite a picturesque ride.

4. Pick Up An Audio Tour At The Cell Block

Disembark at the dock, right next to the iconic guard tower. Listen to the brief orientation talk given by a National Park Service guide, then head up a hill to the main attraction of your tour: the prison cell blocks. Alcatraz is best known for its years as a federal prison (from 1934 to 1963), though in earlier years it served as a fort.

Enter the main building, just as the prisoners did. When a prisoner arrived, clothes were issued, along with shaving equipment and other basics. The receiving area is set up to show you how this looked. Move through the communal shower area to pick up an audio tour in your language.

I often pass on audio tours, since they can be more cumbersome and distracting than helpful, but at Alcatraz, the audio guide will tell you exactly how to navigate the large building. Hearing the stories told by guards and prisoners will enrich your experience of Alcatraz.

5. You Can Experience A Jail Cell

At Alcatraz, you can go inside a few of the cells and get a good feel for life behind bars. Look out at your fellow tourists wandering the hallways at leisure and envy them.

When I first visited Alcatraz, a guide would shut the door of the solitary confinement cell, leaving you in total silence and darkness. That’s no longer an option — I’m guessing it was too frightening! But it’s still a remarkable experience to stand in the place where prisoners spent months and years and imagine their lives.

6. The Island Has Its Own Lighthouse

After hearing the stories of the prisoners and guards and wandering up and down the cell blocks, you’ll emerge from the main prison building, and right in front of you you’ll see a tall lighthouse. Built in 1854 at the tip of the island, the lighthouse burned in 1970, but most of it survived, and it is operational today.

The shell of a large house next to the lighthouse, with its prime view of the city, once housed the warden and his family. It also burned in 1970, but in its heyday it was a mansion surrounded by ornamental gardens.

7. Look For Signs Of The Native American Occupation

A water tower rises above the north end of the island, and it tells of another era in the history of Alcatraz. Native American activists from San Francisco occupied the island for 19 months starting in 1969. They claimed the land for “Indians of All Tribes” (the name the occupiers gave themselves). When the last occupiers were removed from the island by government officials, graffiti on some of the buildings as well as on the water tower remained: It now reads Peace and Freedom .

8. The National Park Service Tour Is Worth It

Alcatraz Island is now maintained and run by the National Park Service , which offers informative free tours throughout the day. Check the schedule of tours when you arrive at the dock.

I took the tour on escapes from Alcatraz and learned about the cell area where one escape attempt happened. The guide explained the differences between bar shapes and which were easier to saw through. I ended up returning to the cell blocks to study the bars and cells: Some bars were flat, and others were rounded. Details like that are what make the National Park Service tours so interesting.

9. The Old Officers’ Club Has Quite A History

Take a few minutes to examine the large ruined building just above the dock. This was at one time the Post Exchange and Officers’ Club. It’s mind-boggling that during its time as a federal prison, Alcatraz also housed the families of the prison officials in close proximity to the prisoners.

Those who were raised on Alcatraz remember the Officers’ Club fondly, recalling that they were almost unaware of the prison that stood a few yards away. The club featured a soda fountain and a bowling alley, and dances and parties regularly took place there. The children hopped on a boat to San Francisco for school each weekday.

10. Plan To Bring Your Own Food

I spent about four hours on Alcatraz. There’s plenty to see in that much time, but I was there at lunchtime, and I got hungry. No food is sold on the island, but you can pack snacks or a lunch, and I was so glad I did. Visitors are only allowed to eat in the picnic area beside the dock, which sounds restrictive. But there is a good reason for this. The island is a bird sanctuary and nesting site. The mission of the National Park Service is finding a balance between the high volume of visitation and the impact on the island’s wildlife. And sitting on a picnic bench, gazing at the skyline of San Francisco while munching on a deli sandwich is a great experience. You just need to plan ahead.

A day tour of Alcatraz will live in your memory for a long time. Stand on the island with the prison looming ominously above and sailboats gliding peacefully on the water below. You’ll find yourself imagining what life behind bars here was like, knowing that beauty and freedom were tantalizingly close but just out of reach.

More on the City by the Bay:

How To Spend An Amazing Day In San Francisco

12 Amazing Hidden Gems In San Francisco

9 Interesting Things To Know About San Francisco’s Columbus Tower

8 Totally Free Things To Do In San Francisco

9 Tips For Riding Cable Cars In San Francisco

Visiting San Francisco’s Marin Headlands: 9 Things To Know

As the owner of the travel blog, Exploring Our World , Sharon enjoys taking her readers on a journey with her. Articles often delve into the history of a place, and by adding in a generous number of photos, she inspires others to explore for themselves. In her early travels, she was most frustrated by coming back home and learning that she had missed a fascinating sight or a hidden gem. Now she helps travelers prepare for a trip by passing along travel tips, pointing out lesser known things to see, and alerting them to enjoyable day trips from major cities.

Her travel articles have been published by Stripes Europe Newsletter and the World War 2 Writing and Research Center. Whether she's discovering more about her hometown of San Diego, California or flying to faraway places, she enjoys sharing with travel lovers around the world.

Real history, real experiences, real San Francisco

Inside sf - the san francisco scoop, alcatraz: the rock.

Originally named after the Pelicans that used to be inhabit the island, Alcatraz, has since become a symbol of San Francisco, as much as the Golden Gate Bridge and our cable cars . Most first-time visitors to the city by the bay will have it on their list of things to see and do here, along with Chinatown , Lombard Street and Fisherman’s Wharf . There’s just something about ‘the Rock’, as Alcatraz in known in San Francisco, that fascinates people. Probably it’s the idea of an unescapable prison being located on this small, rocky, outcrop just off San Francisco’s Embarcadero. One can feel the desperation of the imprisoned – so near and yet so far.

The federal penitentiary on the island closed in the early 1960’s, ending more than a century of incarceration there. Then, in 1973, the National Park Service opened the island to the public and today more than a million people visit every year. Now part of the vast Golden Gate National Recreation Area , the island of Alcatraz was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1986.

In this article I’ll give you the history behind this San Francisco icon, as well as recommending the best ways for visitors to, well, visit it.

Early History of Alcatraz

Spanish naval officer Juan Manuel de Ayala named the island La Isla de los Alcatraces in 1775, during the period that Spain was colonizing California . The name almost certainly referred to the pelicans that used to live on the island (using the old Spanish word for the birds). However, Ayala actually gave the name to what’s now called Yerba Buena Island and it wasn’t until the 1820’s that the British explorer Captain Frederick Beechey mistakenly bestowed the name on the nearby Rock, where it stuck.

A French Captain passing through the Bay Area gives us an idea of Alcatraz in 1827 with this description:

Alcatrazes Island (was) covered with a countless number of these birds. A gun fired over the feathered legions caused them to fly up in a great cloud and with a noise like a hurricane. Auguste Bernard Duhaut-Cilly

A few structures were erected on the island over the years, but development was minimal until the U.S. arrived in 1846, during the Mexican-American War. Unlike the Spanish and the Mexicans, the Americans had immediate interest in the potential of Alcatraz as a military base and, almost as quickly, as a jail.

The Rock Becomes a Fort

In 1850, President Millard Fillmore ordered that Alcatraz Island be set aside as a United States military base, to protect San Francisco Bay, newly important because of the Gold Rush . Three years later work began on building fortifications and placing batteries of cannons, finishing in 1859. Fort Alcatraz opened that year with a small garrison of 200 soldiers,

That same year the first prisoners began to be held on the island. Interestingly there is some evidence to suggest that the Ohlone, the First American people who originally occupied the Bay Area, also used Alcatraz to isolate community members who violated tribal laws, although even the idea of long-term incarceration would have been incomprehensible to the Ohlone.

Initially Fort Alcatraz operated as a military prison, later holding Confederate prisoners during the American Civil War and Hopi  men in the 1870’s, who refused to send their children away from their communities to government-sponsored  boarding schools . During this time the island’s defenses were further strengthened and the first lighthouse on the West Coast was constructed on it.

The fort remained a long-term detention facility for military prisoners into the early twentieth century and in 1912 the huge concrete main cell block was completed, which remains the dominant building on the Rock to this day. During the First World War the detention facilities were used to house conscientious objectors and pacifists. One of whom wrote a pamphlet entitled  Uncle Sam’s Devil’s Island , about his experiences at Alcatraz. After the war it reverted to being a military prison.

Federal Prison Opens on Alcatraz

Alcatraz was acquired by the U.S. Department of Justice on October 12, 1933, and the island was designated a federal prison in August 1934. The reason for opening the Rock as a jail was largely because of one thing – Prohibition. The banning of alcohol in the U.S. in 1920 had led to an explosion of crime, chiefly because criminals had been able to make huge profits from providing it illegally. Those profits had in turn enabled organized crime, and the mafia, to become vastly more powerful and commit more crime.

On August 11, 1934, the first batch of 137 prisoners arrived at Alcatraz. It seemed an ideal location to incarcerate the baddest of the bad. The cold water, strong currents and distant mainland shore (1.5 miles away at its nearest point) all served to make Alcatraz impossible to escape from. Or certainly so it seemed.

That same month one of the Rock’s most celebrated prisoners arrived, Al ‘Scarface’ Capone, former head of the Chicago Outfit. Unfortunately, for him, he was in serious decline by the time he arrived at Alcatraz, already showing symptoms of syphilis and gonorrhea. He was also suffering the withdrawal symptoms of a cocaine addiction so serious he’d perforated his nasal septum.

Interestingly, part of the reason for his transfer to the island was to keep him safe from his fellow prisoners, although that was only partially successful, as he was stabbed while at Alcatraz in 1936 (the wound was only superficial). His letters home were barely coherent and he spent the last year of his sojourn on San Francisco Bay staying in the prison hospital, in a confused and disoriented state, before leaving in January 1939.

Another mafia figure who served part of his sentence on the island was Mickey Cohen. Cohen had been running the East Coast mob’s West Coast activities from the Sunset Strip in Los Angeles, but in an echo of how the FBI eventually got Capone thirty years before, he was convicted of tax evasion in 1961 and spent the first two years of his sentence at Alcatraz before being transferred when the prison closed.

Arguably the most famous inmate to be held on Alcatraz was Robert Stroud, known as the Birdman of Alcatraz, although he never actually kept birds on the island. Prior to being sent to Alcatraz he had written several books about birds, researched while he was in Leavenworth Penitentiary, which is how he got his new name. Entirely self-taught on the subject, his  Digest on the Diseases of Birds  is considered a seminal work in ornithology. He spent seventeen years on the Rock (1942-59) and maintained that the chief reason that he didn’t get parole is because he was an open homosexual.

The longest serving prisoner on Alcatraz, was Alvin Karpis, member of the Baker-Karpis Gang during the Depression era, spending 26 years on the island (1936-62). Known as Creepy on account of his sinister-looking smile, he was the only Public Enemy #1 captured alive by the FBI, in spite of having his fingerprints surgically removed in 1934. He worked mainly in the bakery during his time at Alcatraz, leaving shortly before the federal penitentiary closed for a prison in Washington State, where he met a young Charles Manson and taught him the guitar (this was before Manson committed his most famous crimes).

Karpis had joined Arthur ‘Doc’ Barker, member of the same gang, who’d arrived at Alcatraz in 1935, although Barker didn’t last long on the island, dying in 1939 after being shot during an escape attempt.

Escape from Alcatraz

The institution served an important purpose in taking the strain off the older and greatly overcrowded institutions… since it enabled us to move to the smaller, closely guarded institution the escape artists, the big-time racketeers, the inveterate connivers and those who needed protection from other groups. Bureau of Prisons report

Inmates were counted 13 times daily and the ratio of prisoners to guards was the lowest of any U.S. prison at the time. Watch towers covered the island and prisoners were locked into steel cells remotely from control rooms. Guards kept watch on inmates from gun galleries and there were remote controlled tear gas canisters at appropriate locations.

It was considered the most secure prison in the world, not least because even if prisoners did get off the island where were they going to go? It wasn’t considered possible to swim to shore, due to the brutally cold water, powerful tides and swift currents of San Francisco Bay, which would be certain to sweep even the strongest of swimmers out of the Golden Gate and into the vast Pacific. If they weren’t eaten by sharks first. And there weren’t any Olympic-level swimmers amongst the prison population.

Maybe not, but what was there was a large population of incredibly motivated, determined, and often intelligent, men. On June 11, 1962, three of them, Frank Morris and brothers John and Clarence Anglin made a carefully planned and daring escape off the island. They left papier-mâché  dummies made with human hair stolen from the prison barbershop in their beds and were able to access a utility corridor behind their cells by removing an air vent over time. From there they managed to get out of the prison and down to the shore, where they had ingeniously made a raft from stitching together more than fifty raincoats over many months. They inflated it with an accordion that they’d adapted into a pump.

What happened after that is unclear, but they were never recaptured nor were their bodies ever recovered. At first the FBI insisted that they must have drowned in the bay, however six months later another prisoner escaped, John Paul Scott, and managed to make it to the shore at Fort Point under the Golden Gate Bridge, where he was found, almost dead from hypothermia and exhaustion.

Nevertheless, his attempt was made in the middle of winter, when the water is much colder, and he hadn’t made meticulous preparations such as the earlier escapees had, including building a raft and researching currents and hazards in the bay. There were three of them to help each other out and, finally, Angel Island is much closer to Alcatraz than Fort Point.

In the 2010’s a new investigation revealed that a raft in fact had been found on Angel Island and a 1955 blue Chevrolet had been stolen on the night of the escape by three men, who fitted the description of Morris and the Anglins. The case remains open and it certainly seems likely to me that they may have indeed escaped, although they are almost certainly the only prisoners to achieve that feat.

The federal penitentiary closed in March 1963. The chief reasons being its increasingly bad reputation for violence (although in fact it wasn’t any worse than many other jails in the U.S.), the fact that it clearly wasn’t considered escape proof anymore and that it cost the government more than three times as much to run Alcatraz as it did any other prison in the U.S. ($10 per inmate each day as opposed to $3).

First American Occupation

The first occupation by First Americans of Alcatraz was in 1964, when Lakota Sioux activist  Belva Cottier proposed staking a claim to the island based on provisions in the  1868 Treaty of Fort Laramie (which essentially provided First Americans with the right to take back unused Federal lands).

On March 4, 1964, Cottier and thirty-five others landed on the Rock and duly staked out properties and filed legal claim forms. They were ready to stay on Alcatraz for up to 30 days, but in the end left after just four hours when threatened with being charged with trespass by the acting warden Richard Willard.

Nevertheless five years later, on November 20, a different group of 14 First Americans, representing United Indians of All Tribes , staged an occupation of the island to protest federal policies related to American Indians. They claimed Alcatraz under the Right of Discovery , which if you think about it is the “principle” by which their own ancestral lands had been taken: the doctrine of “what’s mine is mine and what’s your is mine”.

The Red Power movement demanded reparations for the numerous treaties which were broken by the U.S government, and for the lands that were taken from their people. The demonstration lasted for nearly two years, with 400 people staying on the island at one point and a school, daycare and health clinic, ending on June 11, 1971.

The occupation did have a direct and significant impact, as President Richard Nixon rescinded the Indian termination policy, which was designed to end federal recognition of tribes and their special relationship with the government. He also established a new  policy of self-determination and passed the Education Assistance Act.

Alcatraz in the Movies and on Television

Needless to say from quite early on in it’s existence Hollywood, a few hours south of San Francisco, took notice of this impossible to escape from federal prison, full of desperate men widely regarded as the worst of the worst. That fascination only grew with each failed escape attempt. On top of that its reputation for brutality, and the occasional uplifting story that emerged from the facility, also served to make Alcatraz the perfect location in which to set a movie or TV series.

The first significant film to feature Alcatraz was The Birdman of Alcatraz with Burt Lancaster portraying Robert Stroud. Lancaster was nominated for an Oscar for the role (he lost to Gregory Peck in To Kill a Mockingbird ). However the movie was filmed on the Columbia Studios backlot in Hollywood and not on the island, which was still a prison at the time (although it closed shortly after).

The first movie to actually film on the Rock was Point Blank , in 1966. A San Francisco Film Noir thriller with Lee Marvin, the movie opens on Alcatraz, where Marvin’s co-criminals shoot him and leave him for dead. A big mistake, needless to say. It’s a classic.

The next great Alcatraz film is Escape from Alcatraz , with Clint Eastwood starring as Frank Morris and the late great Fred Ward as John Anglin, portraying the escape made by them fifteen years before. In true Hollywood style Paramount Pictures largely rehabilitated the prison and laid fifteen miles of cables out to the island to bring in the necessary power from San Francisco to shoot the film . It was hugely successful.

Arguably the most entertaining movie set on the Rock is The Rock . Starring Sean Connery as, well, an aging Bond, and Nicholas Cage as his inexperienced partner, the two of them have to break INTO the prison in order to save the world San Francisco. Get it? It’s hugely fun film and has a whole bunch of great actors, such as Ed Harris and David Morse, filling out the ranks.

In terms of Television the most popular series set on the island is Alcatraz . The J J Abrams show follows a team of investigators who are trying to find out why the prison inmates and guards all mysteriously disappeared in 1963, only to reappear in present-day San Francisco. Unfortunately for its creators the series followed the example of its plot and disappeared into the ether after a single season on Fox.

The Rock Today

Another thing that Nixon did after the Rock was returned to government hands was to find $120 million for the National Park Service to purchase Alcatraz (and Fort Mason) from the U.S. Army, in order to establish the Golden Gate National Recreation Area in 1972. The following year it opened to the public and now the island is arguably our most visited attraction.

During the occupation there were several fires, damaging or destroying the lighthouse keeper’s home, the warden’s home, the Officers’ Club and several other structures, but it’s still a wonderful day out. If the weather is clear then the boat trip over is unrivaled for its views, if it’s foggy then it’s incredibly atmospheric. The NPS have created a wonderful museum out of the island, and with its fascinating, and often tragic, history visiting it is a must-do experience in San Francisco.

How to Visit the Island of Alcatraz

Alcatraz is open daily, apart from Christmas Day and New Year’s Day. Alcatraz Cruises operate the only ferry service to the island from Pier 33, on the Embarcadero. The service generally operates at 30-60 minute intervals and the ferry ride itself takes about 15 minutes.

There are three options for visiting Alcatraz:

ALCATRAZ DAY TOUR

A park ranger is assigned to each group as it arrives for a brief orientation on the island, but a 45-minute Audio Tour is included in the purchase of a ferry ticket and that gives directions to key locations, such as Al Capone’s cell.

Visitors can also roam the island and explore its many old structures. There’s even a short Agave Trail (see if you can spot a pigeon guillemot or a snowy egret). A full exploration of the prison and island could easily take 2-3 hours.

ALCATRAZ NIGHT TOUR

For the Night Tour the ferry makes a trip around the Island before arriving at the dock. It includes special activities and presentations, focused on ghosts and the supernatural. The total duration is just under 3 hours and It’s popular.

ALCATRAZ BEHIND THE SCENES TOUR

This tour visits special places, like the dungeon cells, a Civil War era tunnel, the prison chapel and the prison hospital and is led by a park ranger. The total duration is 4-5 hours.

How to Get Tickets for Alcatraz

There are also three ways to get tickets for a tour of the island:

• Online:  at Alcatraz Cruises .
• In person: at Pier 33 , on the Embarcadero.
• With a tour package.  some tour operators offer Alcatraz tickets as part of a package with their tours.

Tickets go on sale 90 days before the tour date. Since they’re in high demand during peak season tickets can sell out weeks (or even months) in advance. So book as soon as you can to avoid disappointment!

Final Thoughts on Visiting the Island

For the best Alcatraz experience here are some tips on making the most out of your visit:

• Alcatraz tickets are issued to a person and are non-transferable.
• Layer up. We get 4 seasons in a day and it can get cold in the bay, even in summer.
• Bring passport or photo ID.
• Arrive 15 minutes prior to scheduled departure time.
• Eat before going, food and drinks are not allowed on the island.
• Explore the grounds and views of Alcatraz first, then do the audio tour (most visitors head straight for the cell block, so it’s more crowded immediately after the ferry has arrived).

With a little planning, a tour of Alcatraz can definitely be one of the highlights of your visit to San Francisco.

If you have any feedback on Alcatraz: the Rock please email us or reach out on social media, we’d love to hear from you.

– By Damien Blackshaw ( Twitter )

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Alcatraz at a glance.

Located 1.5 miles off the coast of San Francisco, Alcatraz Island encompasses a total of 22 acres in the center of San Francisco Bay. Opened to the public in fall 1973, Alcatraz is one of America's most popular national park sites and currently welcomes more than 1.4 million visitors each year.

Historical Timeline:

1775 : Spanish explorer Lt. Juan Manuel de Ayala maps San Francisco Bay and names the island "La Isla de los Alcatraces" (The Island of the Pelicans). With no vegetation or habitation, Alcatraz was little more than a desolate rocky islet occupied by the occasional swarm of birds.

1850 : A joint Army and Navy commission recommends a Triangle of Defense to guard San Francisco Bay. President Millard Fillmore signs an Executive Order reserving lands around San Francisco Bay, including Alcatraz, for "public purposes."

1854 : The Alcatraz lighthouse begins service as the first lighthouse on the Pacific Coast.

1857 : With the completion of the Guard House, the island serves as a military prison from 1857-1933.

1859 : Capt. Joseph Stewart and 86 men of Company H, Third U.S. Artillery, take command of Alcatraz.

1863 : The J.M. Chapman, a Confederate privateer ship, is seized and its crew arrested and imprisoned on Alcatraz. Lower Prison, a temporary wooden structure, is built. Soon other prison structures are added on the island.

1865 : Alcatraz troops are sent to San Francisco to preserve peace and prevent rioting after President Abraham Lincoln's assassination. Alcatraz cannons fire the official mourning for the dead president.

1870 : Major George Mendell designs plans for earthwork defenses on Alcatraz.

1895 : Nineteen members of the Hopi Tribe from Arizona are imprisoned on Alcatraz for resisting the policy of forced education of their children and land allotment programs contrary to their Native American beliefs.

1898 : Spanish-American War results in prison overcrowding at Alcatraz.

1900 : Upper Prison (Alcatraz's third prison) is built on the Parade Ground.

1907 : Alcatraz is designated as the "Pacific Branch, U.S. Military Prison."

1912 : The new Cellhouse (Alcatraz's fourth prison), built with convict labor, is completed and prisoners move in. At the time the Alcatraz Cellhouse was the largest concrete structure in the world.

1915 : Alcatraz is renamed the "United States, Disciplinary Barracks."

1933 : Alcatraz is transferred to the Federal Bureau of Prisons; 32 "hard-case" military prisoners remain on the island as the former military detention center becomes America's first maximum-security civilian penitentiary. This "prison system's prison" was specifically designed to house the troublemakers that other federal prisons could not successfully detain.

1934 : Alcatraz begins its era as the nation's toughest and most feared federal penitentiary, housing the "worst of the worst" American criminals, among them AI Capone, George "Machine Gun" Kelly, and Robert "Birdman of Alcatraz" Stroud. Prisoners arrived on Alcatraz in handcuffs and ankle shackles. Daily life on Alcatraz was harsh, and prisoners were given only four rights: medical attention, shelter, food and clothing; recreational activities and family visits had to be earned through hard work. Punishments for bad behavior included hard labor and lock-downs in solitary confinement, restricted to bread and water. There were a total of 14 escape attempts by 34 prisoners during its 29 years as a federal penitentiary.

1963 : Due to high costs and deteriorating infrastructure, Alcatraz is permanently closed by Attorney General Robert Kennedy and the remaining prisoners are transferred to the new maximum security federal penitentiary in Marion, Ill.

1969-1971 : Mohawk tribal leader Richard Oakes leads the occupation of Alcatraz by the "Indians of All Tribes," which at its height numbered more than 400 members. The group hoped to establish an American Indian cultural center on Alcatraz, but when Oakes left the Island due to the tragic death of his stepdaughter, public interest in the occupation waned and order among those remaining on the island began to deteriorate. After 19 months, federal marshals moved in and forcibly removed the few remaining occupiers in June, 1971. The Alcatraz Occupation is recognized as a milestone in American Indian history, and each year, Indians of all tribes return to Alcatraz on Columbus Day and Thanksgiving to hold a Sunrise Ceremony for Indigenous Peoples and commemorate the longest Native American occupation in U.S. history.

1972 : Alcatraz becomes a national recreation area under the management of the National Park Service. It opens as a national park attraction in the fall of 1973.

1976 : Alcatraz is named to the National Register of Historic Places.

1986 : Alcatraz receives designation as a National Historic Landmark.

2013 : Alcatraz welcomes more than 1.4 million visitors annually, making it one of the National Park Service's most popular attractions.

The Modern Visitor Experience:

• The award-winning Alcatraz "Doing Time" Digital Audio Tour incorporates interviews with formerly incarcerated people, correctional officers and family members, along with first-person dialogue and state-of-the-art sound effects. The tour is included with every Alcatraz ticket, and is available in braille and 11 languages: English, Dutch, French, German, Italian, Spanish, Japanese, Mandarin, Portuguese, Korean, and Russian.
• Archival museum collections spanning the history of Alcatraz from its time as a military fortress through its notoriety as America's most infamous Federal penitentiary are on exhibit. Highlights include restored cell furnishings, actual prisoner artifacts, and historic artwork and photographs depicting daily life on The Rock.
• The Alcatraz Cell house Museum Store features exhibits of many of the historic artifacts from the Federal penitentiary years. Items include the actual implements used by inmates during the 1962 break out made famous in the movie Escape from Afcatraz; authentic inmate handcuffs and shackles; and correctional of ficer badges and blackjacks. Complementing the artifacts, the Parks Conservancy offers a series of replicas based on these historic items as part of the unique Alcatraz product line.
• On any given day, the Alcatraz Author Program features historians, formerly incarecerated, correctional officers, naturalists or other special guests who have written about Alcatraz.
• Exterior exhibits are installed across the Island, providing visitors with in-depth information on The Rock's history, architecture, wildlife, and landscape as they take in the world-class San Francisco views.
• In its commitment to protect the natural resources of the Island, staff and volunteers ensure ongoing restoration and conservation of the island ecosystem, including habitat protection for the more than 20,000 sea birds who nest on the island each season.
• The Alcatraz Historic Gardens, a striking historic landscape with some plants originally planted in the 1800s, have been lovingly restored after nearly 100 years of decline. The Alcatraz Historic Gardens Project is an ongoing Parks Conservancy-supported effort to restore, preserve and maintain the gardens created by those who lived on the island during its military and federal prison eras in order to interpret their history, horticulture and cultural significance for today's visitors.

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Alcatraz: Touring San Francisco’s Infamous Island

Alcatraz Island, also known as “The Rock,” was home to some of the countries most notorious prisoners during its tenure as a prison. Now it is a popular part of the national park system that draws thousands of visitors a day and often books out weeks in advance. It was one of those places that I always avoided because I felt like it would be too touristy, but boy was I wrong. This entire experience is fantastic, from the boat over, to the audio tour through the cells. If you are spending some time in San Francisco , then I highly recommend it. Here is all the information as well as some tips to make the most of your day on Alcatraz.

• Cost: $49 for ticket and boat passage to the island, book online before going
• Books out weeks in advance especially during summer and weekends
• Arrive 30 minutes before your departure time
• Can take any boat you want back
• This information was from my visit in 2017 and 2022

Getting There

For an island about a mile of the coast of San Francisco, getting there is the hardest part. The park service has partnered with one company that runs all of the boats to take you over. The boats leave from Pier 33. Parking is terrible here as the lots nearby are very expensive and break ins often occur. I would recommend taking public transportation or Uber / Lyft as that is a much easier and a cheaper way to get to the pier. Once you get there though the boat is easy to find and board for your trip to the island.

I have made two videos on my visits to the island. First is the most recent video from my trip in 2022.

Next, this video was from my first trip in 2017.

After getting to the pier, you will want to pick up your tickets from will call and then get in line for your tour.

The lines start forming up to an hour before you are set to depart, but I am not sure why you would want to get in line that early. I usually line up 15 minutes before my tour.

I walked around the dock and looked at the mini replica they had of the island and read the placards about what to expect. After that, I got in line and waited to board.

The three-story boat has plenty of room for sitting or for exploring if you want to walk around while it heads over. I just chose to stand in the front for our ride, and it only takes about 15 minutes to get across.

This gave me some great views of the island as we approached it and even the Golden Gate Bridge in the distance.

We were the first group over (I highly recommend the first tour of the day), so when we got there, they were still setting some things up.

After orientation and rules from the NPS volunteer stationed on the island, you are free to walk around and catch the boat back when you are done. The boats came about every 30 minutes during the day, and I was there for about 3 hours before heading back.

Do note that the walk from the boat to the cellblock is pretty steep, so take your time. Also, wear good walking shoes as you will be walking a lot and there is bird poop everywhere.

Since the island and its history has been written about many times, here are some of my favorite stops in photos with just a brief synopsis of each location.

I liked the look of this old building that you see right when you get off the boat.

Inside there is a visitor center with a movie on the island, a few small exhibits, and even a store.

Be sure to walk in the back where they have the above awesome looking alleyway and more exhibits.

Officers Quarters

The officer’s quarters is just a shell of a building now with walls covered in moss. It is cool to see as you make your way up but there is not much left from a fire in the 1970s.

The Cellhouse

This is the main area that everyone visits during their time here. There is a fantastic audio tour that you can take that directs you around the cellhouse and tells stories of the prisoners and the guards.

The audio tour takes about and hour but you can spend more or less time exploring on your own as well.

This is the main reason why I recommend the first tour. When you get to the cellhouse, you basically have it to yourself during that tour. When I left, there were four times the people in the cellhouse, including a line even to enter the building.

The cellhouse was impressive as it was in excellent condition, and many of the cells had been restored to show what they would have looked like with inmates in them.

I can’t imagine being jailed here as it would be so tough to live in such a small area. The prison was only open for 30 years before it was retired.

Cell Block D

From there, I went into Cell Block D, which is where the worst criminals went.

There are even five cells for those in solitary confinement, with no light in their cells at all. I can’t imagine how tough this would be to live through.

Warden’s Office

On the backside of the cellblock, there are a few small exhibits in the warden’s office like a replica of the island from the 1950s.

Outside there is also an old warden’s home that looked like the remains of the officer’s quarters with the broken walls and green moss. There is also a lighthouse here which is the oldest on the west coast.

This area has some of the best views looking back at the city with the skyline of San Francisco and the Bay Bridge right in front of you.

The flat spot below you is closed, so you will see hundreds of birds that have taken up residence in that area, and it makes for a cool picture.

The views are spectacular, and I just sat on a bench and took them in while watching all the birds fly around.

Recreation Yard

From there, you can walk down the hill, around the other side of the cellblock, and over to the Recreation Yard.

This is where the inmates got their outdoor time, playing games like baseball.

You can still see the home plate sitting there waiting for a game.

After seeing this area, you have seen most of the main spots on the island.

There is always more to explore or see again, but many of the remaining areas are closed for restoration.

Even though this might not seem like a lot, I did all of this over the course of 3 hours, so it is longer than you would anticipate, and you will be walking a lot.

If you are visiting California and have the time, you really should consider taking the boat over to Alcatraz Island. I guarantee that it is not something you will forget. Let me know what you think in the comments.

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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.

Pier 33 Parking

There is a cluster of parking garages in the general area of Pier 33 and a couple of parking lots that are possibilities, price-wise.

There are about a dozen garages and lots within a few blocks of Alcatraz Landing at Pier 33 that I would recommend.

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

I think the easiest parking is at one of the nearby piers that offer spaces:

Pier 27  (very close to Pier 33). The new cruise ship terminal has a big lot outside that is fairly reasonable: $15 first 2 hours, $20 per day weekdays, $25 per day weekends. Open 6 am to 11 pm You would need more than 2 hours for Alcatraz.

Pier 27 closes when a cruise ship is docked there. See  ship schedule  for unavailable days.

Pier 23  (6 minute walk to Pier 33). Cavernous parking area inside the pier building. $20 flat rate. Weekdays 7 am to 8 pm, Sat. 8 am to 8 pm Sun. 10 am to 6 pm

Something to try: there's a  parking lot right across the street  from Pier 33 (at 2 Bay Street), which is usually full and generally quite expensive. But I've had luck getting good deals using parking apps along the Embarcadero.

Twice on visits to Alcatraz, I got 8 hours of parking in that lot for $8. See what you can find on  Spot Hero .

But two suggestions:  book it in advance  and  don't leave anything visible in the car . When we got back after dark, one of the cars in the lot had been broken into. This is becoming an epidemic in SF, unfortunately.

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

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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Alcatraz Island: Discovering the Secrets of San Francisco’s Hidden Gem

A military prison shrouded in mystery and home to hundreds of blood-thirsty criminals. The allure of Alcatraz Island is undeniable.

What was once one of the United State’s most feared military operations has endured multiple iterations as a Civil War fortress, bird sanctuary, and lighthouse. Follow along to learn everything you need to know about your Alcatraz tour today.

Housed by the Golden Gate National Recreation Area and run by the National Park Service. This former federal prison has a storied legacy. From woeful tales of Robert Stroud, the Birdman of Alcatraz to attempts to escape the frigid waters of San Francisco Bay, every inch of this indomitable fortress is worth exploring.

Don’t let fog, wind, or confusion deter you from traversing this haunted locale. From the ferry rides to the native american occupation to where to catch the ferry, our go-to guide will do a deep dive into all things Alcatraz.

Ready to visit the Rock? Read on!

Alcatraz Island Tours

Want to really paint the Golden Gate City red? If you have more time to spare in this city of sourdough and suspension bridges. Combine your escape from Alcatraz with part of another San Francisco sightseeing tour:

• Escape from the Rock Cruise  – Swap out landlubbing for a high-seas adventure when you spend 90 minutes cruising around this high-security prison and directly underneath the Golden Gate Bridge. Listen up as you are regaled with thrilling stories of Billy Cook the Killer, Clyde Johnson, and more.
• Alcatraz Plus 2-Day Hop-On Hop-Off City Tour – Sea Lions, Golden Gate Park, and Haight Ashbury oh my! Stick some flowers in your hair, because you’re about to receive two full days of VIP-worthy sightseeing. Spend time by Union Square and snap a photo in front of Chinatown’s Dragon Gates. All before touring the world’s most infamous prison.
• San Francisco City Tour with Alcatraz – This seven-hour urban adventure is jam-packed with Frisco attractions and gorgeous scenery. Savor professionally guided narration and a hotel pickup. As you make your way through landmarks such as the Golden Gate Bridge, Twin Peaks, Pacific Heights, and Alcatraz.

Where is Alcatraz Located

Ever wondered where is Alcatraz? This rocky island of criminals and strange birds can be found 1.23 miles (2.01 km) off the northern shore of San Francisco . Back in 1775, during its first round of exploration, this rugged habitat was home to little more than some hardy vegetation and seabirds.

First called Alcatraces or ‘Isle of the Pelicans’ by Juan Manuel de Ayala. It would eventually be sold to the government. Due to its Bay location, Alcatraz must be visited by ferry.

About Alcatraz Prison

Much more than larger-than-life stories about Al Capone and George Machine Gun Kelly, this mound of terror has seen Indians of all tribes and battles over armed convicts. Before the penal system took hold and prison buildings were constructed, Alcatraz was the site of the first lighthouse on the coast of California.

Eventually, it would become a designated residence for both military offenders and a group of Native Americans called the Hopi. Officially, by 1907 the island was deemed part of the Pacific Branch of the United States Military Prison. After being used as a dumping ground for government disruptors. The island was transferred to the U.S. Department of Justice for use by the Federal Bureau of Prisons.

Related Post: San Francisco in 3 Days: Your Complete Itinerary to Exploring The City By the Bay

For almost three decades, until the prison closed in 1963 Alcatraz was an impenetrable fortress containing the likes of Robert Stroud and Al Capone. Suffocating cell block spaces measured out at 10 by 4.5 feet, and escape attempts were rare. The few that dared often were assumed to have drowned in the Bay’s rough currents. One of the most iconic attempts was mounted in 1946 and was later nicknamed the Battle of Alcatraz. This violent escape led to the death of two Federal Bureau of Prisons officers and three of the perpetrators.

Since 1972 Alcatraz has been considered part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area and enjoyed yet another reincarnation as a popular San Francisco tourist destination.

What Can You Do at Alcatraz Island

All set to do some time? Once you arrive on this fearsome rock pile you’ll be met with a 13-story climb. We recommend wearing comfortable walking shoes and clothing as you will be getting in those steps! Upon entry to the cellhouse, you will receive a listening device that will guide you through the unbelievable facts, stories, and history of Alcatraz’s prison guards and inmates.

This award-winning audio tour is available in multiple languages. It also features the voices of real inmates and workers. For a more in-depth dive into cell life, other guided programs are available. Those left with larger questions about the justice of the American penal system will be fascinated by the new exhibit The Big Lockup: Mass Incarceration in the United States. This display takes a hard look at the significance of Alcatraz as seen through the larger lens of slavery and incarceration.

Post audio tour, Alcatraz visitors can take their time soaking in the sights of this isolated land mass and make their way through such highlights as:

• Gardens of Alcatraz
• Recreation Yard
• Rock pools and seabird colonies
• Ruins of the Warden’s House and Officers’ Club
• The oldest operating lighthouse on the West Coast

Alcatraz also features an on-site theater where you can watch a short film on the prison’s history. And multiple gift shops where you can pick up the perfect Fog City souvenir.

Psst..curious about where to find the Alcatraz East Crime Museum ? This privately owned crime museum can be found in Pigeon Forge and makes for a great Tennessee detour for the penal-obsessed.

Alcatraz Island Ferry

Never mounted your own escape from the Rock? To see everything from the Gardens of Alcatraz to the Golden Gate Bridge, you’ll need to purchase your ferry tickets. Alcatraz tickets include your ferry ride and allow you to enjoy all of the things to do in Alcatraz at your own pace.

Ferry tickets can be purchased online through Alcatraz City Cruises, by phone at 1-415-981-ROCK, or in person at the ferry departure point at Pier 33. Please note that the National Park Service strongly suggests making advanced ticket reservations.

Related Post: Things to Do in SF: Must-See Locations and Hidden Gems

Tickets are available for purchase approximately 90 days in advance. Buying your tickets ahead of time online secures your visit and eliminates the need to wait in line to purchase tickets. All Alcatraz tickets are all-inclusive and include the ferry transportation service and the cellhouse audio tour. Pack that windbreaker and enjoy the sights, as the ferry ride will take approximately 20 minutes and feature jaw-dropping San Francisco city skyline views.

Visitors can choose to arrive at Pier 33 via public transit or car . For more information on various parking options click here .

A place of history, heritage, and hardship, some still say they can hear the ghostly cries of former inmates. Or see the shadowy outlines of passed-on guards.

Alcatraz tours offer up more than haunting tales of solitary confinement and thwarted escape attempts. A visit to this island gives us a peek into another time, place, and perspective.

Locals and visitors alike may gain a new perspective on the Golden Gate City and the U.S. prison system as they experience what life was like on the Rock.

Tell us, Will You Dare to Visit Alcatraz?

Leave a comment below!

Written by Isis Maya Nissman

A New York native, Isis-Maya spent most of her professional life working in TV production until a vacation whisked her away to Central...

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Alcatraz Day Tour

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News + Information

• Alcatraz - Friday, April 19 Current Conditions: A Few Clouds and 60°F Same-Day Tickets Available. -->
• Experience Alcatraz: The Day Tour , the Night Tour , or if you have 4-5 hours: the Behind The Scenes Tour - See areas of Alcatraz previously unavailable to the public. Open a hidden doorway, go through a secret tunnel, visit an underground jail.
• Weekend Alcatraz Tours often sell out days in advance. A suitable alternative to an Alcatraz Tour is the Bay Discovery Cruise , a 90-minute San Francisco Bay Cruise with an app-based audio tour available in 20 languages. Learn more.
• Mobile E-Ticket Check-in: Book your tour now. Save time, skip the long ticket line. Popular Alcatraz tour dates can sell out days or weeks in advance.

Visit the legendary island that has been a civil war fort, a military prison and one of the most notorious federal penitentiaries.

An engaging evening Alcatraz experience with special programs. The Complete Tour.

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A Perfect Weekend: Visit Alcatraz in San Francisco

To many, San Francisco isn’t just a collection of bridges, crooked streets, and buildings with unique architecture. To some, it goes beyond that, as it can be a place of fascinating history attracting many to the city and beyond its waters to visit  Alcatraz  Island.

Celebrating the 55th anniversary of Alcatraz Island’s closure as a federal prison, Parc 55 and the Hilton San Francisco Union Square, are exhibiting showcases of the famous Alcatraz prison. Below are some fun ideas of how you can enjoy an Alcatraz-inspired weekend and experience “Life on the Rock”, at the Parc 55 Hotel in San Francisco.

Ads are how we pay our bills and keep our blog free for you to enjoy. We also use affiliate links; if you make a purchase through them, we may receive a small commission at no cost to you.

Alcatraz Displays and Where to Stay

Throughout both properties you can take a look inside at some authentic artifacts, interactive displays and behind the scenes of some unseen parts of the island. You can experience untold stories and learn history about the island and prison.

The Parc 55 Hotel is conveniently located close to Union Square, shopping and the Cable car pick up station. The rooms are all spacious and comfortable with spectacular views of the city. Some of the corner rooms are perfectly located with views that go beyond the city from every window. If you look closely, you can see the Golden Gate Bridge from one of the windows. 

Alcatraz Inspired Food and Drinks

Available at Cable 55, Urban Tavern and Cityscape San Francisco, you can also experience Alcatraz inspired food and drinks, such as Warden’s Welcome, The Prisoner Wines, The Jail Bird Sandwich or The Impossible Escape Burger, with many more on the menu.   In addition, Urban Tavern has 50 wines within 50 miles, providing a really decent wine list for wine by the glass, half bottle or full bottle.

The Cityscape San Francisco is a rooftop bar overlooking the city on the 46th floor of the Hilton. The bar offers an extensive cocktail and wine list with a 360-degree view of the entire city. The views are breathtaking and one not to miss when in San Francisco. All three of these locations are located at the Parc 55 hotel and the Hilton San Francisco Union Square, which are conveniently located one block from each other in the heart of the city.  

Visit Alcatraz and Take the Electric Cable Car

If your a history lover then visiting Alcatraz Island is a must. One fun option to Alcatraz is riding the Electric Cable Car that runs off the tracks. This cable car will pick you up at a location and take you on a little journey through the city.

On your way to Pier 33, you will see famous streets and views of the city, all while hearing that famous San Francisco bell in your cable street car. The cable streetcar will drop you off at Pier 33 where the Alcatraz Cruise terminal is located. Click here for additional streetcar transportation services.

A long line does form at the cruise terminal, so make sure you arrive 30 minutes prior to your departure time. The cruise over to Alcatraz island is peaceful and scenic 30 minutes. The best views going over to Alcatraz can be seen on the front of the boat on the second level. This spot of the boat provides unobstructed views of Alcatraz, giving the perfect photo opportunity.

Alcatraz Island is a beautiful place to visit with so much to see and a lot of history. As many of you may know, Alcatraz was a military prison and one of the most notorious federal penitentiaries in U.S history.

The prison housed some of the most famous inmates that included, Al “Scarface” Capone, George “Machine Gun Kelly” Barnes and many more. The prison closed on March 21, 1963, due to its crumbling infrastructure, high cost of operating the island, and the most infamous inmates the penitentiary was designed for where no longer there.

There’s so much to see on the island and it can take up to three hours to see the entire property, so comfortable walking shoes are recommended. Upon arriving, you’re greeted by an officer telling you a few rules and the history of the island. There’s so much to see and the entire island can be toured at your own pace.

The best part of the comprehensive Alcatraz experience is the Main Prison Tour with the award-winning audio presentation “Doing Time: The Alcatraz Cellhouse Tour”. The Cellhouse audio tour begins in the shower area of the prison and the audio tour will guide you throughout the entire prison. Towards the end of the tour, you’ll end up outside enjoying breathtaking city skyline views of San Francisco and the Golden Gate Bridge.

As you leave the island, make sure you sit at the front of the boat to get views of the city skyline or sit in the back, to get a perfect picture or time-lapse of Alcatraz.

Here are a few tips if you plan on visiting Alcatraz :

How to get there:  If you are flying, the most convenient airport is San Francisco Airport. There are also several nearby airports such as San Jose, and Oakland.

If you are driving, San Francisco is about an 8-hour drive north from San Diego. You can take the 5 freeway or the 101.   The Alcatraz Ferry to the island is located on Pier 33. Parking is very difficult, so plan ahead.

Alcatraz Tickets: Purchase your tickets ahead of time, as there are a limited amount of daily visitors that can go on the island, so purchase your tickets ahead of time. They can have season sellouts. A valid Government photo ID is required for every person that enters Alcatraz. Arrive half an hour prior to your departure time. Click HERE for Alcatraz Cruise Departure times.

When to Visit: The best time to visit San Francisco is anytime, but January through September has the best views of the prison gardens.  Please allow at least three hours for the tour.

Weather: San Francisco is cold and it can also be chilly in the summer. It gets especially cold on Alcatraz island, so dressing in light layers is best.

“The plants tell the other story of Alcatraz–the human and humane story of an individual and group effort to bring a bit of beauty to a grim place.” Russell A. Beatty, Gardens of Alcatraz

5 Fun Facts about Alcatraz I learned in 2 days:

• If you’ve ever visited Alcatraz, you’ve noticed the beautiful gardens that cover the entire island. During the military and penitentiary era, inmates had daily shores and some would take care of the gardens. This was a way for inmates to forget about being in prison and would almost make the place a little more serene. Children and families were said to have tea parties in the gardens to make the best of living on Alcatraz. Till this day, the gardens have not only become a symbol of the past, but of a place where families and inmates escaped the defense, punishment, and confinement Alcatraz had for living on the island.  Click here for more information on the garden tours.
• Alcatraz was known to have some of the best culinary programs in the country.
• The island was first named “Alcatrasces”, which means pelicans in Spanish, as one of the early Spanish settlers discovered the island, which was inhabited by pelicans. Till today, the island is covered with seabirds.
• Over 75 children lived in the shadow of Alcatraz. They were the families of the guard staff and personnel. Each day, the prison took the children and women across the bay to school and the women would go shopping or socialized in San Francisco.
• There was a side of the prison that was considered to be prime real estate between inmates, as it was the sunniest part with windows facing the city. Inmates were able to hear kids playing throughout the day, which “may have” put them in better moods or inspired them to be happier and draw art, play chess or crochet.

Traveling To Alcatraz Soon? Here are a few tips:

How to get there: When in San Francisco public transportation is the best way to get around. The Muni F Line runs along Market Street (east) then turns north on The Embarcadero, and runs right past the ferry terminal (on your right) and then on through Fisherman’s Wharf.

The only way to get to Alcatraz is by a ferry operated by Alcatraz Cruises, LLC. They are located on The Embarcadero near the intersection of Bay Street – just a bit south-east of Fisherman’s Wharf. There is no parking at Pier 33. So plan ahead.

Where to stay: There are many places to stay in  San Francisco. There is a wide range of hotels, from budget to luxury. For a luxury hotel that won’t break the bank, I recommend the Argonaut Hotel, A Noble House Hotel which is currently the  #1 hotel on Tripadvisor . For a mid-level hotel, I suggest the  Holiday Inn San Francisco Fishermans Wharf.   Finally, for a budget hotel, try the Hotel Union Square.  You can also check  HotelsCombined for the best San Francisco Hotel Rates.

What to pack:  The temperatures each season vary greatly, but even in summer it can be cold. Dress warmly when going out on the Bay. Wear layers, as it can get chilly if it’s foggy or windy, even in the summer. Be sure to wear comfortable walking shoes. And don’t forget sunglasses and sunblock. Bring a warm jacket if you’re planning on a Night Tour of Alcatraz.

Alcatraz Trip Essentials

6 indispensable items to pack for a alcatraz – san francisco vacation.

• Get the  Fodor’s San Francisco: with the Best of Napa & Sonoma (Full-color Travel Guide) .

• The roads on Alcatraz are steep, and your exploration can include stairways and gravel walkways, wear comfortable walking shoes with grip-type soles.

Read More About San Francisco

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

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

At First Sight, No Second Guessing

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

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

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

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

Essential Information for Your Alcatraz Visit

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

Hours of Operation

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

Alcatraz Island Location

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

How to Get There: Alcatraz Landing Location

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Internet and Cellular Access

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

Entrance Fees and Passes

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

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

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

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

Tour Options

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

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

Note that prices may change at any time. 

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

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

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

Behind the Scenes Tour

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

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

Eating and Smoking

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

How Long is the Tour?

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

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

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

Accessibility

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

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

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

Wheelchair-accessible areas include:

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

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

When is the Best Time of Year to Visit Alcatraz?

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

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

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

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

Best Time to Go

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

What to Expect When You Visit Alcatraz

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

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

Arrival and Exploration

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

Attractions

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Rock Gardens

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

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

Alcatraz Birds

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

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

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

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

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

Is Alcatraz Haunted?

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

Tips Before You Visit Alcatraz

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

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

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

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

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

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

Wrap-Up: How to Visit Alcatraz

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

Featured image credit: Rodrigo Soares

More Articles from Miles with McConkey

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

The Stylish Nomadic

Alcatraz Island San Francisco: How to Reach, Best Time & Tips

Alcatraz Island , located in the beautiful city of San Francisco , is an iconic attraction that draws visitors from around the world. This historic island was once home to some of America’s most notorious criminals, and today it stands as a fascinating reminder of the past.

If you’re planning a trip to Alcatraz Island , there are a few things you need to know. First and foremost, how to reach the island. Alcatraz Island can be reached via a ticketed ferry, which departs from Pier 33 near Fisherman’s Wharf. It is advisable to book your tickets in advance, as they tend to sell out quickly.

When visiting Alcatraz Island , it’s important to be prepared. Make sure to arrive at the ferry 15-20 minutes in advance to ensure a smooth departure. Bring a light daypack with essentials like a water bottle and a light jacket, as the ferry ride can be chilly. Comfortable walking shoes are also a must, as there is plenty of walking to be done on the island.

One of the highlights of a visit to Alcatraz Island is the self-guided audio tour of the main prison building. This tour offers insights into the history of the island and the infamous inmates who once called it home. It’s a fascinating experience that shouldn’t be missed.

So, when is the best time to visit Alcatraz Island ? The fall months, particularly September and October, offer pleasant weather for exploring the island. Summer months can be foggy, while winters are cold and wet. Keep an eye on the weather forecast and dress accordingly, as the temperature can change throughout the day.

Before you embark on your trip to Alcatraz Island, here are some tips to keep in mind. First, be sure to book your tickets well in advance to secure your spot. Second, arrive at the ferry terminal early to avoid any last-minute rush. Third, bring a camera to capture the stunning views of San Francisco and the Golden Gate Bridge from the island.

With these tips in mind, you’re ready to embark on a memorable journey to Alcatraz Island. Explore the fascinating history, take in the breathtaking views, and immerse yourself in the captivating stories of the past.

Content Overview

How to Visit Alcatraz Prison

To visit Alcatraz Prison , you’ll need to take a ferry operated by City Experiences from Pier 33. The ferry ride takes about 15 minutes and is included in the ticket price. It’s highly recommended to purchase your tickets in advance, as Alcatraz tours are extremely popular and can sell out months ahead of time.

Once you arrive on the island, you can embark on a self-guided audio tour of the main prison building. This immersive experience allows you to explore the cells and learn about the captivating history of the prison. The audio tour provides fascinating insights into the daily lives of the inmates and the famous escape attempts.

Additionally, guided walks and discussions are available on the island. These are led by knowledgeable park rangers who can provide further context and answer any questions you may have.

It’s important to note that there are no food options available for purchase on the island, so it is advisable to bring your own snacks. Remember to pack a light daypack with water and comfortable walking shoes, as there is a fair amount of walking involved during the visit.

With its rich history and captivating stories, a visit to Alcatraz Prison is an unforgettable experience. Don’t miss the opportunity to delve into the mysteries and legends surrounding this iconic landmark.

Alcatraz Prison Highlights:

• Take a ferry from Pier 33 to Alcatraz Island
• Explore the main prison building on a self-guided audio tour
• Learn about the history and notorious inmates of Alcatraz
• Join guided walks and discussions led by park rangers
• Bring your own snacks as there are no food options on the island
• Wear comfortable walking shoes for the extensive walking

Don’t miss the opportunity to visit Alcatraz Prison and immerse yourself in its intriguing past. Book your tickets in advance to secure your spot and prepare for an unforgettable journey through one of America’s most notorious prisons.

Best Time to Visit Alcatraz Island

Planning your visit to Alcatraz Island? Timing can make all the difference when exploring this historic destination. The best time to visit Alcatraz Island is during the fall months, specifically September and October. These months offer warm and sunny weather, creating a pleasant atmosphere for exploring the island and its surroundings.

However, it’s important to be aware of the weather conditions during different seasons. The summer months of May to August can often be foggy, which may affect visibility and the overall experience. On the other hand, the winter months of November to February can be cold and wet, so be prepared with appropriate clothing.

Before embarking on your Alcatraz adventure, check the weather forecast. Dressing in layers is recommended, as temperatures can fluctuate throughout the day. Don’t forget to bring a light jacket and comfortable shoes for walking around the island.

Keep in mind that Alcatraz Island is open year-round, except for January 1, December 25, and Thanksgiving. So, plan your visit accordingly and make the most of your time exploring this iconic landmark.

Tips for Visiting Alcatraz Island

Here are some tips for visiting Alcatraz Island :

• Book your tickets well in advance to avoid disappointment, as they can sell out quickly.
• Arrive at the ferry terminal 15-20 minutes before your scheduled departure time to ensure a smooth boarding process.
• Bring a light daypack with a water bottle and a light jacket, as the ferry ride to Alcatraz Island can be chilly.
• Wear comfortable walking shoes to explore the island, as there is a lot of walking involved.

Don’t forget to listen to the self-guided audio tour, as it provides fascinating insights into the history of the prison.

Alcatraz Island Tours and Tickets

When planning a visit to Alcatraz Island, there are several tour options available to enhance your experience. City Experiences offers a variety of tours, including day tours, night tours, and behind-the-scenes tours.

The day tours provide an opportunity to explore the main prison building at your own pace with a self-guided audio tour. Immerse yourself in the history of Alcatraz as you discover the cells and learn about the infamous inmates who once occupied them. The audio tour provides fascinating insights into the daily life of prisoners and the challenges they faced.

If you prefer a more intimate experience with fewer people on the island, the night tours offer a unique perspective. Experience the eerie atmosphere of Alcatraz after dark and witness the prison’s haunting allure. The night tours provide a chance to see the island in a different light and delve into the mysteries of Alcatraz.

For those seeking an even deeper understanding of Alcatraz, the behind-the-scenes tour is a must. This exclusive tour allows you to explore areas of the island that are not accessible to the general public. Go behind closed doors and get a glimpse into the hidden corners of Alcatraz’s history.

To secure your spot on one of these tours, you can purchase Alcatraz Island tickets online through City Experiences’ website or at the ticket booth located on Pier 33. It is recommended to book in advance, as Alcatraz tours tend to sell out quickly. Additionally, keep an eye out for combo tours that include Alcatraz Island tickets along with other popular San Francisco activities, maximizing your experience in the city.

Alcatraz Ferry Schedule and Location

The Alcatraz ferry offers convenient transportation to and from Alcatraz Island. The ferry departs from Pier 33, also known as Alcatraz Landing, located on the scenic San Francisco Embarcadero.

The ferries, operated by City Experiences, have scheduled departures every 30 or 60 minutes, depending on the day and season. This ensures that visitors have multiple options to choose from when planning their trip to Alcatraz Island.

The day tours typically start from 8:40 am, allowing visitors to begin their experience early in the day. The last ferry departs around 3:50 pm, ensuring that visitors have ample time to explore the island before heading back to the mainland.

For a unique experience, night tours are also available on select days. These tours depart in the late afternoon and offer a more intimate and atmospheric visit to Alcatraz Island.

To ensure a smooth and enjoyable visit, it is important to check the ferry schedule in advance and plan accordingly. Remember to arrive at the ferry terminal on time to avoid missing your scheduled departure.

Reservations are required for all Alcatraz tours and can be made online through the City Experiences website or by phone.

Alcatraz Ferry Schedule

Note: Night tours operate on select days. Please check the official website or contact City Experiences for the specific schedule.

Whether you’re planning a day trip or an evening visit, the Alcatraz ferry provides a convenient and reliable transportation service to Alcatraz Island.

Tips for a Memorable Trip to Alcatraz Island

Planning a trip to Alcatraz Island ? Here are some tips to ensure a memorable experience. First and foremost, arrive early to allow ample time for parking and getting to the ferry terminal. The popularity of Alcatraz means that it can get crowded, so getting there early will give you a head start.

Don’t forget to bring a camera or smartphone to capture the breathtaking views of the San Francisco skyline and the iconic Golden Gate Bridge. The photo opportunities on the island are truly remarkable, so make sure you have the means to capture those unforgettable moments.

While exploring Alcatraz, take some time to wander through the island’s garden area. Not only does it offer stunning vistas, but it also provides a peaceful atmosphere where you can relax and soak in the beauty of your surroundings. It’s a great spot for a quiet moment of reflection.

Before heading back, don’t forget to visit the souvenir store. It’s the perfect place to pick up a memento of your trip to Alcatraz Island. Whether it’s a keychain, a postcard, or a T-shirt, these souvenirs will serve as lasting reminders of your visit.

Lastly, consider planning other activities in San Francisco to make the most of your trip. Whether it’s exploring the vibrant neighborhoods, enjoying the local cuisine, or visiting other iconic landmarks, there’s so much to see and do in the city. Make your trip to Alcatraz Island just one part of an unforgettable San Francisco adventure.

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Last updated: April 1, 2022

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Alcatraz Island Golden Gate National Recreation Area B201 Fort Mason San Francisco, CA 94123

415-561-4900 United States Park Police Dispatch: Non-Emergency: 415-561-5505 Emergency: 415-561-5656

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