behind the scenes alcatraz tour tickets

• Top SF Attractions
• Fisherman's Wharf
• Golden Gate Bridge
• Lombard Street
• Ghirardelli Square
• Golden Gate Park
• Japanese Tea Garden
• Haight Ashbury
• San Francisco Beaches
• Conservatory of Flowers
• Botanical Garden
• The Embarcadero
• San Francisco Zoo
• California Academy of Sciences
• The Exploratorium
• de Young Art Museum
• Legion of Honor Art Museum
• Musée Mécanique
• 65 Things to Do in San Francisco
• Ride the Cable Cars
• SF Bay Cruises
• Bike the Bridge
• Go Car Tours
• Best Places to Stay in SF
• Chinese New Year
• Cherry Blossom Festival
• Christmas in SF
• Napa Wineries
• Angel Island
• Santa Cruz Boardwalk
• Whitewater Rafting
• Vintage Plane Rides
• Getting Around SF
• When to Visit SF
• Free Parking in SF
• Bad SF Travel Advice
• Covid Status
• San Francisco Attractions
• Alcatraz Tours
• Alcatraz Behind the Scenes Tour

By  Karen

Updated December 27, 2023.

Alcatraz "Behind the Scenes" Tour

Alcatraz added the Behind the Scenes tour several years ago and it has become one of the more popular tours of Alcatraz.

If you can get these tickets, it's definitely worth it! You see a lot more than on all the other tours.

• Behind the Scenes tickets
• Behind the Scenes schedule
• What to bring with you
• The Behind the Scenes tour
• How strenuous is it?
• Joining the Night Tour

COVID note:   Alcatraz Island is open again , and all the tours except the Alcatraz/Angel Island Tour are currently running.

No proof of vaccination is required for the Alcatraz tours, and  masks are recommended, but not required, for indoor areas, loading areas, and on the boat.

In a nutshell, the Behind the Scenes tour is a two-part tour of Alcatraz:

• A 2-hour, guided tour given by a Park Ranger that takes a small group of 20 or less into areas normally off-limits to visitors.
• After the guided tour, visitors are free to do the other activities on the island, including the Cell House audio tour, and the activities for the Night Tour.

How long is the Behind the Scenes Tour?

Altogether, the Behind the Scenes tour takes 4.5 to 5 hours.

When you're ready to leave, you have the choice of any of the afternoon ferries to take you back to Pier 33.

Tickets for the Behind the Scenes Tour

The best way to get tickets for this tour is to buy them directly from City Experiences, the official seller of the Alcatraz tickets, at cityexperiences.com .

Ticket Prices

Adults: $101.30

Youth 12-17: $97.10 (must be 12 to go on this one)

Senior 62+: $94.25

Getting the tickets for the Behind the Scenes tour

The tickets for the Behind the Scenes tour sell out almost as fast as the night tour, and during the summer are usually sold out a couple of months in advance, so book them as soon as you know your travel dates.

Winter is easier; as of the end of December, 2023, you can get the tickets about one week out.

Behind the Scenes sold out?  Unfortunately, there's no way to get tickets for this tour when they are sold out, other than checking for cancelations on the cityexperiences.com website.

So far, I haven't found them combined with other tours in packages.

Once I had an extra ticket for this tour and arranged to sell it to someone at Alcatraz Landing who wanted a ticket for that day. The arrangements were made through the ticket office on Pier 33, so ask at the ticket booth if any tickets are available. It's a long shot, but you might get lucky!

However, sometimes it's possible to get the day tour and night tour tickets on sold out days by doing combination tours. See my tips at Alcatraz sold out for how to do it.

Behind the Scenes Tour Schedule

Departures: this tour has one sailing from Alcatraz Landing each afternoon, five days a week.

Summer: Tuesday - Saturday, at 4:20 pm.

Winter:  (Oct -Mar) Tuesday - Saturday, at 2:15 pm.

Return to Pier 33:  You can take any of the afternoon return ferries.

Return times are posted at Pier 33 and on the dock on Alcatraz Island.

Taking the Ferry to Alcatraz Island

The ferry ride over to Alcatraz is quick, about 15 minutes.

This is one of the best boat rides on the bay, with great views of the San Francisco skyline, the Golden Gate Bridge, Bay Bridge and Angel Island.

What to bring to Alcatraz...

Aside from sunblock and cameras, be sure to bring or wear a jacket, even on warm days. And the fog can roll in at any time.

It's colder and windier out on the Rock, plus the temperature tends to drop fast as the sun goes down; no balmy nights on San Francisco Bay!

Food: there's nothing to eat on the island, and the tour is fairly long, so you might want to bring a snack or a sandwich to eat after the guided tour's done (no time to eat when you arrive; the tour starts right away).

There's a cafe at Alcatraz Landing, on Pier 33, where you can buy food before you get on the ferry.

On the island, they discourage eating on the dock and there's nowhere to buy food on Alcatraz. Eating elsewhere on the island is prohitied now. (Years ago, they were selling almonds in the bookstore on the dock, but I haven't seen them recently.)

You can carry water bottles everywhere on Alcatraz, and they sell them in the bookstore on the dock and in the gift shop on top, but you won't have time to buy them on the island before the tour starts, so better to bring them with you.

There used to be a snack bar on the ferry, too, but it's been closed since Covid. 

What's the Behind the Scenes tour like?

Your group of 20 or less will be met at the dock by the Park Rangers assigned to your tour (we had 2 rangers).

After an introduction, you're off on the tour. 

Note. Where you actually go on your tour depends on what areas are open at the time (construction is ongoing) and what your guide chooses for the tour.

There is no way of knowing in advance which areas you'll be going into that day. 

Possible Tour Areas

The following are areas in the prison and grounds that have been on previous tours and  could be on your tour:

• Civil War era tunnel under the buildings
• Old factory ruins (New Industries Building)
• The Dungeon, underground punishment cells
• Prison hospital
• Prison chapel
• Prisoners' garden
• Cellblocks not open on day tours

There are probably other areas that show up on the tours that I haven't listed, as well.

Conditions at the prison change daily, so there's no way to predict what you'll actually be shown on your tour.

However, the Behind the Scenes tour always allows you to go inside the prison where the cells are and do the audio tour after you're done with the guided tour.

The description below covers where we went on the day I was there.

We started off walking through a pretty prison garden, then walked through the brick passageways built during the Civil War period.

Then it was into the underground tunnel originally used by soldiers moving from one side of the fortified island to the other.

The tunnel now takes you to the lower level of the New Industries Building, used as a laundry and factory where prisoners of the federal penitentiary worked.

The factory building is appropriately decrepit and rusting, like the setting for a noir film or horror story. Lots of atmosphere.

Then it was back to the prison building. There's a staircase in Block D that goes down into the basement where the punishment cells were located.

This is a much older part of the prison; the federal penitentiary was built in 1933 on top of the previous prison and citadel.

The basement holds grim cells that kept prisoners in total darkness; very damp from sea water and inhabited by rats back in the day.

These cells weren't supposed to be used by the penitentiary, but Warden Johnson got caught putting prisoners down there. So the solitary cells you can see in D Block weren't the worst ones!

After seeing the Dungeon, as it's called, the tour came back up to Block D and we climbed up to the top two tiers of cells and look around. 

Cellblock A was open that night but is usually kept locked and isn't open to visitors on the day tours.

All through the tour, the rangers will fill you in on interesting facts and anecdotes about the various places you're visiting.

Lot's of good stories about this place!

Alcatraz is supposedly haunted. Check out the Alcatraz ghost stories, plus 23 other haunted places in San Francisco .

How strenuous is the tour?

Good news: the tour is not really strenuous. It mainly just requires walking up and down some stairs (but only one flight at a time).

City Experiences warns people that this tour is strenuous and limits it to age 12 and above. 

I didn't know what to expect in terms of the fitness level required to do this tour.

Turns out you need to be able to climb up or down a flight of stairs, walk up hills, and keep a reasonable walking pace.

Anyone who is reasonably fit should be able to keep up. There's plenty of standing and listening to the ranger's stories in between the stairs and walks.

Normally you only go up one flight, then stand awhile, so it's not a question of climbing flight after flight of stairs.

They also warn you to go to the bathroom before the tour starts, because there aren't any potty breaks during the tour, but we did have an opportunity to use the restroom once we got up to the cellblock area, about halfway through.

Best to use the restroom at Pier 33 before you get on the ferry.

Joining the Night Tour of Alcatraz

The guided portion of the Behind the Scenes tour finishes up at the entrance to the Alcatraz cellblock.

From there on, you are free to explore the island on your own, including the audio tour of the prison.

One of the cool things about the Behind the Scenes Tour is that it includes the Night Tour.

After your semi-private behind the scenes tour, you join the folks from the Night Tour and can participate in their activities.

When the guided tour ends, most people go into the cellblock to get their audio devices for the cellblock audio tour, do the audio tour of the prison, then go outside to explore the rest of the island.

At the entrance to the cellblock, and also in the gift shop inside the cellblock, you'll see a bulletin board with the special programs: talks by rangers, any extra ranger tours, and events like demonstrations of the opening of the cell doors.

You can plan your evening around the talks and tours you want to do.

Heading Back to SF

People on the Behind the Scenes Tour return on the same ferries as the Night Tour folks.

Return times are posted on the docks (both at Pier 33 and on the Alcatraz dock). 

For information on the Day Tour , Night Tour and Alcatraz/Angel Island Tour , see Alcatraz tours .

Sail around the bay...

If you want to sail around Alcatraz Island, and out under the Golden Gate Bridge, check out my recommendations for the best San Francisco Bay Cruises .

These don't stop at Alcatraz, but they're a lot of fun, and give you some of the best views of the city, bridge and bay.

One of the mostly highly-rated boat tours is the sunset cruise on a catamaran. You sail around the bay, past Alcatraz, and under the Golden Gate Bridge. View the San Francisco skyline all lit up after dark - beautiful! 

See Sunset Sailing Cruise for rates and availability.

More to explore...

Best things to do in San Francisco

Top San Francisco Attractions

Get the latest tips on visiting San Francisco.

SF Bus, BART & Cable Car Routes

Get Alcatraz tickets...

Home | Sitemap | Contact Me | About Me  

  Privacy Policy | Use Policy | Affiliate Disclosure

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

FogCitySecrets.com Inside-Guide-to-San-Francisco-Tourism.com

Copyright© 2009- . All rights reserved.

• Search Experiences
• Manage Booking
• Phone # SMS #

Alcatraz Behind the Scenes Tour – Alcatraz Cruises

Save Time, Buy Your Tickets Online

• Round-trip ferry ride to Alcatraz Island
• Intimate two (2) hour guided Behind The Scenes tour with 30 or fewer guests
• Award-winning Cellhouse audio tour
• Optional programs and exhibits
• Docent guided tours and talks

The Behind the Scenes Tour is a unique program limited to just 30 or fewer guests per departure. It includes special programs, tours and activities not offered during the day. Be sure to check out the  visiting and permanent exhibits  during your visit to Alcatraz Island.

Tour the Cellhouse at your own pace with the award-winning audio presentation “ Doing Time: The Alcatraz Cellhouse Tour ”. Stop to picture yourself in a dark solitary confinement cell, hear the stories of life inside from former inmates, and feel the intensity of a prison breakout from correctional officers who lived and worked on the Island.

No one can tell the Alcatraz tale quite like the men who lived it. Hear both sides of life in the Island prison including such famous events as escape attempts, “The Battle of ’46”, “Food Riots”, and “Surviving Solitary Confinement”.

Available Tuesday – Saturday A very helpful FAQ page is found here to help!

The tour departures from Pier 33 Alcatraz Landing will be the last two departure times of the day and visitors can return on either of the scheduled night boats found here:  Departure and Return schedules .

It is recommended that you arrive at least one half hour prior to your departure time.

Please note: The two (2) hour guided portion of your tour is available only in English. Once you reach the Cellhouse portion of the tour, you may choose the audio tour in one of the 11 offered languages.

Please note: The roads and walkways on Alcatraz are steep. The distance from the dock to the Cellhouse is approximately 1/4 mile (.4km) and the elevation change is 130 feet (40 meters), the equivalent of walking up a 13-story building. The roads and walkways are wide with several places to stop along the way to rest and take in the breathtaking views. Comfortable athletic or walking shoes are strongly recommended.

If you have mobility concerns, please see our  Sustainable Easy Access Transport (S.E.A.T.)  Tram information.

Please note: Children under the age of 12 are not allowed on the Alcatraz Behind The Scenes Tour. Please do not purchase tickets for children under the age of 12 for this tour as they will not be able to board the vessels for the tour and refunds will not be available.

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

Please note: Audio tour refunds are available for Alcatraz Day Tours only. There are no audio tour refunds available for Alcatraz Behind The Scenes or Alcatraz Night Tours.

Where to Meet

Pier 33 Alcatraz Landing

The Alcatraz Landing area at Pier 33 includes the Ticketbooth, waiting and boarding areas, all of which are accessible.

Pier 33 Alcatraz Landing is home to a tactile model of Alcatraz Island, a tactile model of Pier 33, as well as outdoor exhibits depicting historical moments on the Island.

Assisted Listening Devices (ALD’s) are available for these tactile models and interpretive exhibits and can be requested at the Pier 33 Ticketbooth. ALD’s for the Alcatraz Island Cellhouse Tour can also be picked up at the Pier 33 Ticketbooth. You will be asked for your credit card in case the ALD’s are not returned at the end of your visit. There is no charge for Assisted Listening Devices, unless they are lost or damaged. Each of the tactile models, as well as the other exhibits at Pier 33, include a Braille description.

Accessible bathrooms are found at Pier 33 Alcatraz Landing and on all Alcatraz Cruises vessels.

Copies of the safety messages shown onboard all Alcatraz Cruises vessels are also available in Braille. Please ask for a copy at the Pier 33 Ticketbooth or request one from a uniformed Alcatraz Cruises crew member on any of our vessels. The safety announcement and introduction video shown on all Alcatraz Cruises vessels are closed captioned.

Please note:  There are no wheelchairs available for loan either at Pier 33 Alcatraz Landing or on Alcatraz Island.  The California Welcome Center at Pier 39 offers this service .

RELATED TOURS

ALCATRAZ DAY TOUR

Enjoy outdoor-only access to several areas on Alcatraz Island, including the Alcatraz Gardens, and iconic San Francisco Bay vistas.

$25 – $41

Shopping Cart

Find your experience.

• Alcatraz Behind the Scenes Tour

The most complete tour of Alcatraz available.

Discover the many eras and secrets of American history in areas not generally available to the public!

Join a group of 30 or fewer on a personally guided adventure to explore and discover clues to the Island’s fascinating past and hear lesser known stories of Alcatraz. Then complete your comprehensive Alcatraz experience by taking the Cellhouse Audio Tour and participating in the full Alcatraz Night Tour experience, all with a single ticket.

*Face coverings are required at all times in boarding areas, onboard vessels and in all indoor spaces on Alcatraz Island.  Please bring your face mask with you or you may purchase one at the ticket booth.   Children under the age of 12 are not allowed on this tour.  If you purchase tickets for someone who is under the age of 12, they will not be allowed to board the boat and refunds will not be provided.

Rates - including tax

• Description
• Cancellation and Change Fee Policy

Related Photos

Tour / activity details.

This tour does not include hotel pick up. Alcatraz ticket confirmations are sent 10 to 30 days prior to your tour. If you order is less than 10 days prior, we will make every effort to send your ticket confirmation within 72 hours from receipt of your order. Alcatraz tickets must be picked up by the cardholder. If you are purchasing tickets as a gift, please note that in the Comments section. Alcatraz asks that you arrive one hour prior to your departure time. call to order or for more information.

There is a $6.95 USD processing fee per order. This is a flat fee regardless of the number of tickets or tours purchased on an order. There is a service charge per ticket. This charge will be reflected on your summary before you checkout. The total shown at checkout includes any fuel surcharges, service charges and tax. There are no additional charges, unless otherwise specified.

Tour / Activity Policies

Cancellation Policy: There is no refund on Alcatraz tickets or tours. All sales are final. There is no refund if you cancel this reservation or if you fail to show up at the designated time for the tour.

Change Fee Policy: If changes are allowed on a tour or activity, a $20.00 per reservation change fee will be applied for any change to a reservation. Please note that some tours and activities do not allow any changes. Date changes can only be made only if we can confirm availability on the new date. While we cannot guarantee any changes can be made, all change requests must be submitted a minimum of 24 hours prior to the tour departure and must be handled on an individual basis through our Reservations Center.

Tour / Activity Description

PLEASE NOTE:

**Covid Updates

• Face coverings are required at all times in boarding areas, onboard vessels and in all indoor spaces on Alcatraz Island.  Please bring your face mask with you or you may purchase one at the ticket booth.

Alcatraz Highlights:

Today Alcatraz swarms with tourists -- about a million a year -- but for 30 years it was the most infamous prison in the country. It housed prisoners too notorious or dangerous to be held elsewhere. Its inhabitants included Al Capone, George "Machine Gun" Kelly, and Robert Franklin Stroud, the Birdman of Alcatraz. In 1933, the Federal Bureau of Prisons used the facility as a maximum security prison. It was closed in 1963 due to its expense.

Your trip to Alcatraz departs on a ferry from Pier 33. The ferry across the San Francisco Bay takes about 10 minutes. Alcatraz Island is a 25-acre island located just 1 1/4-miles from San Francisco's Fisherman's Wharf. Upon arrival, a National Park Ranger will provide a brief welcome and orientation. You are then free to explore the island and the prison at your own pace. We recommend that you stop at the theatre to see the Alcatraz video following the orientation. The video provides an excellent overview of what you will see. The 35-minute audio headset tour of the Alcatraz cell block is a real highlight. This tour is available in six languages: English, French, German, Italian, Japanese and Spanish. During the tour, you will hear stories from former inmates and prison guards as you walk through the cellblock. After the Cell Block tour, there is time to see all the sites around the island and visit the Alcatraz museum and bookshop.

To reach the Cell House, you walk from the wharf up the steep hill on the old service road. The Cell House is at the top of the island. Along the way, you can stop and visit exhibits, see a variety of buildings that were used for various prison uses, and enjoy the views. Access: SEAT (Sustainable Easy Access Transport), is available for wheelchair users and visitors with a mobility need who are unable to walk up the quarter mile, 12% grade hill. Another option is to walk along the Agave Trail. The trail begins near the ferryboat landing on the east side of Alcatraz Island and continues to the southern tip of the island. The Agave Trail passes through a protected bird sanctuary and features beautiful plants and flowers. This trail offers fabulous views of San Francisco and the Golden Gate Bridge.

Be sure to bring a camera because you will definitely want to remember your tour to the Rock!

Important Alcatraz Tour Information

This tour does not offer hotel pick-up or drop-off. The Alcatraz ferry departs from Pier 33.

Please note that we will be sold out of Alcatraz tickets many days this year. Order your Alcatraz Tickets today to avoid missing out on the opportunity to see the most popular tourist attraction in San Francisco.

Alcatraz Schedule Information

Departure Times Available for Day Trips to Alcatraz from Pier 33: Ferries depart & return approximately every half hour continuously throughout the day. You may return on any ferry you choose, so stay as long as you like. ***Please check availability calendar for the complete list of available times for each month. Alcatraz tour times are subject to change. If times change you will be rescheduled on the nearest scheduled time closest to your preferred time.

Other Alcatraz Tours Available

We have several different tours that include a tour to Alcatraz. For more information, please click on one of the following links:

• Alcatraz Tour & San Francisco City Tour
• Alcatraz Tour & Muir Woods - Sausalito Tour
• Alcatraz Night Tour
• Alcatraz Ticket & Souvenir Package

The weather in San Francisco and at Alcatraz can change suddenly. It can be cold and foggy one morning and sunny that afternoon. Be prepared, and dress in layers. Fog is common from June through September; temperatures may range from 38 degrees F (3 degress C) to 75 degrees G (24 degrees C).

On-street parking can be difficult to find, and parking spaces usually have a two-hour maximum time limit, which doesn't work for this tour. There are numerous commercial lots. Please arrive early to find a parking space, exchange your E-Ticket Receipt for the boarding tickets, and wait in line for boarding.

What to Wear

Be prepared, and dress in layers. We suggest comfortable walking shoes with grip-type soles. It is an outdoor, uphill walk to the prison. Sunglasses and sun screen are recommended.

Food and Beverage

There is no food service on Alcatraz. Eating is restricted to the dock area. Snacks are sold on the ferries. Drinking fountains are located at the island dock and near the lighthouse.

Alcatraz Tour Cancellation Policy & Terms

• Your order does not guarantee availability of tickets. Alcatraz tickets are often sold out for specific dates and times. Your order is not confirmed until you receive a second email from us advising that the order has been placed and confirmed. You will receive two emails from us; the first will confirm that your order was placed and your credit card was charged. It is the second email that will confirm the availability of the tickets and that the tickets were secured for you.
• Alcatraz tickets sell out very quickly and often far in advance. If tickets for the date and/or time you need are not available, your order will automatically be canceled and your money refunded.
• There are absolutely no refunds on Alcatraz tickets, unless tickets are not available for the date and time you requested.
• There are no exchanges or refunds after a ticket has been purchased or for lost, stolen, damaged or destroyed tickets. So once you buy a ticket, that's it -- no changes at all.
• There can be no changes on Alcatraz tickets. Once you have purchased the tickets, that's it. You have tickets for that date and time, and we are unable to change the date or the time.
• Tickets shall be null and void and of no value unless utilized by the customer on the date and time on the tickets.
• Ticket sales for Alcatraz are limited to 8 tickets per household within any 30 day period. If you order more than 8 tickets, we may need to contact you to obtain an additional name, address, and credit card per each 8 tickets to comply with this National Park policy.
• Resale of tickets is strictly prohibited.
• To the extent permitted by law, the management reserves the right to refund the purchase price of the ticket and to revoke the rights granted herein.
• Please click here to read our complete Terms and Conditions .

IMPORTANT ORDERING INFORMATION

• Please read this information BEFORE ordering Alcatraz tickets. By purchasing, you are indicating that you have read and agree to the following.
• We provide a booking service for purchasing Alcatraz tickets. The price includes our per-ticket booking fee and processing fee of $6 to $10. Your order authorizes us to purchase the tickets in your name.
• TICKETS MUST BE PICKED UP BY THE CARDHOLDER . If you are using your credit card to purchase Alcatraz Tickets, you must be present to pick up the tickets. You will pick up your tickets at the Will Call Window at Pier 33. You will need the credit card used to order the tickets as your identification, valid photo ID (driver's license or passport) and your confirmation. Tickets may not be picked up prior to the tour date.
• There is a $6.95 USD processing fee per order. This is a flat fee regardless of the number of tickets or tours purchased on an order.
• Your credit card statement will show two charges - one for City Info Experts and one from City Experiences.
• Attention Debit Card Users Please be aware that an attempted purchase of Alcatraz tickets with a bank debit card, even if the purchase is declined, will result in a temporary deduction from the account associated with the debit card. This deduction will be credited back to the account within several days of the attempted transaction. The timeframe of the charge being reversed is determined by the bank or institution issuing the debit card. Customers with duplicate charges on their debit card must contact their bank or institution with questions about the status of these charges. City Info Experts is not responsible for duplicate charges to any account associated with a debit card. In order to avoid duplicate charges please only click on process order once.

This tour does not include hotel pick up. Alcatraz ticket confirmations are sent 10 to 30 days prior to your tour. If you order is less than 10 days prior, we will make every effort to send your ticket confirmation within 72 hours from receipt of your order. Alcatraz tour times are subject to change. If times change you will be rescheduled on the nearest scheduled time closest to your preferred time. Alcatraz asks that you arrive one hour prior to your departure time. call to order or for more information.

Customer Ratings & Reviews

Tours and activities from our partners, have a question.

Click here to chat live with one of our reservation agents.

Your Reservations Cart

Your cart is currently empty

Popular Tours and Activities

Print your e-ticket.

You will receive an E-Ticket for your tour/activity within 72 hours (if your tour/activity is in less than 10 days). If your tour/activity is within the next 72 hours, your E-Ticket will be processed as quickly as possible.

Copyright 1999 - 2024 City Info Experts LLC - Powered by Tour Beaver. All Trademarks are the property of their respective owners. Use of this Web site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement and Privacy Policy GA License Number TKBK00007 Fla. Seller of Travel Ref. No. ST38607

Alcatraz Tours: Day, Night, and Behind the Scenes – Which is the Best Way to Visit The Rock?

Alcatraz Island is known worldwide for its infamous federal prison that formerly housed some of the most notorious criminals of the 20th century. It’s lesser known for the national park unit that now protects, preserves, and shares these stories, and so many others.

That’s right: Alcatraz Island is a national park unit. It became a part of Golden Gate National Recreation Area in 1972, opened to tours in 1973, and it is one of the most unique national parks you can visit.

Haunted by the ghosts of its dark past, Alcatraz Island lures millions of people to its rocky shore every year hoping to get a glimpse of what life was like for notable criminals like Al Capone, Robert Stroud (the Birdman of Alcatraz), Ellsworth Raymond “Bumpy” Johnson and more inside their cramped and secluded cells.

There are three main Alcatraz tours offered to explore Alcatraz Island: the Day Tour, the Night Tour, and the Behind the Scenes Tour. Each tour offers different experiences, along with some similarities, and raises one main question: which is the best?

We’re going to break down all three and give you all the inside information so you can decide which is right for you and/or your group for your trip to the Rock.

This post may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. For more information, view my privacy policy .

Table of Contents

Golden Gate National Recreation Area Overview

California is teeming with national parks , and a cluster of them are located in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Established in 1972 to bring parks to the people of urban settings, Golden Gate National Recreation Area protects numerous diverse ecosystems in and around the city of San Francisco.

It is the third most visited park unit in the country, regularly seeing more than 12,000,000 visitors annually, and for good reason! Sprawling more than 80,000 acres of land, featuring beautiful beaches and captivating coastlines, gorgeous groves of Coastal Redwoods, magnificent military history in old fort structures, and so much beyond, this park is an urban oasis that has something for everyone who recreates here.

There are several individual sites inside of this park, including Alcatraz Island, the Presidio, and more.

The Bay Area features other national park sites outside of Golden Gate as well, like San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park, Muir Woods National Monument , John Muir National Historic Site, Port Chicago Naval Magazine National Memorial, Eugene O’Neill National Historic Site, and Point Reyes National Seashore .

Overflowing with opportunities for exploration, education, and adventure, the most highly trafficked of these park sites is Alcatraz Island.   

When to Visit Alcatraz Island

Most people would expect summer to be the ideal time to visit any national park, Alcatraz Island included, but it’s vital to know the weather in San Francisco often does what few would expect.

Here’s a sample of what you might expect during the seasons in San Francisco.

While the temperatures never normally go below freezing, winter in San Francisco often see’s a lot of precipitation and gloomy overcast skies. More than 75% of the Bay Area’s annual rainfall occurs in winter.

Despite the higher rain chances, San Francisco has a very stable climate, and winter can actually be a pleasant time to visit.

The main perk is that the city and its attractions will be much quieter as winter is not peak travel season, and it may be the easiest time to score tickets for Alcatraz.

The early stages of spring have a chance to see some rainy days, but winter eases its grip on the region as spring blooms and bursts into life.

The historic gardens in particular really shine in the springtime, and you’ll be able to beat the onset of the massive summer crowds that are sure to follow.

Summer in San Francisco usually brings the cooler times of the year. While pleasant temperatures/days can and do appear, there is often an overcast of fog and blustery winds.

Locals tend to refer to the summer months as “no sky July” and “Fogust.” It’s common to see a chilly, breezy, overcast morning, with a clearing in the early afternoon, and fog returning by early evening.

Aside from the temperatures, summer on Alcatraz Island is also the fly season. Thousands of pesky flies inhabit the island, attracted to the Brandt’s Cormorants colonies.

These flies are completely harmless, though they tend to be extremely annoying, and many visitors find this to be an unpleasant surprise, but the bottom line is the flies are unavoidable.

If you’re looking for great views from the island, a lack of bugs, and less crowded times, summer may not be the peak time of the year to visit Alcatraz Island.

This is also when tickets tend to be booked up months in advance, so if you are planning to visit in the summer, book as early as you possibly can.

It may seem odd, but Autumn is what most consider to be San Francisco’s true summer season. This is due to an abundance of warmer days and sunnier skies.

Autumn is also the end of the fly season, meaning a much more enjoyable experience in the city, and on Alcatraz Island.

Autumn just may be the best season to visit Alcatraz Island for the warmer temperatures, clearer skies, and dispersing of the summer crowds.

No matter when you visit, you’ll want to keep a jacket with you. You never know when the chill of the Pacific Ocean air will creep in.  

A Brief Timeline of Alcatraz Island History

A majority of the people who come to Alcatraz from around the world tend to have only one thing on their agenda when visiting “The Rock,” and that’s to tour the Alcatraz Cell House.

Yet, when these visitors arrive on the island every day, most are stunned to see Alcatraz has far more layers of history than just an old cell house. 

In the year 1775, ​​Spanish naval officer and explorer Juan Manuel de Ayala became the first man to document the rocky island in San Francisco Bay.

He dubbed a neighboring island, “La Isla de Los Alcatraces” after observing the immense seabird population dominating the craggy isle, but the name was later applied to what we now know as Alcatraz Island, which also is home to large colonies of seabirds.

Decades later, in 1846, the United States purchased Alcatraz Island for $5,000. 

A Civil War Fort

Little known fact: Alcatraz Island did not begin as a prison, but rather as a stronghold created during the American Civil War as a defensive strategy.

You read that correctly: Alcatraz Island began as a Civil War fort, designed to protect the Bay as the Gold Rush ran its course.

The original fortification was designed with bunkers, tunnels, 111 canons, a fort on the summit, and several cells throughout the island to discipline disorderly army recruits, but the original intent was never to become a prison.

As the Civil War ended, and advancing war technology outran the fort’s capabilities, the future of the island seemed uncertain, until the commanding officers realized Alcatraz had great potential as an actual prison.

The island’s citadel was torn down by its then-current military prisoners, who then built the iconic Alcatraz Cell House atop its remaining dry moat and basement.

This was when the brutal military prison era of Alcatraz began, and the legends and lore of the mysterious and horrifying prison on Alcatraz Island were born.

This military prison operated until the Federal Bureau of Prisons took over in 1933. 

Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary

Beginning the era the island is most known for, Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary opened in 1934. The reign of the federal prison saw some of the most dangerous criminals locked up behind its walls.

Seeking the stories of those men and the conditions in which they lived is what attracts most visitors to the island today.

The federal prison years of Alcatraz Island lasted for a mere 29 years, before rising costs and other factors finally shut the prison down for good, and its remaining prisoners were sent to other institutions to continue their sentences. 

It was over six years after the federal prison closed when Alcatraz Island reclaimed the world’s attention, but as a sanctuary rather than a penitentiary.

Indigenous Occupation of Alcatraz

On November 20th, 1969, a group of Native American activists calling themselves the Indians of All Tribes claimed the island for all American Indians in a fight for Native American sovereignty.

Their protest and plight reached all corners of the world, drawing support for the Red Power Movement and fueling their fight for over 19 months.

When the occupation dwindled and came to an end on June 11th, 1971, the world wondered, What would come next for Alcatraz Island?

National Park Service

And what came next was the birth of a new national park attraction. Alcatraz Island was added to Golden Gate National Recreation Area in 1972 and opened to tours in 1973. 

Today, visitors come in search of answers to questions about this mysterious place, then discover this place truly is so much more than just a notorious old prison.

It takes advance planning to get to what’s been called “the most infamous island in the world.” Step one of your trip to The Rock is securing tickets to the island.

Golden Gate National Recreation Area Sticker

Tips for booking alcatraz tour tickets.

Book With the Correct Company

First, you want to make sure you’re buying tickets from a legitimate source. Alcatraz Island is federal land, and those allowed to dock on its shores are strictly supervised.

Simply put, no random person is allowed to drive a boat up to the island, and not every Bay cruise company has permission to come.

PRO TIP : There are several different vendors that will promise you “the Alcatraz experience,” but be wary; there is only one concessionaire company authorized to sell real Alcatraz tickets and to bring visitors to Alcatraz Island: Alcatraz City Cruises.

Whether you’re trying to book a Day Tour, Night Tour, or Behind the Scenes Tour, you need to purchase your tickets online from Alcatraz City Cruises . You can also call (415) 981-7625 to make your reservation.

If you purchase tickets from another source claiming to be “Alcatraz Island Tickets,” you are risking buying tickets that will not actually get you to Alcatraz Island, but possibly just a boat ride around it.

Some third-party sellers will actually buy and resell tickets from Alcatraz City Cruises, but for a hiked-up price. There’s usually no way to know if the risk you’re taking will actually pay off and get you on any of the Alcatraz tours.

We know it’s tempting to try to outsource because it’s common to see Alcatraz tickets “sold out” on the City Cruises website, but just be aware you may not make it to the island.

Check Current Conditions

Check the island schedule before you book. Generally, it is open daily from about 9 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. but is closed on Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and New Year’s Day.

It’s also a good idea to check Golden Gate National Recreation Area’s current conditions and the weather .

Fees and Park Passes

For National Park Pass holders, your annual pass is not a ticket for Alcatraz Island. You will need to purchase tickets from the authorized concessionaire to bring you to Alcatraz.

Why is there no discount? There is actually no park entrance fee to visit Alcatraz Island. You are paying for the boat ride over and the audio tour. Your annual pass does not grant you a discount for these non-entry fee purchases.

Reserve Tickets as Early as Possible

Here’s the best and most important tip for securing Alcatraz tickets : BOOK EARLY!

Tours are often sold out weeks or months in advance. Especially during the busy summer season, tickets tend to be sold out several months ahead of time.

If you’re trying to book last minute, your best chances will always be on weekdays or in slower travel seasons like winter.

Are Alcatraz walk-up tickets available? Are there ever last-minute tickets?

The short answer is maybe. There are times when hopeful visitors are able to buy walk-up Alcatraz tickets from the ticket booth on Pier 33.

This is not a guarantee, though, and more often than not, people are turned away. If you’re planning to gamble on the chance of being a walkup, prepare to be disappointed. 

Lastly, if you check Alcatraz City Cruise’s website early enough, and plenty of tickets seem to be available on your preferred date, don’t hesitate! Buy them at that moment. There is a strong chance they will sell out.

Don’t risk missing out on your chance to tour Alcatraz Island. Buy them as early as you can.

Comparing the Different Alcatraz Tours

Each of the three Alcatraz tour experiences can be vastly different, with some similarities. Knowing the details of what each offer will help you choose which tour is right for what you want to get out of your visit to Alcatraz Island.

Every Alcatraz Tour Includes: 

• A round-trip ferry ride from Pier 33 to Alcatraz Island
• Access to the award-winning Alcatraz Cell House Audio Tour (available in 11 different languages)
• Optional, free park ranger/docent-led programs and/or walking tours
• Entry into other island exhibits, like the award-winning “The Big Lockup: Mass Incarceration in the United States” Cell House exhibit
• Free access to use S.E.A.T, the accessibility tram that can take anyone with mobility needs or health conditions to the top of the island should they need it
• The option to participate in the Jr. Ranger Program and earn an Alcatraz Jr. Ranger badge

Alcatraz Day Tour

Alcatraz Day Tour Rates :

Adults : $42.50

Children (ages 5-11): $25.80

Juniors (ages 12-17) $42.15

Seniors (ages 62 and up): $39.80

Family Pack (2 adults and 2 children): $123.10

The most common and easily accessible of the Alcatraz tours is the Day Tour, and while this may seem unexciting compared to the Night Tour and the Behind the Scenes Tour, this particular adventure offers nothing short of incredible opportunities on Alcatraz Island. 

During the daylight hours, Alcatraz Island gives off an entirely different impression from what one may think. The true beauty of the island is in full sight during the daytime. This includes the chance to explore and truly appreciate the colorful flowers and diverse plants of the historic gardens.

You’ll also see the breathtaking views of the City of San Francisco, the Golden Gate Bridge, and the San Francisco Bay, plus the chance to observe nesting seabirds all across the island. 

Once you arrive at Alcatraz and step off the ferry, you’ll be greeted by a park ranger who will give a mandatory orientation to the island and will tell you all of the things you can experience on your day there, like what exhibits are open, which programs are happening and when, etc.

Some days, programs may not be offered on the island due to low staffing or other reasons, so there is never a true guarantee for walking tours or programs on the Day Tour. If you see a park ranger, know they’re happy to answer any question you may have about the island and its history.

From there, you get to decide how you want to organize your time on the island. More sections of the island are open to the public throughout the day as opposed to the Night Tour and/or the Behind the Scenes Tour.

If you want to go straight up to the cell house for your audio tour, you can. If you want to take some time and explore different parts of the island, you can do that as well. 

Alcatraz Island has so much to offer during the day, and visitors spend an average of 2-4 hours on the island. You can make your trip last as long as you want.

Return ferries will run throughout the day, and you’re free to choose any boat at whatever time you wish to return. 

Certain sections of the island are only open during the day, and these places are inaccessible to those who go on the Night or Behind the Scenes tours, like the North Road and upper level/exhibits inside the New Industries Building (the workshop where the prisoners of the island were sent to work labor jobs).

As of September 2022, the exhibits inside include one that educates about prison labor while the other commemorates the 50th anniversary of the Native American Occupation of Alcatraz (installed in 2019), though these exhibits are subject to change. 

The two best features of the Day Tour are that these tickets are the cheapest option to visit Alcatraz, and they provide you the most freedom to explore more of the island on your own and at your own pace.

Book official Alcatraz Day Tour tickets

Alcatraz Night Tour

Alcatraz Night Tour Rates : 

Adults : $52.70

Children (ages 5-11): $31.00

Juniors (ages 12-17) $51.55

Seniors (ages 62 and up): $49.00

When the sun starts to set, a creeping feeling of the mystique of Alcatraz Island and its dark past comes to life. The cell blocks barely illuminated by a darkening sky give visitors the true sense of the desolate feelings of Alcatraz prisoners who were trapped behind the bars.

The Alcatraz Night Tour offers its guests a firsthand look at the gloomy cell house at dusk and dark. 

When you make it onto Alcatraz Island for the Night Tour, the boat you’re on will be divided into large groups (usually up to 100 people), and you’ll exit the boat with whichever group you find yourself in.

Your group will be greeted by a guide (either a park ranger or expert tour guide), and they’ll guide you up the hill to the infamous cell house telling you stories along the way.

You cannot leave the group and go on your own; you must stay with your group until you get all the way to the top of the hill.

Once your group makes it to the main prison entrance, your guide will depart and leave you to take the Cell House Audio Tour. 

After the groups finish the audio tour, the real fun of the Night Tour begins. Unlike the Day Tour, when you may or may not have ranger/docent-led programs throughout the day to choose from, the Alcatraz Night Tour is chock full of different talks and walks you can attend.

Visitors have the option to check out various topics, like daring escape attempt stories, history talks, and everything in between.

Don’t forget to take some time and explore the West Road of the island to try to catch the sun setting over the Golden Gate Bridge!

You do have the option to traverse down the hill on your own when you’ve had your fill of adventures, but there are also guided treks down if you’re looking for more stories to hear along the way.

If you go on your own, keep in mind you’re in for a straight shot back to the dock area, as sections and paths on the island open during the Day Tour remain closed at night for safety reasons. 

When you look at the Day Tour compared to the Night Tour, the key difference is the freedom to explore more of the island vs. having more interpretation of the island and its stories from an expert guide. While programs like this can be available during the Day Tour, you are guaranteed them at night.

You’ll also have the chance to see Alcatraz Island settle down as the sunlight fades and the darkness takes hold of the infamous and spooky island.

Book official Alcatraz Night Tour tickets

Alcatraz Behind the Scenes Tour

Alcatraz Behind the Scenes Tour Rates : 

Adults : $97.70

Juniors (ages 12-17) $93.55

  Seniors (ages 62 and up): $91.00

The hardest Alcatraz Island tour to obtain is, without a doubt, the Behind the Scenes Tour, and it’s for good reason, too.

These tickets may be the most expensive of any tour option, but you’ll also get the most bang for your buck.

The Behind the Scenes Tour allows you to not only experience the lesser seen parts of Alcatraz Island but to really dive in-depth into the stories of this place through the experience of an expert guide in a small, intimate group. 

Limited to a group size of 30 or less, your tour will start right as you step off the Alcatraz ferry and are greeted by your guide. Your guide will either be a park ranger or an expert tour guide.

From there, you’ll be brought to several exclusive areas of the island, like the last remaining communication tunnel, the lower level of the industries building, the prison chapel, a gun gallery overlooking the cell blocks, the A-Block of the prison, the citadel (often called the “dungeons”) and the prison hospital (some of these areas, like the hospital or the A-Block, may open during the Night Tour, but there is never a guarantee).

The exclusive access you get to these secluded areas as well as the unforgettable stories you’ll hear from your guide are just the beginning of this tour. 

After you’ve visited all these exclusive areas, you will have the option to leave on an earlier departure ferry or stay on the island for longer.

If you need to get back to San Francisco for other reservations or you’ve just had enough, that early departure ferry is a nice option.

Should you choose to stay, you’ll also get to experience all the features of the Night Tour.

This makes for a longer time (an additional two hours at least) spent on Alcatraz Island, but it is absolutely worth it to experience the most of what you can get out of your Alcatraz Island tour tickets. 

You’ll get to do the famous Cell House Audio Tour and get involved in other programs given throughout the Night Tour as well. 

All-in-all, the Behind the Scenes Tour can be a hefty time commitment and a pricey ticket endeavor, but it’s undoubtedly the best way to experience the private and closed-off sections of Alcatraz Island that very few people get to see.  

Book official Alcatraz Behind the Scenes Tour tickets

The Verdict: Which is the Best Alcatraz Tour?

Every tour of Alcatraz Island offers something exciting, and no matter which you choose, you’ve made a good choice.

It can be hard to say which Alcatraz Tour is truly the best, as they all offer something special and exciting for anyone who’s able to secure tickets, and it really depends on what kind of experience you’re looking for. 

If we had to pick one overall, we’d say the best tour you can take on Alcatraz Island is the Behind the Scenes Tour. This not only allows you to get a firsthand experience viewing areas that are not open to the general public, but you’ll also get to partake in the full Night Tour experience as well (audio tour included).

It gives you the most of Alcatraz and the most guidance on the island, and it’s an experience well worth the price of admission.

It is important to remember the Behind the Scenes Tour, because of its limited space, is often sold out months in advance. Walk-up tickets are never available for this private tour of the island.

If you’re hoping to snag a spot on an upcoming date, start trying to book as early as you can for your best chance to go. 

If you don’t manage to book a spot on the Behind the Scenes Tour, remember the Alcatraz Day Tours and Night Tours are also incredible ways to visit an incredible island.

The Day Tour offers you the most openness and freedom to explore the island, and the Night Tour will offer you the most stellar stories and guidance into The Rock’s past. 

Pin Our Guide to Alcatraz Island Tours

Alcatraz Island is a fascinating and haunting place in our national park system. The stories and legends about this place are sure to make any visit to the island unforgettable.

A little time spent planning your trip in advance can mean the difference between seeing the island from afar, or actually stepping ashore and getting to dive head first into an endlessly fascinating place. 

Have more questions about visiting Alcatraz Island, Alcatraz tours, its history, or more? Leave your thoughts in the comments below!

Similar Posts

14 Phenomenal Things to Do in Pinnacles National Park

Pinnacles National Park is a stunning natural wonder that offers visitors plenty of unique things to do. With its…

The Ultimate Pinnacles National Park Camping Guide

Article Summary: Pinnacles National Park Camping, Pinnacles National Park Campgrounds Looking to camp at Pinnacles National Park? This stunning…

A List of All 63 National Parks in the U.S. Ranked by Their Popularity

Article Summary: How Many National Parks Are There?, National Parks Ranked, National Parks List, National Parks Map, US National…

The 17 Most Amazing Things to Do in Joshua Tree National Park That Stole My Heart

Article Summary: Unique Things to Do in Joshua Tree, Things to Do at Joshua Tree Joshua Tree National Park…

23 National Parks with Breathtaking Waterfalls

Are you looking to chase some waterfalls? National parks are some of the most beautiful places on Earth. They’re…

15 Phenomenal Fall Destinations in U.S. National Parks for Fall Colors

Calling all leaf-peepers! Fall is considered to be the best season for traveling and visiting national parks by many…

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed .

Jump to navigation

For the latest on COVID-19 (Coronavirus)  click here

Error message

• Lingotek profile ID 4 not found.
• Lingotek profile ID 3 not found.

Alcatraz Speciality Tours

Regularly scheduled day tours to Alcatraz are a great way to tour the grand but spooky prison perched on an island in San Francisco Bay, but for a different look at 'The Rock', try one of these tours.

Night tour ( ticket info ): the eerily beautiful Alcatraz looks even more intriguing on guided night-time tours . This is when the island is at its most photogenic—you can get amazing sunset shots of the Golden Gate Bridge and the city skyline lighting up as the sun goes down. Alcatraz Cruises ’ Night Tour includes a narrated ferry ride around the island, a ranger-guided walk up the hill from the ferry dock to the prison, and the same self-guided audio tour that is available on daytime tours. Night tours leave San Francisco around 6 pm  and last about 2.5 hours. Wrap up before you go—the island can be bitterly cold after sunset, especially when fog rolls in.

Behind-the-scenes tour ( ticket info ): if you think that you've 'been there, done that' at Alcatraz, sign up for the 4.5-hour behind-the-scenes tour , offered in the evenings. You’ll walk with a small group on a two-hour guided tour of the island, gaining access to places not seen on regular tours—the prison industries building, the Officers’ Row gardens, the upper levels of D Block, and the hospital, citadel, chapel and theatre. (Visitor sites change regularly and are not guaranteed.) Afterwards, your guide will hand you a headset and you can take the self-guided audio tour of the cell block. The behind-the-scenes tour leaves San Francisco around 4 pm; you won’t be back until 9 or 9.30 pm. No food is available on the island, so make sure you take snacks and water. 

Garden tour (free): while Alcatraz prisoners paced in their jail cells, the prison warders and their families formed a gardening association, imported topsoil from nearby Angel Island and exotic plants from around the world, and set out to make the island grow. Their work paid off: tall, stately agaves, roses, fig trees, agapanthus, pelargonium, succulents and other ornamental flora flourished, and today they brighten the island’s incomparable views of San Francisco and the Golden Gate Bridge. More than 230 species of introduced plants grow in seven major gardens on Alcatraz. The non-profit Garden Conservancy , in partnership with Golden Gate National Park and the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy , leads guided garden tours on Alcatraz—including to flower-filled spots that are usually closed to most visitors, such as the Rose Terrace and Officers’ Row—on Friday and Sunday mornings at 9.45 am. Tours are free and start from the ferry dock. 

Spotlight: Alcatraz

In 1854, the West Coast’s first lighthouse was built on San Francisco Bay’s Alcatraz Island to guide the ships coming and going through the Golden Gate. Government officials quickly decided that the tiny, 22-acre island aptly nicknamed “The Rock” was also an ideal location for a federal penitentiary—so close and yet so far from bustling San Francisco . The island’s sheer cliffs were surrounded by perilous currents, extreme tides, and hypothermic water temperatures, so escape from this prison seemed impossible.

Alcatraz served as a military prison from the time of the Civil War until 1934, when it was converted to a civilian penitentiary. Although it operated for only three decades, The Rock remains fixed in the American psyche as the ultimate penal colony—thanks in part to Hollywood films such as the Clint Eastwood classic Escape from Alcatraz. The prison housed some of the country’s most notorious bad guys: Al Capone, George “Machine Gun” Kelly, and “Bird Man” Robert Stroud, a murderer who became an expert in ornithological diseases.

Take a ferry to the island and explore the abandoned prison by day or by night. The 20-minute boat ride is reward enough with its invigorating salt spray and expansive bay views, but your ferry ticket also covers admission to the island, an optional ranger-led tour, and a 40-minute self-guided tour of the cell house with an audio headset. The narrated program, “Doing Time,” weaves together voices of actual inmates and prison guards with actors’ reenactments, making the prison’s empty walls come to life with tales of food riots, solitary confinement, and escape attempts. A total of 23 prisoners tried to break out of Alcatraz, but all were killed or recaptured except for three men who escaped in 1962. Their whereabouts are still unknown.

As you tour, step inside the open cells and imagine the tedium and loneliness. Walk around the guardhouse, exercise yard, and the surprisingly lush gardens that surround the buildings. If you’re visiting between late September and February 1, hike the island’s seasonal 0.7-mile Agave Trail . The spiky succulent was planted by prison guards and their families, creating a horticultural fence that deterred would-be escape accomplices from landing boats on the island. The stone-lined path meanders through a eucalyptus grove, then descends to within a few feet of the water’s edge, giving you a front-row view of boats sailing past. Hikers are also rewarded with dazzling views of San Francisco, the Golden Gate Bridge , lush Marin County to the north, and nearby Angel Island , a California state park.

Insider tips: Get to The Rock via the Alcatraz Cruises ferry from Pier 33 on San Francisco’s Embarcadero near Bay Street. Ferries usually fill up on weekends and holidays, so book your tickets at least three weeks in advance. Plan on two or three hours for the entire trip. Wear comfortable shoes for the steep walk from the dock to the prison, and bring a jacket or windbreaker for San Francisco’s famously cool weather.

Alcatraz Specialty Tours

Regularly scheduled day tours to  Alcatraz  are a great way to tour the grand but spooky prison perched on an island in San Francisco Bay, but for a different look at “The Rock,” try one of these tours.

Night tour ( ticket info ): Eerily beautiful Alcatraz looks even more intriguing on guided  night tours . This is when the island is most photogenic—you can get amazing sunset shots of the Golden Gate Bridge and the city skyline lighting up as the sun goes down. Alcatraz Cruises ’ Night Tour includes a narrated ferry ride around the island, a ranger-guided walk up the hill from the ferry dock to the prison, and the same self-guided audio tour that is available on day tours. Night tours leave San Francisco around 6 p.m. and last about 2.5 hours. Bundle up before you go—the island can be bitterly cold after sundown, especially when fog rolls in.

Behind-the-scenes tour ( ticket info ): If you think you've “been there, done that” at Alcatraz, sign up for the 4.5-hour  behind-the-scenes tour , offered in the evenings. You’ll walk with a small group on a two-hour ushered tour of the island, gaining access to places not seen on regular tours—the prison industries building, the Officers’ Row gardens, the upper levels of D Block, and the hospital, citadel, chapel, or theater. (Visitor sites change regularly and are not guaranteed.) Afterward, your guide hands you a headset and you can take a self-guided audio tour of the cell block. The behind-the-scenes tour leaves San Francisco around 4 p.m.; you won’t be back until 9 or 9:30. No food is available on the island, so bring snacks and water. 

Garden tour (tours are free): While Alcatraz prisoners paced in their jail cells, the prison guards and their families formed a gardening association, imported topsoil from nearby Angel Island and exotic plants from around the world, and set out to make the island grow. Their work paid off: Tall, stately agaves, roses, fig trees, agapanthus, pelargonium, succulents, and other ornamental flora flourished, and today they brighten the island’s incomparable views of San Francisco and the Golden Gate. More than 230 species of introduced plants grow in seven major garden sites on Alcatraz. The nonprofit Garden Conservancy , in partnership with Golden Gate National Park and the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy , leads  guided garden tours  on Alcatraz—including flower-filled spots that are usually closed to most visitors, such as the Rose Terrace and Officers’ Row—on Friday and Sunday mornings at 9:45 a.m. Tours are free and start from the ferry dock. 

Hike Alcatraz’s Agave Trail

Everyone who has ever visited San Francisco knows about Alcatraz Island, but few people know about the island’s Agave Trail . Agave plants—sharp, spiky succulents that can be made into a sugar substitute and tequila—were planted on Alcatraz by prison guards and their families in the 1930s and 1940s. Their sharp, pointed leaves added beauty to this forlorn place and also created a horticultural fence that deterred would-be escape accomplices from landing boats on the island. This 0.7-mile Agave Trail leads along the base of a steep hillside dotted with four different agave species—some with flower spikes that rise 40 feet skyward.

Although you can visit Alcatraz and its famous prison almost any day of the year, walking the island’s Agave Trail is possible only between late September and February 1—which happens to coincide with San Francisco’s clearest, most fog-free weather. The rest of the year, the trail is closed to protect nesting birds.

The Agave Trail begins just south of the ferry dock. The stone-lined path meanders through a eucalyptus grove, then descends to within a few feet of the water’s edge, giving you a front-row view of boats sailing past and seagulls flying overhead. Lapping waves spill onto the walkway, and unforgettable views of downtown San Francisco and the Bay Bridge unfold. As the trail curves around the island’s south side, you’ll pass the large sign you probably glimpsed on your ferry ride, warning that “persons procuring or concealing escape of prisoners are subject to prosecution and imprisonment.”

During low tides, Alcatraz’s rocky tide pools are exposed along the bay’s edge. A rare occurrence in San Francisco Bay, these tide pools were formed from artificial rubble created by years of blasting and building on the island. Sea anemones sway back and forth in the current.

The trail heads uphill on flagstone steps to the island’s parade grounds, built out of solid rock by military prisoners in the 1870s. The grounds were once ringed by the houses of guards and their families, but the homes were demolished in 1971 and their remains scattered across the concrete yard. These large rubble piles are now homes for burrowing owls, night herons, Western gulls, salamanders, and deer mice (the only mammals living on the island). From the parade grounds, your view expands to take in dramatic views of the Golden Gate Bridge, Treasure Island, the Bay Bridge, and parts of the Marin Headlands. San Francisco shimmers to the south. 

Birding on Alcatraz

The human history of Alcatraz captures the imagination, but its natural history is just as fascinating. Long before people set foot on The Rock, it was home to thousands of nesting birds . In the 1770s, Spanish explorer Juan Manuel de Ayala named either this island or neighboring Angel Island—no one is sure—Isla de los Alcatraces, or “island of the pelicans,” due to its abundance of seabirds . Human activities from 1850 onward drove out the birds, but soon after Alcatraz Prison closed in 1963, the avian residents returned. Today, more than 5,000 nesting birds call Alcatraz Island home.

What birds you will see depends on the month of the year and what parts of the island are open to visitors. Seabird nesting season begins around February 1 and continues until August, although the greatest activity occurs between April and June. Depending on your timing, you might see courtship rituals, nest building, and/or parents rearing their young. 

In February, Western gulls return each year to claim their territory and raise their young on the island’s historic parade grounds below the Alcatraz lighthouse. Gulls build more than 500 nests on Alcatraz each year, making this one of the largest nesting sites for Western gulls on the West Coast. By June, the crumbling concrete is covered with chicks. 

In April and May, black-crowned night herons and snowy egrets build their nests in shrubs, trees, and bushes around the island. You can often see them near the parade grounds or along the island’s West Road.

For most birders, the coveted prize is a sighting of Brandt’s cormorant, a West Coast seabird that spends most of its life far out to sea, diving into the ocean for food. The male’s breeding plumage includes a gorgeous blue throat patch, which he shows off by pointing his beak up toward the sky. As many as 2,000 pairs nest on Alcatraz’s rocky outcrops every spring.

Want more? Walk anywhere on the island and you might get a front-row-center view of pelagic cormorants, Canada geese, and mallards. Pigeon guillemots are easily seen near the island’s dock; they nest in broken piles of concrete and masonry. You can spot plenty of songbirds, too: White-crowned sparrows, golden-crowned sparrows, and song sparrows make their homes in shrubbery and decaying concrete. Yellow-rumped warblers and Townsend’s warblers are also common island visitors. 

Ready for some “me time” amid decadent surroundings? Reserve your spot at one of these spectacular Wine Country resorts.

Farmhouse Inn, ...

How about an overnight safari trip to see African animals just a half-hour drive north of central San Diego in...

At Point Reyes, deer and tule elk roam the grasslands, sea lions and seals bask on the beaches, songbirds flit through the coastal brushwood, herons and egrets feast in...

• Skip to main content
• Skip to primary sidebar
• Skip to footer

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

Jessica Nemire Last Updated: October 26, 2023

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

How to Visit Alcatraz Island: Hours and Info

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

Alcatraz Island is closed on the following days:

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

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

Tickets and Pricing for Alcatraz Island

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

How To Get to Alcatraz Island

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

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

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

• Car/Rideshare Services

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

By Trolley:

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

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

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

By Car/Uber:

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

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

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

What to See and Do on the Island

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

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

Alcatraz Island Tours

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

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

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

Facts and History of Alcatraz

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

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

Where To Stay in San Francisco

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

About Jessica Nemire

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

Reader Interactions

Leave a comment cancel reply.

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

• Travel Guide
• In The Press

POLICY & TERMS

• Cancellation Policy
• Terms & Conditions
• Privacy Policy

• San Francisco Tourism
• San Francisco Hotels
• San Francisco Bed and Breakfast
• San Francisco Vacation Rentals
• Flights to San Francisco
• San Francisco Restaurants
• Things to Do in San Francisco
• San Francisco Travel Forum
• San Francisco Photos
• San Francisco Map
• All San Francisco Hotels
• San Francisco Hotel Deals
• Last Minute Hotels in San Francisco
• San Francisco
• Things to Do
• Restaurants
• Vacation Rentals
• Travel Stories
• Rental Cars
• Add a Place
• Travel Forum
• Travelers' Choice
• Help Center

Alcatraz Behind the Scenes tour - San Francisco Forum

• United States    
• California (CA)    
• San Francisco    

Alcatraz Behind the Scenes tour

• United States Forums
• Europe Forums
• Canada Forums
• Asia Forums
• Central America Forums
• Africa Forums
• Caribbean Forums
• Mexico Forums
• South Pacific Forums
• South America Forums
• Middle East Forums
• Honeymoons and Romance
• Business Travel
• Train Travel
• Traveling With Disabilities
• Tripadvisor Support
• Solo Travel
• Bargain Travel
• Timeshares / Vacation Rentals
• California forums
• San Francisco forum

I have purchased tickets for the 4:20pm Alcatraz Behind the Scenes tour in May. The City Experiences website says “Join a group of 30 people or fewer on a guided 4-5 hour adventure to explore off-limits areas and hear little-known-stories about the Island's fascinating past, then join the Alcatraz Night Tour (including Cellhouse Audio Tour) for a full evening's experience.”

However, the detailed description says we will take the small group guided Behind the Scenes Tour, then we can explore the island on our own, taking the cellhouse audio tour and discovering the spectacular views. Then we can participate in the full Alcatraz Night Tour, which includes the Audio Tour.

I have a few questions and am hoping someone here has done the tour and can help me out.

** Does a 4:20 ticket mean we can only take the 4:20 ferry? Or can we take any ferry prior to that?

** If we CAN take an earlier ferry, is there a need? I have read that there are sections of the island that are open during the day that are not open at night.

** There seems to be some duplication in the description of the tour. Would I be correct in saying we will go on the “Behind the Scenes” tour and then directly join the “Alcatraz Night Tour”? There would not be any “explore the island on our own” between the 2 tours?

Thanks for any information or shared experiences!!

4 replies to this topic

A 4:20 ticket is your time. Timed entry is limited to manage the flow so I would turn up at the time your ticket says to. Note "It is recommended that you arrive at least one half hour prior to your departure time." You need time to show your tix, go through security and board the boat.

It's been a while since I did these tours and they could have been called something different. But, we went to a lot of usually off limit areas and it was so fascinating. It looks like you could manage your time as you see fit but I would absolutely prioritize any ranger led presentations over self exploration.

As far as I know, the Night Tour isn't a guided tour. There are, as in the description quoted above, special live presentations that you can experience or not, but you're basically exploring on your own.

Thank you very much for the replies! Sounds like we will have plenty of time to see everything.

Dress warmly. Our summer nights aren’t usually warm unless you catch the odd three day heatwaves.

• 1 day tour in San Francisco 11:37 pm
• What’s the best way to get to the Zoo 10:36 pm
• Help with these 3 hotels 8:23 pm
• Ramses exhibit 7:40 pm
• Sea Lions are mobbing Pier 39 7:38 pm
• Sausalito Ferry suspended indefinitely 5:50 pm
• E-bike rentals for family with teenagers? yesterday
• Day trip to Yosemite Apr 29, 2024
• Union square as a base for weekend visit? Apr 29, 2024
• Parc 55 safety Apr 29, 2024
• Grocery Store near Stockton and Bush Apr 29, 2024
• Connecting Flight Apr 29, 2024
• Golden Gate Park Apr 29, 2024
• Car hire help Apr 28, 2024
• Best area to stay in san fran??? 2 replies
• Scenic drive from San Francisco to Las Vegas 19 replies
• Reasonable Hotels close to BART? 7 replies
• Transportation from San Francisco Airport to Union Square 3 replies
• Best time to visit 8 replies
• Discount coupons for Alcatraz? 2 replies
• How long to drive Santa Barbara to San Francisco? 6 replies
• Beach resorts near San Francisco 8 replies
• What part Of San Francico Should I stay in? 4 replies
• Things to do on Christmas Day in SF? 8 replies

San Francisco Hotels and Places to Stay

• Where should I stay?
• Should I rent a car to get around SF?
• How do I get around SF without a car?
• What should I see and do in SF?
• Does SF have any budget hotels, hostels, or hotels with free/cheap parking?
• Can I stay at an Airbnb or VRBO?
• Should I book Alcatraz tickets and Muir Woods parking permits in advance?
• Are tours available for SF, Muir Woods, etc.? What are good day trips?
• Where should I eat and drink in SF?
• Do you have any SFO layover or dining recommendations?
• What should I wear in SF?
• The top 15 reasons San Francisco is an awesome city
• Challenges when visiting, and how to overcome them

This website uses cookies to improve your browsing experience and analyze the use of the website. Learn More

Alcatraz Tour Prices | Which Alcatraz Tickets Should You Buy?

This guide covers how to visit the prison on Alcatraz Island and what to expect with each ticket option.

We include what you will see, what to do if Alcatraz tickets are sold out, which tours are the best, and how to find deals on admission.

As local walking tour guides , questions concerning Alcatraz Prison are posed to us on just about every tour.

So, we used our expertise in answering these questions to help create this post.

• Alcatraz Island Tickets
• Sold Out Tickets
• Deals and Ways to Save
• Other Boat Cruise Options

Alcatraz Tours Compared

• Things to Do in San Francisco

ALCATRAZ TICKET OPTIONS

While several entities are authorized to offer Alcatraz tickets for sale, there is only one company authorized to visit Alcatraz Island and provide an official Alcatraz tour: Alcatraz Cruises.

Though several boat tour companies offer guided commentary on the island as they cruise past it, none are allowed to dock there.

Private boats are also prevented from landing on the island.

There are 5 ticket/tour options. We list 4 in the next section below . Click here for a detailed explanation of the night tour ticket .

NOTE: Free Tours by Foot does not offer tickets to Alcatraz Island. Please follow the links on this page for help organizing your tickets.

You could buy your tickets through Alcatraz Cruises or with any of a number of sightseeing tour companies in San Francisco that offer Alcatraz Island as part of a combination ticket .

The National Park Service provides a Cellhouse Audio Tour that is included in the cost of your ferry ticket.

Hear the tales of Machine Gun Kelly, Al Capone (Scarface), and even Robert Stroud (the Birdman of Alcatraz) as you drift closer to the island.

At your own pace, you can follow in the footsteps of former prison guards and inmates.

This tour is very well done and worth the time.

The Alcatraz Cellhouse Tour (also an audio tour) is available in English, Spanish, German, Mandarin, French, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Dutch, and Portuguese. The tour is also provided in Braille in English.

You can even experience the audio tour right now.

Early Bird Tour

Beat the crowd, be the first one on the island during the less busy, Early Bird Tour.

Includes a ferry ride to and from Alcatraz (20 minutes each way), a self-guided audio tour of the prison lasting 45 minutes, and time for self-exploration of the grounds.

Most guests typically spend about 2 hours on the island. Departs from Pier 33.

Ticket Prices:

• Adult (18-61) - $45.25
• Junior (12-17) - $45.25 (must be supervised by an adult)
• Senior (62+) - $42.65
• Child (5-11) - $27.55 (must be supervised by an adult)
• Toddlers (4 and under) - Free
• Family Pack (2 Adults + 2 Kids) - $131.85
• Get tickets or learn more .

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Alcatraz City Cruises (@alcatrazcruises)

Reviews of the Early Bird Tour: 

Alcatraz is one of the most popular attractions for tourists visiting San Francisco, so it's no surprise that it comes highly rated on TripAdvisor.

The Early Bird Tour is ideal for early morning risers as it allows visitors to beat the crowds and still have a free afternoon to pack with other fun activities.

In fact, the Early Bird Tour is so popular that there are only 4 and 5-star reviews written about it. TripAdvisor Rating: 4.5 stars.  

The Day Tour has the same content as the ‘Early Bird’, but with higher attendance rates and 12 departure opportunities.

You won’t be alone on the island as you self-explore during these times!

Departure Times (from Pier 33) | April - Early October

8:45 am, 9:10 am, 9:30 am, 10:00 am, 10:30 am, 11:00 am, 11:30 am, 12:00 pm, 12:30 pm, 1:00 pm, 1:30 pm, 2:10 pm, 2:40 pm,  3:20 pm, 3:50 pm

Departure Times (from Pier 33) | Late October - March

8:40 am, 9:20 am, 9:45 am, 10:10 am, 10:35 am, 11:00 am, 11:30 am, 12:00 pm, 12:30 pm, 1:05 pm, 1:35 pm

Reviews of the Day Tour:

Identical to the Early Bird Tour but with a later start time, the Day Tour is also very well-liked by most guests.

Don't be disappointed with the fact that this is an audio tour!

"Doing Time" is an award-winning audio tour that is described by some visitors as the "best audio tour possibly worldwide" and the "highlight of the tour."

Negative reviews are rare and usually come from guests who find the island too crowded.

If you're worried about this, opt for the Early Bird Tour instead! TripAdvisor Rating: 4.5 stars. 

Behind the Scenes Tour

The Behind the Scenes Tour offers guests a much more intimate look into the history of Alcatraz.

The tour includes everything offered in the Early Bird and Day Tour, such as the ferry ride to and from Alcatraz (20 minutes each way), a self-guided audio tour of the prison lasting 45 minutes, and time for self-exploration of the grounds.

In addition, it offers a personally guided small group tour that lasts approximately 2 hours and takes guests “off the beaten path” and “behind the scenes” of Alcatraz.

Also included are special programs and presentations offered by staff as part of the Alcatraz Night Tour, which lasts approximately 1.5 hours.

This is advertised as a "physically strenuous tour" that lasts between 4-5 hours in total.

Alcatraz Cruises suggests that guests eat before the tour, as there is no food service on Alcatraz. Departs from Pier 33.

Departure Times (from Pier 33) :

4:20 pm from mid-April until mid-October | Tuesday - Saturday

2:15 pm from mid-October until mid-March | Tuesday - Saturday

View this post on Instagram A post shared by City Experiences (@cityexperiences)

Ticket Prices: 

• Adult (18-61) - $101.30
• Junior (12-17) - $97.10 (must be supervised by an adult)
• Senior (62+) - $94.25
• Children (under 12) -  not applicable. This tour has a minimum age of 12 due to its lengthy duration.

Reviews of the Behind the Scenes Tour:

This is the perfect tour for those hoping to really maximize their time on Alcatraz.

Though reviews of this tour are limited, they are all extremely positive and praise the tour for offering such thorough insight into the history of the prison.

A really fun tour, but be sure to bring snacks as it's a long day on the island and there are no food and beverage facilities.  TripAdvisor Rating: 4.5 stars. 

Alcatraz Cruises offers night tours of the island, departing twice a day, Thursday through Monday.

Departures for the night tours leave from Pier 33.

Be sure to check out our post on other things to do at night in San Francisco.

Night Tour (Tuesdays - Saturdays at 5:55 pm and 6:30 pm)

This tour offers more features than the Early Bird Tour and Day Tour for a little extra money.

On the night tour, you receive a narrated boat ride to the island to learn more about the history of Alcatraz, before it was a prison.

You also receive a guided tour from a specially trained National Park Ranger.

Additionally, Alcatraz Prison hosts special talks and lectures during the evening tours that are not offered during the day.

The 6:30 pm (18:30) departure time limits your time allowed on the island. The last ferry leaving Alcatraz departs at 9:25 pm (21:25).

Winter hours are at 3:50 pm from Tuesday - to Saturday.

They also have a holiday schedule from Late November to early January which includes an additional time slot at 4:45 pm.

• Adult (18-61) - $56.30
• Junior (12-17) - $55.10 (must be supervised by an adult)
• Senior (62+) - $52.25
• Child (5-11) - $33 (must be supervised by an adult)
• Learn how to get the night tour .

Reviews of the Night Tour:

The Night Tour of Alcatraz is especially highly rated as it includes perks not otherwise included in the daytime tours.

For example, visitors of the Night Tour comment on the added pleasure of seeing the skyline and two bridges on a clear evening as they return to the mainland, as well as visiting the hospital and cell lockdown.

Though this is not a ghost tour, some guests report that they found the Night Tour to be a bit creepy, especially when visiting the solitary confinement area.

However, most seem to think the experience is more educational and interesting rather than scary, so it really just comes down to personal preference! TripAdvisor Rating: 4.5 stars. 

How scary is the Alcatraz night tour?

Alcatraz is a national park and not a spooky place, so there is nothing to feel frightened about.

That said, many people have reported an eerie feeling when walking around the prison after dark.

Is the Alcatraz night tour better than the day tour?

Visitors can view areas of Alcatraz prison that are typically off-limits during the day on the Alcatraz night tour.

However, the majority of Alcatraz Island's outdoor activities and viewpoints are inaccessible during the night trip.

So It all depends on your personal opinion.

How long does the night tour take?

Night tours last for around 2.5 - 3 hours.

Alcatraz & Angel Island Tour (Seasonal)  

This is a combination tour that visits 2 of the most well-known islands in the Bay Area: Alcatraz and Angel Island.

The tour includes the ferry ride to and from Alcatraz and Angel Island, a self-guided audio tour of the prison lasting 45 minutes, and a one-hour narrated Tram Tour of Angel Island.

The total tour lasts approximately 5.5 hours and departs from Pier 33.

NOTE: This tour option is not currently available, but it might be offered again in the future.

• Adult (18-61) - $78.65
• Junior (12-17) - $78.65 (must be supervised by an adult)
• Senior (62+) - $76.40
• Child (5-11) - $52.40 (must be supervised by an adult)

Reviews of Alcatraz & Angel Island Tour: 

Though only offered seasonally, this tour is also extremely popular with guests who want to experience Alcatraz but also witness the beautiful scenery available on Angel Island.

Many reviewers write that they opted to bring a picnic lunch to enjoy on Angel Island after their Alcatraz visit - making for a perfect afternoon!

TripAdvisor Rating: 4.5 stars.  

HOW TO BUY TICKETS:

There are 3 options to purchase tickets to Alcatraz Island. There is also a chance for standby tickets .

This section will provide details about each ticket option and tips on which options you might want to choose.

1. Buy Direct Tickets

First, you can get tickets directly from the Alcatraz Cruises website . This is the most common way to purchase.

Unless you are planning on purchasing a bus, bike, or boat combo ticket , this is also the most affordable option.

We recommend that you get your tickets at least 90 days in advance, as they tend to sell out very quickly during the busy season (summer and holidays).

If tickets are sold out, there are some other ways to get tickets. Read our section below .

2. Get a Combination Package

Second, you can also obtain a ticket to Alcatraz as part of a combo package with other tours, such as a hop-on-hop-off bus, popular attractions, and/or for a day trip to Muir Woods or Wine Country.

These combo packages are an excellent option for anyone who wants to enjoy multiple activities.

They are also typically a bit more affordable than 3rd party vendors, as there are not as many fees involved.

Check out our section on Tour Company Combos to learn more.

3. Third Party Vendors

Lastly, you can buy tickets from a 3rd party vendor. These companies buy bulk tickets from Alcatraz Cruises, so their prices may be slightly higher.

One of the biggest 3rd party vendors is none other than Stubhub, and they sell day tickets , night tickets , and (sometimes) behind-the-scenes tickets for around $10-$15 more on average.

There are reports that the 3rd party vendors selling these tickets may not technically be allowed to do so.

However, they have been selling Alcatraz tickets this way for years, and Stubhub themselves have set up individual pages for these tours.

Chances are that even if it's frowned upon, StubHub still allows it.

If you are planning to buy 3rd party, we recommend comparing prices with those offered in combination packages .

When you factor in fees from Stubhub, combo deals could easily be more affordable!

Near Pier 39 you can find 3rd party vendors that typically sell pre-arranged packages, which means you’ll have to buy Alcatraz tickets along with something else, usually a Bay cruise).

NOTE: Free Tours by Foot does not offer tickets to Alcatraz Island.  Please follow the links on this page for help organizing your tickets.

What pier do Alcatraz tours depart from?

The Alcatraz Cruises boats depart from Pier 33, on the northern waterfront of San Francisco.

NOTE: All boarding members must have an ID present to board with their ticket. 

Regardless of which form of transportation you choose to get here, we recommend using this Google Maps link for directions to the pier .

Streetcar ($2.25):

In our opinion, this is the easiest way to get to Pier 33.

If you are starting your trip anywhere on Market Street or along the waterfront, the streetcar can take you right to Pier 33.

Just get off at the Bay Street Station.

See our post on how to ride the streetcars  to get more information on schedules, maps, and prices.

Bus ($3.00):

There are three Muni buses you can take. Click on any of these links to go to a route map and schedule for each bus.

• 10 Townsend (only weekends)
• 8X Bayshore Express
• 82X Presidio & Wharves Express

NOTE: 10 Townsend and 82X Presidio & Wharves Express are currently suspended, and we do not know when they will return to full service.

You can drive directly to Pier 33 and you can get dropped off right in front of the boat loading zone.

You can reserve a guaranteed parking space in advance through Spot Hero .

We have also put together a map of the closest parking lots in the area:

Note: If you have to park, be sure to arrive early! We would suggest arriving up to 45 minutes before your scheduled departure.

Parking can be extremely difficult along the waterfront, especially in the busy spring and summer months.

You don’t want to miss your departure time, so be sure to give yourself enough time to find parking and walk to the dock.

How much time do you need for an Alcatraz Tour

An Alcatraz tour is a four-part trip:

1. The ferry ride to Alcatraz 2. The audio tour of the prison 3. Exploring the island 4. The ferry ride home

The ferry ride takes about 20 minutes each way. The audio tour is a 45-minute self-guided tour.

The biggest variable in how long your journey will take is your exploration of the island.

While on Alcatraz, we would encourage you to take one of the many ranger-led talks in the prison dining hall.

These talks usually run for about 20 minutes and cover topics as wide-ranging as escape attempts, the types of plants on the island, and the history of the island itself.

In general, we would recommend that you plan about 2.5 hours for the entire trip.

Can you walk around Alcatraz without a tour guide?

Yes, Alcatraz tickets includes the ferry transportation service by Alcatraz City Cruises and the cellhouse audio tour provided by the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy which can help you to get around Alcatraz on your own.

How long are Alcatraz tours?

A tour lasts for 2.5 to 5.5 hours depending upon the tour you select.

Can you take the ferry to Alcatraz without a tour?

Yes, Alcatraz City Cruises offers ferry services to Alcatraz Island which can be used to reach.

Is there a lot of walking at Alcatraz?

Yes, the roads and walkways on the Island are steep. Also, the distance and elevation change make the overall trip equivalent to climbing a 13-story building.

For those with mobility concerns, the island offers tram services.

SOLD OUT TOUR/LAST-MINUTE TICKETS

Due to the island's huge popularity, Alcatraz Cruises advises visitors to book their tickets 90 days in advance, especially during high season.

However, for those who aren't able to secure tickets ahead of time, there are a few last-minute booking options.

Buy a Combination Tour Ticket:

This is the option if your time is worth more than your money.

Several companies sell combo tour tickets that combine Alcatraz with other tours, such as a hop-on-hop-off tour, or an activity, such as a day trip to Muir Woods or Napa Valley.

This is a reliable option, as many of these companies buy tickets in bulk to have certainty for their guests.

Therefore, when Alcatraz Cruises is sold out, these companies may not be.

Check out our combo ticket section to find out more.

Check for Cancelled Tickets:

Alcatraz Cruises updates its website several times a day to add tickets that have been canceled by guests.

Be sure to check their website periodically to see if your preferred dates open up.

Same-Day Tickets from Alcatraz Cruises:

Alcatraz Cruises tickets are often sold out months in advance and they no longer offer same-day ticket options for walk-up guests.

Standby Tickets for the Night Tour:

Guests can also get standby tickets for the night tour by lining up before the box office opens at 7:30 a.m.

You are then given a standby ticket and told to come back right before 5:55 pm and 6:30 pm departures to see if there are any no-shows.

The standby tickets are honored in the order by which they were purchased in the morning, from first to last.

Due to its popularity, a very limited number of tickets are available via standby every day.

This option is also a gamble, as you are not guaranteed tickets, even if you get standby status.

Tickets for the night tour are usually  available on StubHub , but you will pay more for these.

NOTE: Purchasing tickets on StubHub is apparently against the no re-selling rules, but considering that there seem to be no complaints online, it doesn't appear to be enforced. StubHub also guarantees refunds for tickets.

People also sell Alcatraz tickets on Craigslist, but we do not recommend this option as the chances of a scam are high.

TOUR COMPANY COMBO TICKETS 

Combo packages are actually one of the easiest methods for getting your tickets to Alcatraz Island.

You can get tickets to the island separately, but they are very popular and can be difficult to obtain.

Alternatively, a combo tour helps guests secure Alcatraz tickets, while also enjoying other popular sites.

Below, we list 3 affordable options. There are many more options to choose from if these don't suffice.

TIP: If you are thinking about a tourist combo ticket or pass, you should read our comparison post to help understand which one, if any, is best for you.

Even though Alcatraz Island Tour tickets are not included, some include boat trips around the island.

Big Bus and Skyline Sightseeing combine their hop-on-hop-off bus tours of the city with a ticket to Alcatraz and offer the best value for most readers.

Extranomical Tours and Tower Tours, on the other hand, combine other day trips such as Muir Woods and Wine Country with an Alcatraz ticket.

Learn more about combination tours by checking out our pages on day trips to Muir Woods , Yosemite , Sausalito , Sonoma Valley , and Napa Valley .

Skyline Sightseeing Tours (formerly City Sightseeing)

Skyline Sightseeing offers an Alcatraz Combo Tour which includes a 3-day hop-on-hop-off tour featuring 4 different loops: The Official City Tour, Downtown San Francisco Tour, San Francisco Night Tour, and Sausalito Bus Tour.

The ticket also comes with an Alcatraz Island tour, which includes transportation to and from Alcatraz, a 45-minute audio tour, and free time to explore on your own.

This option is very similar to what Big Bus has to offer, though it is a 2-day pass rather than a 24-hour pass.

Combo Tours: 

San Francisco Hop-on, Hop-off Alcatraz Tour    

Online prices:

• Adult $139.99
• Child $104.99

Reviews: 

Skyline Sightseeing is a very popular tour company with a fairly good reputation.

The quality of the guided commentary varies depending on the driver, though most visitors find it informative and enjoyable.

Some guests had trouble hearing the driver due to a poor PA system on the bus.

However, most of those comments come from several months ago, suggesting that the problem has likely been remedied.

Overall, visitors who traveled with Skyline Sightseeing found the experience very enjoyable and straightforward. TripAdvisor Rating: 3.5 stars.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by The best things to do in San Francisco (@onlyinsf)

Big Bus Tours 

Big Bus Tours offers an Alcatraz Package Tour that combines an Alcatraz Island ticket with a 1-day hop-on-hop-off Big Bus Tour.

The latter includes a live English-speaking guide, pre-recorded commentary in 10 different languages, drop-off and pick-up at 20 different key landmarks, and a voucher for free 'pint and play'.

Buses are meant to arrive at each stop every 10-20 minutes, making it extremely easy to travel around the city.

Additionally, guests also receive a ticket for the Alcatraz Day Tour at an available time.

This package isn't quite the cheapest package (at least during the summer), but it just may be the best value out there.

Alcatraz Combo Ticket

• Alcatraz Ferry and Entrance Ticket
• Big Bus Premium Ticket (good for 1 day of hop-on-hop-off bus service)
• Free walking tour
• 1-Hour Bike Rental
• $120 for Adults (online price)

Big Bus Tours receives lots of positive feedback for their reasonable prices and ease of transportation.

While reviewers recommend this package for all of its activities (kid-friendly!), there is a consistent complaint of buses taking more than the 10-20 minutes promised to reach certain stops during high traffic or busy weekends.

However, guests who were aware of potential delays found the issue less problematic.

We recommend this package for the planner who knows how to use a map and plan a day to maximize time, since hopping on and off this bus to cross the city may eat up a lot of it.

TripAdvisor Rating: 4 stars.

This company is relatively new to San Francisco, but they have a great reputation internationally and so far have received several excellent reviews for tours offered in the Bay Area.

Currently, they are offering a combo ticket which includes a ticket to Alcatraz Island along with a Chinatown tour and a visit to the Golden Gate Fortune Cookie Factory.

This is a great alternative to some of the other combo deals because it doesn't require you to take a day trip or pay for a hop hop off bus tour.

• $104 per person
• Availability: Sun & Sat
• Hours: 10 am - 6 pm
• Duration: 4 hours
• Includes Alcatraz Island ticket.
• Includes Chinatown walking tour.
• Includes a visit to the Golden Gate Fortune Cookie Factory.
• Not currently available.

This combo tour has received very favorable ratings, with guests typically referring to their guide as knowledgeable, funny, and informative.

Some customers described the service as smooth and quick, indicating that everything was easy to enjoy.

Extranomical Tours 

Extranomical Tours usually sells several different types of day trips from San Francisco, most of which can be combined with an Alcatraz ticket.

Though sold as a package, the ticket for Alcatraz is good for the day after whatever day trip you choose to combine it with.

They also offer pick-up and drop-off at almost any hotel in San Francisco, making the door-to-door service very convenient.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Extranomical Tours | Wine Country | Yosemite (@extranomicaltours)

• Alcatraz Island and City Highlights Tour - from $139 per person
• Yosemite with Alcatraz Tour - from $210 per person
• Muir Woods, Wine Country, and Alcatraz Tour - from $158 per person
• Wine Lovers with Alcatraz Tour - from $203 per person
• More info and to book .

NOTE: Extranomical Tours is only offering their Alcatraz Island and City Highlights tour at the moment. This will likely change in the future as tourism starts to open up a bit more.

Reviews for Extranomical Tours are generally very positive, with many guests referring to their experience as “wonderful” and something that “should not be missed.”

The company’s guides also receive high praise for being “knowledgeable, humorous, and well organized.”

Though some guests complained that the microphone on the bus was inadequate, the infrequency of these comments suggests that this issue has been fixed. TripAdvisor Rating: 4.5 stars. 

There are many more options to choose from if these don't suffice.

Dylan’s Tours

This is one of the most popular tour companies in the Bay Area, and they currently offer one of the best combo tickets which includes a trip to Alcatraz.

In addition to the Alcatraz ticket, you’ll also receive a day trip to Muir Woods and a full tour of San Francisco.

If you're also interested in seeing the redwoods of California, this is an excellent opportunity.

Both tours will take place on their comfortable minibusses, ensuring a more personable experience.

With the trip to Alcatraz included, this outing will take approximately 10 hours to enjoy. Their tour departs daily at 8 a.m. from Fisherman’s Wharf.

San Francisco, Muir Woods and Alcatraz Tour

Includes a San Francisco bus tour, a Muir Woods bus tour, and an Alcatraz Island Tour.

• $189 – Adults | $129 – Children 
• Departs daily at 8 am
• Duration: 10 hours

Dylan’s Tours has received an overall rating of just over 4 ½ out of 5 stars for this service. 

Most customers are very pleased with their tour guides, referring to them as both fun and knowledgeable.

Even those who weren’t as impressed still enjoyed their trip, as there aren’t any truly negative reviews of this outing.

BOAT CRUISES THAT PASS BY ALCATRAZ 

If you are unable to secure tickets to visit Alcatraz or if you are not interested in taking a tour of the former prison, then a boat cruise that passes by the island might be a great alternative.

There are several different boats that go by Alcatraz -- most of which also feature guided commentary about the history of the place.

These cruises are also a great way to get an excellent view of the city's skyline.

Blue & Gold Fleet and Red & White Fleet are the 2 major boat tour companies in the Bay Area.

Of their many different cruises, the following feature is Alcatraz.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Blue & Gold Fleet (@blueandgoldfleet)

Blue & Gold Fleet :

• Escape the Rock - The ONLY boat tour dedicated specifically to Alcatraz.
• SF Bay Cruise Adventure – A 1-hour sightseeing cruise of all the major attractions in the Bay

Red & White Fleet : 

• California Sunset Cruise – A 2-hour sunset cruise around the Bay to see the Golden Gate Bridge, Sausalito, Tiburon, Angel Island, and Alcatraz at sunset.
• Bridge 2 Bridge Cruise – A 90-minute audio tour covering the Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz Island, the Ferry Building, Bay Bridge, and AT&T Park.
• Golden Gate Bay Cruise – Their original 1 hour San Francisco Bay tour with views of the San Francisco waterfront, the Golden Gate Bridge, and notorious Alcatraz Island.

To learn more about different San Francisco cruise options, check out our post listing the best boat tours in the Bay , as well as our posts about boat tours with the Red & White Fleet  and the  Blue & Gold Fleet .

So what's the difference between a tour of Alcatraz during the day and a trip to the island at night?

Well, according to several TripAdvisor reviews, there are some notable variations.

Quite a few guests have indicated that visiting the prison after dark is pretty creepy and eerie.

There was at least one notable escape attempt during the night, so it's definitely interesting to see what those prisoners might have experienced after the sun went down.

Other visitors noted that views of the Golden Gate Bridge and San Francisco were phenomenal during the sunset, going so far as to say that the scenery was at least as enjoyable as the trip to Alcatraz.

During the Alcatraz night tour, live guides provide a special presentation that focuses on the loud steel doors of the prison as they all close at the same time.

The sound of these doors is apparently very disturbing, adding to the already spooky atmosphere of this prison after dark.

Certain services (such as the audio tour and cruise around the island) are offered during every Alcatraz tour.

That being said, several people indicated that the atmosphere of this historic prison changes after dark, making even the regular activities a little spookier.

If you're interested, we recommend booking several weeks in advance to avoid sold out tickets.

There is also a Behind the Scenes tour which lasts longer and includes every service offered during the night tour.

This trip features special programs that you won't experience on other Alcatraz tours.

During these activities, a park ranger will introduce you to hidden tunnels, underground jails, and secret gardens.

If you can't get tickets for the night tour, this is an excellent option, but it's important to keep in mind that this tour is not available for children.

Both the behind the scenes and night tours are more expensive than daily excursions.

The higher price tag is likely the result of limited availability and access to special programs.

RELATED POSTS:

• Day Trips from San Francisco
• Free Tours by Foot

Choose a Destination... I want them all PLUS general travel tips. Amsterdam Berlin Boston Charleston Chicago Dubai Lisbon London Los Angeles Miami Nashville New York City New Orleans Paris Philadelphia Prague Rome San Francisco Washington DC

About The Author

Stephen Pickhardt

North america, united kingdom & ireland, middle east & india, asia & oceania.

• Skip to global NPS navigation
• Skip to this park navigation
• Skip to the main content
• Skip to this park information section
• Skip to the footer section

Exiting nps.gov

Alerts in effect, operating hours & seasons.

Last updated: April 27, 2021

Park footer

Contact info, mailing address:.

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

Stay Connected

Alcatraz Tours Review: Is The Day Or Night Tour Worth It?

by Mark and Kristen Morgan

Published: September 2, 2020

Alcatraz Island has a story so intriguing that it draws in over 1.5 million visitors each year. But are the Alcatraz day and night tours worth your valuable time and money ?

In short, the answer is yes. But you are not here for the short answer.

San Francisco is not a cheap place to visit and with limited time to explore, you need to know exactly how to spend your time and money wisely.

Not only have we been to San Francisco multiple times, but we have personally visited Alcatraz for both a day and night tour on separate occasions.

You can consider us experts when it comes to helping determine which of the Alcatraz tours is for you.

Let’s dive deeper into what you can expect and why the tours of Alcatraz are worth putting a dent in your San Francisco travel itinerary.

Alcatraz Island Fact File

City : San Francisco

State : California

Nickname : The Rock

Prison Opened : August 11th, 1934

Prison Closed : March 21st, 1963

Annual Visitors : 1.5 million tourists

Prisoner Capacity : 336 (never reached max capacity

Famous Prisoners : Al Capone, Machine Gun Kelly, Robert Stroud, Whitey Bulger, The Anglin Brothers

History Of Alcatraz

Much like the air of mystery that surrounds the entire Island of Alcatraz, the history of the San Francisco Bay and the buildings of Alcatraz make for a dramatic story.

Fort, military prison, maximum security federal penitentiary and freedom all play a role in the colorful narrative of the eerie, forbidding and isolated island a mile offshore in the center of the San Francisco Bay.

Grab a comfy seat and a bit of popcorn because this one is going to a doozy. But our guide is loaded with photos and we hope to inspire you to visit this interesting part of US history someday.

The Founding Of Alcatraz Island

Juan Manuel de Ayala was the first man to sail into San Francisco Bay and lay eyes upon what is now Alcatraz Island.

When the Spanish explorer mapped the bay in 1775, he named the tiny island Alcatraces. At this time, this word meant ‘Gannet’ in relation to the North Atlantic seabird.

But over time, the original name Alcatraces was anglicized to Alcatraz. There has been debate about the exact meaning of Alcatraz, but this term typically refers to a ‘pelican’ or ‘strange bird.’

This term seemed to fit as Brown Pelicans are extremely common in the San Francisco Bay area.

The name Alcatraz feels slightly less sinister now you know it means Pelican, right?! You can ignore this fact if you want the name to retain its mystique.

Use As A Military Fort

Following the Gold Rush and booming of San Francisco in the 1850’s, the US military built a fortress at the top of Alcatraz to protect the bay from naval invasion.

On June 1st, 1854, the Alcatraz Light became the first lighthouse built on the West Coast of America. By the late 1850’s, Alcatraz had received its first military prisoners.

No shots were ever fired from the enormous cannon at Alcatraz fortress and its requirements as a defensive installation become obsolete.

The US army demolished Alcatraz fortress in 1909 and military prisoners at the time built what would become ‘the Rock.’

Punishment To Fit The Crime

Following rampant crime in the 1920’s and 1930’s, Alcatraz was the perfect symbol for the Department of Justice to show its citizens they were taking crime seriously.

The prison was categorized as maximum security as well as minimum privilege and opened in 1933.

Alcatraz would be the new home for those who were incapable of reform or who had gained culture repute.

Native American Occupation

Alcatraz prison was finally closed on March 21st, 1963 after almost 30 years of operation. Its closure had nothing to do with escape attempts (which we will get into later) and everything to do with finances.

It simply just wasn’t cost effective to maintain the prison any longer. Following the closure of Alcatraz prison, the island was left deserted and abandoned for 6 years.

In 1969, a group of Indigenous activists known as ‘the Indians of All Tribes’ occupied Alcatraz and raised awareness of the troubles they faced.

Support for Natives grew throughout their 19 month stronghold on Alcatraz until they lost control and buildings were burned down. Federal Marshalls intervened and removed all people from Alcatraz in 1971.

Alcatraz Museum And Tours

In 1973, Alcatraz was opened to the general public as a museum under the National Park Service and part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area.

You can visit the official Alcatraz NPS website for more information.

Alcatraz remains one of the most popular park service sites and receives over 1 million visitors each year.

Travel Tip : If you collect the National Park Passport Stamps , be sure to pick up your stamp on Alcatraz island. There are two stamps to collect, one for the Alcatraz Island Lighthouse and one for the Golden Gate Recreation Area .

How To Get To Alcatraz From Pier 33

There is only one way you can reach Alcatraz Island as a tourist and that is from Pier 33, Alcatraz Landing.

Google Maps Location for Pier 33 .

Pier 33 is located halfway around San Francisco’s Embarcadero, between Fisherman’s Wharf and the Ferry Building.

Alcatraz Cruises owns sole rights to ferry crossings from Pier 33 to Alcatraz Island under contract with the National Park Service.

It’s not worth looking into chartering a private boat to access the island because you won’t be able to enter the museum.

Pier 33 is also equipped with an accessibility drop off zone for those with special needs.

Alcatraz Tour Parking

If you are planning on driving your own vehicle with the aim of parking nearby, be warned there is no parking available directly at Alcatraz Landing.

You may be lucky to find on-street parking in the Fisherman’s Wharf area, but it can be extremely difficult to find. Every parking space also has a parking meter which won’t give you enough time for your Alcatraz tour.

Another option is a commercial parking lot. There are 15 commercial lots with 3,000 parking spaces within a 5 block radius of Pier 33.

The closest commercial parking lot is 80 Francisco at Kearny about one block away across the Embarcadero from Alcatraz Landing.

However, the best way to get to Pier 33 Alcatraz Landing is by foot or using public transport. The historic San Francisco streetcars of the MUNI F Line run right past Alcatraz Landing.

Planning to visit more of California? Don’t miss our popular guide featuring 23 stops along the legendary Pacific Coast Highway from San Francisco to San Diego .

4 Types Of Alcatraz Tours

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

When you purchase an Alcatraz tour ticket, the time on the ticket will correspond to your Alcatraz Ferry.

Each Alcatraz Ferry departs for the day from Pier 33 daily about every 30 to 60 minutes beginning at 8:45am for the Early Bird Tour. Keep in mind times will vary depending on the time of year.

There are 4 different types of tours available at Alcatraz Island. Each tour will have a varying cost, access and privileges.

You can choose between the following 4 Alcatraz tours:

• Alcatraz Day Tour (Early Bird included)
• Behind The Scenes Tour

Alcatraz Night Tour

• Alcatraz & Angel Island Tour (currently unavailable)

Next, we will briefly discuss the Alcatraz Ferry schedule followed by a description of each Alcatraz tour.

The last sections of this guide will then walk you through exactly what to expect on both a day and night tour to Alcatraz. We hope to point out the major differences between these Alcatraz tours.

Ferry Schedule For Alcatraz Tours

The Alcatraz ferry is run on a winter and summer schedule. The early bird tour always begins at 8:45am no matter the season, but the summer season will have more ferry crossings later in the day when the daylight is longer.

Alcatraz Summer Ferry schedule

This summer ferry runs from mid-March to mid-October.

• Early Bird Tour : 8:45am (considered a day tour)
• Day Tour : 9:10am, 9:30am, 10:00am, 10:30am, 11:00am, 11:30am, 12:00pm, 12:30pm, 1:00pm, 1:30pm, 2:10pm, 2:40pm, 3:20pm and 3:50pm
• Behind The Scenes Tour : 4:20pm and 4:50pm
• Night Tour : 5:55pm and 6:30pm (Tues to Sat)

Alcatraz Winter Ferry Schedule

The winter schedule for the Alcatraz Ferry is very similar just with modified service. The winter ferry runs from mid-October to Mid-March.

• Day Tour : 9:10am, 9:30am, 10:00am, 10:30am, 11:00am, 11:30am, 12:00pm, 12:30pm, 1:05pm, 1:35pm
• Behind The Scenes Tour : 2:10pm and 2:40pm
• Night Tour : 3:50pm (Tues to Sat)

You can also check the Alcatraz Ferry Departure schedule on the City Cruises official website.

Alcatraz Day Tour

The Alcatraz day tour is a 2.5 hour long tour option which gives you the chance to freely explore Alcatraz Island on your own. A round trip ferry service to Alcatraz Island is included in the ticket.

As you investigate Alcatraz, rangers are stationed throughout the island to help assist visitors and answer questions.

There are many interpretive signs and exhibits scattered around the island to keep your interest. You can also attend the cellhouse audio tour or a themed special program to learn more about Alcatraz.

The Alcatraz day tour includes:

• Doing Time: The Alcatraz cellhouse audio tour 
• Admission to the Alcatraz cellhouse and permanent exhibit ‘The Big Lockup: Mass Incarceration in the United States’
• Entrance to outdoor spaces such as Eagle Plaza, the Recreation Yard, the Sallyport, and the Rose Garden
• Entrance to the New Industries Building highlighting influential Occupation of Alcatraz by Indians of All Tribes
• Close up views of the exteriors of the Cellhouse, Building 64, Warden’s House, Water Tower, Officer’s Club and Model Industries Building

Day tour tickets for Alcatraz begin at $42 for adults and $25 for children (5-11).

During the Alcatraz Night Tour, you get a little more bang for your buck. But the night tour is only available Tuesday to Saturdays.

Similar to the day tour, a round trip ferry service to Alcatraz Island is included in the ticket. However, you will enjoy a narration on the ferry as the boat takes a special route around Alcatraz Island.

At the dock, you are greeted by a park ranger or docent for a personalized guided tour straight from the dock to the cellhouse. During this guided tour, you will learn about the history of Alcatraz and the people who have lived there.

After the guided tour, you can choose to attend the cellhouse audio tour, explore the additional special exhibits or explore the island on your own.

The Alcatraz night tour includes:

• Doing Time: The Alcatraz cellhouse audio tour
• Optional full length programs and exhibits
• Docent guided tours and talks
• Ability to watch the sunset from Alcatraz Island

Night tour tickets for Alcatraz begin at $53 for adults and $31 for children (5-11).

Alcatraz Behind The Scenes Tour

The behind the Scenes Tour of Alcatraz is a unique opportunity and limited to a maximum of only 30 people.

This 1.5 to 2.0 hour small group tour is led by a National Park Service Ranger or expert historical educator.

The behind The Scenes tour is a great way to capture unusual photos and explore many areas that are off limits to the general public as you hear stories about Alcatraz.

After the tour you will also have the chance to explore the island further.

The Alcatraz Behind The Scenes Tours includes:

• Optional programs and exhibits throughout the island
• West side views from Alcatraz Island facing San Francisco and the Golden Gate Bridge

As a Behind the Scenes Tour guest, you have the two options after your tour. You can extend your time on Alcatraz Island by joining the night tour or you can return to San Francisco on any departing vessel from Alcatraz.

Please note if you choose to stay for the night tour, you will be on Alcatraz Island for about 5 hours. There is food available on the Alcatraz ferry, but not on the island. You will need to plan accordingly.

Behind The Scenes tour tickets for Alcatraz begin at $98 for adults and $94 for children (5-11).

Alcatraz And Angel Island Tour

This 5.5 hour tour offers a round trip ferry to Alcatraz and Angel Island as well as an audio guided tour and an Angel Island Tram tour.

Unfortunately, this the Alcatraz and Angel island Tour is currently unavailable due to health and safety reasons.

Alcatraz Island Tickets

City Experiences are the official provider of Alcatraz Island Tour tickets. The best way to book Alcatraz tickets is directly with City Experiences on the official website.

However, a combination tour is an extremely popular option if you want to see everything San Francisco has to offer. Each tour we mention is an authorized seller of Alcatraz Cruises through City Experiences.

Here are several top rated San Francisco tour options which include an Alcatraz Tour:

• Alcatraz Ticket + 2 Day Hop-On Hop-Off Bus and Night Tour – Explore the island of Alcatraz and enjoy 2 days of sightseeing with insightful commentary from a live guide.
• Small Group Tour: Alcatraz, San Francisco and Muir Woods with Lunch in Sausalito – See everything in one day… the main sights in San Francisco, a lunch break in Sausalito, a walk around Muir Woods and the Official Alcatraz tour in the afternoon.
•  Waterfront Guided Tour and Alcatraz Ticket – Walking tour to top attractions including Ghirardelli, Fisherman’s Wharf and Pier 39 followed by Alcatraz.
• Alcatraz Inside and Golden Gate Bridge Express Visit – Combine visits to Alcatraz and the Golden Gate Bridge into one day.
• Golden Gate Bike Tour and Alcatraz Ticket – Explore San Francisco by bike and visit Alcatraz for two tours over the course of two days.
• San Francisco City Tour and Alcatraz Ticket – Climb aboard an air conditioned coach for a 4-hour guided tour of San Francisco then board a ferry and sail to Alcatraz Island.
• Alcatraz Island and SF Madame Tussauds – This two in one pass includes ferry transport to Alcatraz Island and access to the island itself as well as admission to the world-famous Madame Tussauds wax museum.

Walkthrough Of Alcatraz Island Day Tour

We don’t want to give too much of the Alcatraz day tour away so instead of going into great detail, we will simply give you an idea about what you can expect. You can then determine if this is the tour for you.

We took the Alcatraz day tour in the fall of 2019 and while the tour has slightly changed with one way systems after the pandemic, the day tour experience has remained the same.

Welcome to the Rock!

Upon arrival to Alcatraz Island, you will disembark and find a crowd amassed outside of Building 64.

Also known as Residential Apartments, this 3 story ex-military barracks and prison officer accommodation was the first building to be built on Alcatraz.

Next, a guide or park ranger will explain important information for your visit before you can explore freely. Be sure to listen so you can find out which special programs are available for the day.

You also want to take note of the boat schedules at the dock or in the cellhouse. You need to know when to be back at the dock to catch the return ferry.

Pick a reasonable time to break away from this group otherwise you will be in a very long line for an audio tour headset once you reach the old shower room.

Travel Tip : After you hear about the special programs for the day, beeline it for the cellhouse audio tour so you can spend the rest of your time exploring the island (you will see plenty of signs directing you where to go).

The Alcatraz Prison Tour Begins

Walk up and around the slaloming walkway as you head straight to the main prison entrance. There should be a sign outside stating the start of the cellhouse audio tour.

This will be your first real taste for the prison of Alcatraz. As you cast your eyes on the rusting grey-blue metal doors, you will immediately feel your insides crawl and shudder.

Once inside, make your way to the long narrow and very open shower room. Imagine taking a shower with some of the most hardened and creepy criminals in the history of the United States.

“Hey Mr. Scarface, could you please pass me the soap?”

Line up here until you reach the front to pick up your audio headset which is available in English, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Dutch, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, and Mandarin.

This is where your Alcatraz tour will officially begin. But if you are interested in any of the special programs taking place, you will need to consider your timing.

The cellhouse audio tour runs on a one way system and you should have time to finish this audio tour before any of the special programs take place.

But if you have any questions about timing, feel free to ask the rangers how you should schedule your time. The rangers and guides are incredibly helpful.

We attended two special programs during our Alcatraz day tour:

• Sounds of the slammer
• Escape attempts

Personally, we enjoyed the special programs more than the audio tour because the guides telling the stories were extremely animated. There was also a small Q&A section at the end for any questions you many have.

Sounds Of The Slammer Special Program

The Sound of the Slammer special program discussed a typical cell in Alcatraz along with the different prion blocks.

Alcatraz housed four main cell blocks (A,B, C and D) each with three tiers of cells. Some cells in Alcatraz measured no more than 9ft by 5ft wide.

Imagine a bed, toilet and sink inside those tiny dimensions. This certainly doesn’t leave a lot of room for maneuvering.

Cell blocks B and C were the longest rows and contained the most cells. In between cell blocks, each corridor was a given a famous street name such as Broadway, Michigan and Park Avenue.

Cell block D is where misbehaving prisoners were sent. If they had a particularly serious offence, they would find themselves in one of the six segregation cell units, also known as ‘the Hole.’

Each hardened steel cell door was operated by a series of levers and mechanisms located at the end of that particular row of cells.

Individual or multiple cells (not necessarily next to each other) could be opened at the same time using this mechanism at the end of each row.

This was innovative technology at the time, replacing the traditional lock and key method.

We enjoyed the Sounds of the Slammer because this program discussed the opening and closing of cell doors. But it also included a practical demonstration plus stories from during and after the operation of Alcatraz prison.

Unfortunately, we weren’t allowed to open the cell door using bed sheets and a wheel to lasso the level like Sean Connery in the Rock !

Escape Attempts Special Program

Alcatraz was officially dubbed the ‘inescapable island’ but there were a series of attempts.

Did anyone make it our successfully? Well, that still reamins a mystery.

Are you a romantic who wants to believe that someone managed to escape, despite the fact they were in prison for committing a serious and heinous crime?

Or are you a firm believer of facts, logic and physics that suggest no one made it out alive?

The escape attempts special program takes place in the dining hall next to the cell house. If this talk is on during your visit, do not miss it.

This special program was the highlight of our Alcatraz day tour thanks to some fantastic storytelling by the park ranger who led the program.

As you can see, the room was packed full of tourists utterly engrossed in a wide semicircle.

In a nutshell, there were 14 escape attempts made by a total of 36 inmates throughout Alcatraz prison history. Some of the stories are sad while other stories are downright hilarious and full of ingenuity.

We will not divulge any more information here so you can hear all about these crazy stories for yourself when you visit.

Or if you can’t wait, you can read more about each escape attempt here in detail.

Views From Alcatraz Island

For the rest of our Alcatraz day tour, we spent our time exploring the island on our own.

Sections of this tour include walking around external areas, such as Alcatraz Lighthouse. You can also explore the recreation yard and parade ground after the audio tour has finished.

But remember you are in the center of San Francisco Bay, which means you have 360 degree views around the entire Bay Area.

Depending on the time of day and positioning of the sun, you can snap photographs of Oakland Bridge, San Francisco city and of course, the magnificent Golden Gate Bridge.

But don’t expect Alcatraz to be one of the better views of the Golden Gate Bridge, instead you will need to head one of these 5 best photography locations .

Further Reading : Is the Warner Bros Studio Tour in Los Angeles worth it?

Walkthrough Of Alcatraz Island Night Tour

We returned to San Francisco in October 2022 to take the Alcatraz night tour. We loved the day tour so much we just had to experience Alcatraz at night as well.

After experiencing the Alcatraz night tour ourselves, we can confirm the night tour is a slightly different experience compared to the day tour. But just like everything, each tour had its perks.

We took the Alcatraz night tour on October 11th which falls during the seasonal change schedule (Oct 11th to Nov 5th).

This time of year is the best of both worlds because we had the chance to explore areas usually closed at night due to increased lighting from daylight savings time.

A Better Ferry Experience

The first thing we instantly noticed about the Alcatraz night tour was the impressive narration on the ferry as we sailed to Alcatraz Island.

During the entire trip, we learned about the history of San Francisco and Alcatraz. Without giving much away, this narrative is certainly worth a listen.

On a side note, we were starving when we arrived to Pier 33 for our night tour because we had been relentlessly exploring San Francisco. So we tried the snack bar on the Alcatraz ferry.

To be honest, our hot dogs were pretty good and fairly priced considering we were on a tour.

We were also able to fill up our reusable water bottle on the ferry so be sure to bring one and fill up if needed. Water on the ferry is not cheap, yikes.

The ferry had many snacks available and while the line was quite long, it moved quickly.

Already a great start to our Alcatraz night tour!

Circling Alcatraz Island

Another highlight of the night tour, before we even docked on the island, was the route the ferry took after leaving Pier 33.

We completed a full circle around Alcatraz Island which is not done on the day tour. The narration on the ferry also explained additional parts of the island we had not previously learned about.

This is where you will look for sea caves near Alcatraz Island which may be have been important in one prisoners escape.

Look closely at the buoys in the water because you may get a glimpse of a sea lion sunning himself.

Audio Tour And Special Programs

There was only one boat on the island during our entire night tour which was a welcome relief from the large crowds you can experience during the day tour.

The boat was divided into two groups with the first group heading one way on the island and the other group heading another way on the island. Each group had about 100 people.

Our tour guide met us right by the dock and we had a short intro to the island with stops in multiple locations. This small guided tour took about 20 minutes and we ended at the entrance of the cell house audio tour.

Similar to the day tour, we picked up our audio guide headsets in the shower room and listened to the familiar voices once again.

When we ended our audio tour and handed in our headsets, we were met by a docent who was was about to give a special program in just a few minutes.

Perfect timing, we stayed for the special program and chatted with the park ranger. We won’t be disclosing the special programs on the Alcatraz night tour so you can be completely surprised.

The best advice we can give you is to speak with the rangers and tour guides because they always know the ins and outs of the island.

Following our own advice, the ranger we spoke to gave us some great advice about how to maximize our time on Alcatraz island. However, this won’t pertain to every night because programs and experiences are constantly changing.

As long as you attend the cellhouse audio tour, one or two special programs and spend a little time exploring in your own, you have done extremely well. Anything else will be a bonus!

Bonus Hospital Entrance

In between the two special programs we chose to attend, we learned the old Alcatraz hospital was to be opened at 5:30pm which is an area we had never seen.

So we hot footed it to the hospital just in time to see the the rememntats of the Alcatraz operating room, exam rooms, pharmacy and sick wards.

As former scientists , we enjoyed seeing how the hospital operated. This experience alone was certainly worth our visit.

More Time To Explore

Another great part about the night tour is you have a little more time to explore the island compared to the day tour. So even after our audio tour, two special programs and the hospital visit, we still had time to visit a few other areas.

Many of the same outdoor sections were open, but it was interesting to see the buildings on Alcatraz light up as the sun started to set on the horizon. The colors in the sky were just starting to become bright pink and orange.

At this point, we started to watch our time a bit more closely because we certainly didn’t want to be spending the night on the island if we missed the ferry.

Sunset On Alcatraz

Our ferry was scheduled to leave the dock as the sun was setting behind the Golden Gate Bridge. This night tour was the perfect ending to a day in San Francisco.

After we both had boarded the ferry back to Pier 33, we asked one another if the Alcatraz night tour has been worth it.

What do you think we said?!

Are The Alcatraz Day And Night Tours Worth Your Time And Money?

Yes, both the Alcatraz day and night tours are worth your time and money.

Personally, we have to say we were genuinely surprised by how good the Alcatraz day and night tours are put together. We had high expectations but they were easily surpassed.

We would recommend the Alcatraz night tour over the Alcatraz day tour for 5 reasons:

• Onboard ferry narration
• Ferry circles around entire Alcatraz island
• Smaller tour sizes make for an intimate experience
• Ability to see San Francisco bay as the sun sets from Alcatraz Island
• Chance to explore bonus areas often closed to general public

But if you can only fit one Alcatraz tour into your schedule, the day tour is still a great option.

While the prices of the Alcatraz tours appear to be a little on the steep side, we think the price point is fair considering everything you get.

Be sure to attend at least one of the special programs on the day you visit to make the most of your Alcatraz experience.

Famous Inmates At Alcatraz

Last but not least, we have to mention the famous inmates once held in this prison.

Many inmates at Alcatraz were relative unknown as were sent to the ‘supermax prison of the 30s’ because they were escape threats or committed serious offences at other prisons.

However, some inmates were of higher renown and gained a reputation through popular culture in years to follow their time on the Rock.

Here are some of the most famous Alcatraz inmates:

• Al Capone – Gained notoriety as the modern day Robin Hood while making millions in bootlegging illegal alcohol. Nicknamed ‘Scarface’, Capone let the Chicago mob outfit during prohibition but was jailed on tax evasion offenses after being named public enemy #1.
• Robert Stroud – Nicknamed ‘the Birdman’, Stroud only became famous when a movie called Birdman of Alcatraz was made. But he never actually kept any birds at Alcatraz, he kept 300 birds in his cell at Leavenworth, Kansas. A dangerous murderer, Stroud was in jail from 19 years of age until his death in 1963.
• George Kelly – A model inmate at Alcatraz, ‘Machine Gun’ Kelly was only transferred to the Rock after half joking with guards at Leavenworth that he would escape in time for Christmas. His joke was taken all too seriously. Kelly was imprisoned for kidnap and is believed to have only turned to crime because his wife pushed him into it.
• Alvin Karpis – In prison for conspiracy to kidnap, ‘Creepy’ Karpis was a near genius IQ member of the Barker-Karpis Gang along with fellow inmate ‘Doc’ Barker. They would rob banks, gunning down anyone who stood in their way. Karpis spent 26 years on Alcatraz, more than any other prisoner.

Alcatraz In Popular Culture

Before visiting Alcatraz, you might want to watch some of these old movies to get in the mood:

• Birdman of Alcatraz (1962)
• Point Blank (1967)
• The Enforcer (1976)
• Escape From Alcatraz (1979)
• The Rock (1996) – Our personal favorite!
• The Book of Eli (2010)

Even the Harry Potter Franchise created by JK Rowling features Azkaban prison which can only be based on one place…

Alcatraz Island Photos

We took hundreds of photos on Alcatraz Island during our day and night tour.

This next section is nothing but photos from Alcatraz Island to further peak your interesting about this fascinating area.

What Is It Like To Visit Alcatraz Today?

Alcatraz has changed several times over the years, from fort to military prison and from maximum security federal penitentiary to tourist attraction.

Now, Alcatraz is run by the National Park Service and the Island hosts hundreds of visitors every day who are curious about its colorful history.

If you’re wondering what it is like to visit Alcatraz now, there’s only one way to find out!

Can I Go To Alcatraz Without A Tour?

It is extremely difficult to go to Alcatraz without a tour. While Alcatraz id open to public tours, the docks at Alcatraz are only available to one ferry line, Alcatraz Cruises run by City Experiences.

The only way the public can visit Alcatraz is by purchasing a tour ticket and taking on of the official ferries to the island.

Alcatraz FAQ’s

Let’s take a look at some of the most frequently asked questions about Alcatraz Island and tours.

Contrary to popular belief, Alcatraz prison was shut down due to financial reasons. Millions of gallons of fresh water had to be shipped to Alcatraz weekly and eventually the government decided it would be cheaper to just build a new prison!

The water around Alcatraz Island has an average temperature of around 54°F (12°C) with little variation that would prove challenging for escapes. However, avid open water swimmers do swim across the bag regularly.

Yes, there have been several escape attempts from Alcatraz. You should book an Alcatraz tour to hear the details of these very escapes.

Yes, there are sharks around Alcatraz but usually only Leopard sharks. Man eating Great Whites are frequently found nearby in the Pacific Ocean and rarely venture into the SF bay. That being said, there is footage of Great Whites close to Alcatraz. Would you swim the channel?

If you booked a day or night tour, you should plan on 3 hours for your total visit to Alcatraz.

Our Popular San Francisco Guides

• Itinerary – 15 Things You Can’t Miss in San Francisco
• Photography – Best Views of the Golden Gate Bridge
• Tea Garden – Complete Guide to the San Francisco Japanese Tea Garden
• CityPASS – Complete guide to saving money with the SF CityPASS

More California Guides

• Los Angeles – 10 Best Things to do in Los Angeles
• San Diego – Amazing Things To do in San Diego
• Yosemite – One, Two and Three Day Itineraries for Yosemite National Park
• Joshua Tree – Perfect Day Trip to Joshua Tree from LA and San Diego
• Death Valley – One Day in Death Valley Itinerary from LA and Las Vegas

Want more California content? Head to our California Travel Guides to explore National Parks, popular road trips and things to do in major cities of the sunshine state.

We hope this review for both the Alcatraz Day and Alcatraz Night Tour helps you plan your time in San Francisco!

Please let us know if you have any question about the Alcatraz Tours or San Francisco in the comments below.

Happy Planning ,

Mark and Kristen

Was This Guide Helpful? Pin It For Your Visit!

Note : This article contains affiliate links. When you make a purchase using one of these affiliate links, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

All Rights Reserved © Where Are Those Morgans, LLC. Republishing this article and/or any of its contents (text, photography, maps, graphics, etc.) in whole or in part is strictly prohibited.

Mark and Kristen Morgan are travel, hiking and photography experts. Over the last 6 years traveling full time, they have explored more than 40 countries and 30 US states.

Where Are Those Morgans has been featured in USA Today, Gestalten, Get Your Guide, CityPASS and Condé Nast Traveler along with various other publications. Read more about us .

6 thoughts on “Alcatraz Tours Review: Is The Day Or Night Tour Worth It?”

Thank you so much for this post! I didn’t realize the website I almost bought tickets on was not the official tour company, so I saved money and was able to book the behind the scenes tour that the website I was looking at said wasn’t available!

You’re very welcome, Elizabeth. We hope you have a fantastic trip to San Francisco and enjoy the Alcatraz tour!

Alcatraz is easily one of our favorite San Fran attractions. We’ve been 2x. I’m always blown away by the walking tour. Absolutely love the step by step information. I always highly recommend visiting Alcatraz.

Yes we thoroughly enjoyed the tour of Alcatraz and would do it again. Highly recommend for first time visitors to SF!

Alcatraz seems like a great place to visit, so much history in one place. It must of been a harsh place to serve time but also to work, not your average commute.

You’re right, not a typical commute! We were worried the Alcatraz tour wouldn’t hold up to our expectations but it did with room to spare. Definitely recommend it if you get a chance to visit San Francisco.

Leave a Comment Cancel reply

Subscribe to our newsletter

Get the latest in travel straight to your inbox

Click here to subscribe

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

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

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

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

What and Where is Alcatraz?

Alcatraz island hours of operation.

• How and Why you should Visit Alcatraz Island

How to Buy Alcatraz Tickets

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

How Long to Plan for an Alcatraz Tour

Getting to alcatraz landing (pier 33).

• Pier 33 Alcatraz Landing

Basic Alcatraz Ferry Info

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

• Island Amenities

Key Alcatraz Takeaways

Alcatraz island ticket faq, alcatraz island basic info.

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

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

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

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

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

How and Why You Should Visit Alcatraz Island

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

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

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

Alcatraz Tickets

Morning Guided City Tour of San Francisco

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

Alcatraz Island and Guided San Francisco City Tour

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

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

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

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

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

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

Alcatraz Tour Ticket Options and What They Include

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

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

Before your Alcatraz Tour

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

What to Bring to Alcatraz

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

What NOT to Bring to Alcatraz

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

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

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

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

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

The Alcatraz Ferry

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

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

There is no parking lot at Pier 33.

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

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

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

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

Pier 33 Alcatraz Landing 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Alcatraz Island Tour Details

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Alcatraz Island Amenities

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

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

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

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

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

When is the best time to visit Alcatraz?

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

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

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

Where can I buy an Alcatraz Island ticket?

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

What does an Alcatraz Ticket Include?

An Alcatraz tour ticket includes:

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

Published on: February 5th 2024

Recent articles, 11 top national parks near san francisco, 19 things to do in san francisco in the spring, the 14 best hikes in san francisco.

• 10 Best Things to do in Yosemite in Spring
• Hidden Gems
• In the News
• Monterey & Carmel
• National Parks
• Northern California
• Restaurants in San Francisco
• San Francisco Hidden Treasures
• Silicon Valley
• Things to Do
• Wine Country
• Wine Country Tour

Related Articles

Visiting a National Park near San Francisco is one of the best things to do in…

Are you planning a trip to San Francisco in the spring? If you aren’t yet, we…

There is no place like San Francisco for hiking. Whether you are looking for the best…

• Alcatraz Day Tour

Alcatraz Night Tour

• Bay Discovery Cruise
• Alcatraz Behind The Scenes Tour
• Book Your Tour Now!
• About Alcatraz
• Park Programs
• Alcatraz History
• Alcatraz Ferry Schedule
• Before You Visit
• Accessibility & Parking

The Complete Alcatraz Tour

Duration: Approximately 2 ½ Hours Available: Tuesday thru Saturday. Until March 9th: 3:50 PM check-in. Beginning March 12th: 5:55 PM, 6:30 PM and 7:05 PM check-in.

• E-Ticket Mobile Check-in
• Alcatraz Island roundtrip ferry
• Access Inside Alcatraz Prison
• 45-minute Cellhouse Audio Tour
• Orientation video
• Ranger and docent tours
• Onboard narration
• Guided tour
• Other special activities

The Alcatraz Night Tour provides an engaging evening Alcatraz experience with special programs. This tour includes a personally narrated boat tour around the island; guided tours from the dock to the main prison building; "Doing Time: The Alcatraz Cellhouse Tour". Also, several programs and presentations are offered only at night. Visitors may choose to attend one or two during the course of their evening. Enjoy a sunset and breath-taking views of San Francisco as night falls. A truly exceptional experience.

Back to Top

• Alcatraz Tours
• Plan Your Visit
• Frequenty Asked Questions
• Accessibility
• Check Confirmation

Alcatraz Behind the Scenes Tour

The most complete tour of Alcatraz available.

Discover the many eras and secrets of American history in areas not generally available to the public!

Join a group of 30 or fewer on a personally guided adventure to explore and discover clues to the Island’s fascinating past and hear lesser known stories of Alcatraz. Then complete your comprehensive Alcatraz experience by taking the Cellhouse Audio Tour and participating in the full Alcatraz Night Tour experience, all with a single ticket.

*Face coverings are required at all times in boarding areas, onboard vessels and in all indoor spaces on Alcatraz Island.  Please bring your face mask with you or you may purchase one at the ticket booth.   Children under the age of 12 are not allowed on this tour.  If you purchase tickets for someone who is under the age of 12, they will not be allowed to board the boat and refunds will not be provided.

Rates - including tax

• Description
• Cancellation and Change Fee Policy

Related Photos

Tour / activity details.

This tour does not include hotel pick up. Alcatraz ticket confirmations are sent 10 to 30 days prior to your tour. If you order is less than 10 days prior, we will make every effort to send your ticket confirmation within 72 hours from receipt of your order. Alcatraz tickets must be picked up by the cardholder. If you are purchasing tickets as a gift, please note that in the Comments section. Alcatraz asks that you arrive one hour prior to your departure time. call to order or for more information.

There is a $6.95 USD processing fee per order. This is a flat fee regardless of the number of tickets or tours purchased on an order. There is a service charge per ticket. This charge will be reflected on your summary before you checkout. The total shown at checkout includes any fuel surcharges, service charges and tax. There are no additional charges, unless otherwise specified.

Tour / Activity Policies

Cancellation Policy: There is no refund on Alcatraz tickets or tours. All sales are final. There is no refund if you cancel this reservation or if you fail to show up at the designated time for the tour.

Change Fee Policy: If changes are allowed on a tour or activity, a $20.00 per reservation change fee will be applied for any change to a reservation. Please note that some tours and activities do not allow any changes. Date changes can only be made only if we can confirm availability on the new date. While we cannot guarantee any changes can be made, all change requests must be submitted a minimum of 24 hours prior to the tour departure and must be handled on an individual basis through our Reservations Center.

Tour / Activity Description

PLEASE NOTE:

**Covid Updates

• Face coverings are required at all times in boarding areas, onboard vessels and in all indoor spaces on Alcatraz Island.  Please bring your face mask with you or you may purchase one at the ticket booth.

Alcatraz Highlights:

Today Alcatraz swarms with tourists -- about a million a year -- but for 30 years it was the most infamous prison in the country. It housed prisoners too notorious or dangerous to be held elsewhere. Its inhabitants included Al Capone, George "Machine Gun" Kelly, and Robert Franklin Stroud, the Birdman of Alcatraz. In 1933, the Federal Bureau of Prisons used the facility as a maximum security prison. It was closed in 1963 due to its expense.

Your trip to Alcatraz departs on a ferry from Pier 33. The ferry across the San Francisco Bay takes about 10 minutes. Alcatraz Island is a 25-acre island located just 1 1/4-miles from San Francisco's Fisherman's Wharf. Upon arrival, a National Park Ranger will provide a brief welcome and orientation. You are then free to explore the island and the prison at your own pace. We recommend that you stop at the theatre to see the Alcatraz video following the orientation. The video provides an excellent overview of what you will see. The 35-minute audio headset tour of the Alcatraz cell block is a real highlight. This tour is available in six languages: English, French, German, Italian, Japanese and Spanish. During the tour, you will hear stories from former inmates and prison guards as you walk through the cellblock. After the Cell Block tour, there is time to see all the sites around the island and visit the Alcatraz museum and bookshop.

To reach the Cell House, you walk from the wharf up the steep hill on the old service road. The Cell House is at the top of the island. Along the way, you can stop and visit exhibits, see a variety of buildings that were used for various prison uses, and enjoy the views. Access: SEAT (Sustainable Easy Access Transport), is available for wheelchair users and visitors with a mobility need who are unable to walk up the quarter mile, 12% grade hill. Another option is to walk along the Agave Trail. The trail begins near the ferryboat landing on the east side of Alcatraz Island and continues to the southern tip of the island. The Agave Trail passes through a protected bird sanctuary and features beautiful plants and flowers. This trail offers fabulous views of San Francisco and the Golden Gate Bridge.

Be sure to bring a camera because you will definitely want to remember your tour to the Rock!

Important Alcatraz Tour Information

This tour does not offer hotel pick-up or drop-off. The Alcatraz ferry departs from Pier 33.

Please note that we will be sold out of Alcatraz tickets many days this year. Order your Alcatraz Tickets today to avoid missing out on the opportunity to see the most popular tourist attraction in San Francisco.

Alcatraz Schedule Information

Departure Times Available for Day Trips to Alcatraz from Pier 33: Ferries depart & return approximately every half hour continuously throughout the day. You may return on any ferry you choose, so stay as long as you like. ***Please check availability calendar for the complete list of available times for each month. Alcatraz tour times are subject to change. If times change you will be rescheduled on the nearest scheduled time closest to your preferred time.

Other Alcatraz Tours Available

We have several different tours that include a tour to Alcatraz. For more information, please click on one of the following links:

• Alcatraz Tour & San Francisco City Tour
• Alcatraz Tour & Muir Woods - Sausalito Tour
• Alcatraz Night Tour
• Alcatraz Ticket & Souvenir Package

The weather in San Francisco and at Alcatraz can change suddenly. It can be cold and foggy one morning and sunny that afternoon. Be prepared, and dress in layers. Fog is common from June through September; temperatures may range from 38 degrees F (3 degress C) to 75 degrees G (24 degrees C).

On-street parking can be difficult to find, and parking spaces usually have a two-hour maximum time limit, which doesn't work for this tour. There are numerous commercial lots. Please arrive early to find a parking space, exchange your E-Ticket Receipt for the boarding tickets, and wait in line for boarding.

What to Wear

Be prepared, and dress in layers. We suggest comfortable walking shoes with grip-type soles. It is an outdoor, uphill walk to the prison. Sunglasses and sun screen are recommended.

Food and Beverage

There is no food service on Alcatraz. Eating is restricted to the dock area. Snacks are sold on the ferries. Drinking fountains are located at the island dock and near the lighthouse.

Alcatraz Tour Cancellation Policy & Terms

• Your order does not guarantee availability of tickets. Alcatraz tickets are often sold out for specific dates and times. Your order is not confirmed until you receive a second email from us advising that the order has been placed and confirmed. You will receive two emails from us; the first will confirm that your order was placed and your credit card was charged. It is the second email that will confirm the availability of the tickets and that the tickets were secured for you.
• Alcatraz tickets sell out very quickly and often far in advance. If tickets for the date and/or time you need are not available, your order will automatically be canceled and your money refunded.
• There are absolutely no refunds on Alcatraz tickets, unless tickets are not available for the date and time you requested.
• There are no exchanges or refunds after a ticket has been purchased or for lost, stolen, damaged or destroyed tickets. So once you buy a ticket, that's it -- no changes at all.
• There can be no changes on Alcatraz tickets. Once you have purchased the tickets, that's it. You have tickets for that date and time, and we are unable to change the date or the time.
• Tickets shall be null and void and of no value unless utilized by the customer on the date and time on the tickets.
• Ticket sales for Alcatraz are limited to 8 tickets per household within any 30 day period. If you order more than 8 tickets, we may need to contact you to obtain an additional name, address, and credit card per each 8 tickets to comply with this National Park policy.
• Resale of tickets is strictly prohibited.
• To the extent permitted by law, the management reserves the right to refund the purchase price of the ticket and to revoke the rights granted herein.
• Please click here to read our complete Terms and Conditions .

IMPORTANT ORDERING INFORMATION

• Please read this information BEFORE ordering Alcatraz tickets. By purchasing, you are indicating that you have read and agree to the following.
• We provide a booking service for purchasing Alcatraz tickets. The price includes our per-ticket booking fee and processing fee of $6 to $10. Your order authorizes us to purchase the tickets in your name.
• TICKETS MUST BE PICKED UP BY THE CARDHOLDER . If you are using your credit card to purchase Alcatraz Tickets, you must be present to pick up the tickets. You will pick up your tickets at the Will Call Window at Pier 33. You will need the credit card used to order the tickets as your identification, valid photo ID (driver's license or passport) and your confirmation. Tickets may not be picked up prior to the tour date.
• There is a $6.95 USD processing fee per order. This is a flat fee regardless of the number of tickets or tours purchased on an order.
• Your credit card statement will show two charges - one for City Info Experts and one from City Experiences.
• Attention Debit Card Users Please be aware that an attempted purchase of Alcatraz tickets with a bank debit card, even if the purchase is declined, will result in a temporary deduction from the account associated with the debit card. This deduction will be credited back to the account within several days of the attempted transaction. The timeframe of the charge being reversed is determined by the bank or institution issuing the debit card. Customers with duplicate charges on their debit card must contact their bank or institution with questions about the status of these charges. City Info Experts is not responsible for duplicate charges to any account associated with a debit card. In order to avoid duplicate charges please only click on process order once.

This tour does not include hotel pick up. Alcatraz ticket confirmations are sent 10 to 30 days prior to your tour. If you order is less than 10 days prior, we will make every effort to send your ticket confirmation within 72 hours from receipt of your order. Alcatraz tour times are subject to change. If times change you will be rescheduled on the nearest scheduled time closest to your preferred time. Alcatraz asks that you arrive one hour prior to your departure time. call to order or for more information.

Customer Ratings & Reviews

Your reservations cart.

Your cart is currently empty

Have a question?

Click here to chat live with one of our reservation agents.

Popular Tours and Activities

Tour & activity types.

We have a number of tours and activites to pick from. Use the list below to find the type of tour you are looking for.

• Alcatraz is Sold Out
• Alcatraz Day Tours
• Alcatraz Night Tours
• Alcatraz Tours
• Angel Island Tours

Copyright 1999 - 2024 City Info Experts LLC - Powered by Tour Beaver. All Trademarks are the property of their respective owners. Use of this Web site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement and Privacy Policy GA License Number TKBK00007 Fla. Seller of Travel Ref. No. ST38607

Cirque du Soleil adds behind-the-scenes option at Disney Springs

Cirque du Soleil is adding a behind-the-scenes tour for “Drawn to Life,” the theatrical production at Disney Springs . The new “Page to Stage Signature Experience” will include exclusive access before and after select shows.

Participants will receive a backstage tour, an artist meet-and-greet, premium show seating, a “Drawn to Life” gift bag, a souvenir popcorn bucket, personalized check-in and other benefits. There will be a limit of nine guests per experience.

The post-performance tour will include an under-the-stage tour and looks at the show’s costumes and props.

“By showcasing the work of our talented artists and skilled technical team, attendees will gain a special insight into the magic that brings this collaboration between Cirque du Soleil and Disney animation to life,” Kevin Hargrove, company manager of “Drawn to Life,” said in a news release.

Disney sets August start date for Epcot Food & Wine fest

“Page to Stage” will be offered after the second performance on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays starting May 4. “Drawn to Life” is performed Wednesdays through Saturdays at 5:30 p.m. and 8 p.m., and Sundays at 1:30 p.m. and 4 p.m.

The new experience costs $285 ($225 for ages 3-9). Tickets are now on sale through December.

Disney-Cirque’s ‘Drawn to Life,’ Epcot’s Broadway stars and fireworks: New, but improved? | Commentary

“Drawn to Life” debuted at Disney Springs in late 2021, taking over the stage that had been home to “La Nouba” for 19 years.  The new show’s story is inspired by Disney animators and has famed characters incorporated into the presentation in a Cirque du Soleil way.

For tickets or more information, go to cirquedusoleil.com/drawn-to-life .

Email me at [email protected] . Threads account: @dbevil . X account: @themeparks . Subscribe to the Theme Park Rangers newsletter at orlandosentinel.com/newsletters .

©2024 Orlando Sentinel. Visit orlandosentinel.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.