Alcatraz Island and the Alcatraz Tour

Alcatraz Tour Fascinates Visitors to Alcatraz Island

• Hours: Open daily except December 25 and January 1
• Reservations: Highly recommended
• Location: San Francisco Bay, boats leave from Pier 33
• How Long: Allow about 4 hours
• Best Time to Visit: You'll find warmer weather mid-day in summer. Spring and fall are also nice. Winter is cold, but worst is early summer (late June-ish) when nesting seagulls create a stink.
• See it Now: Photo Tour

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

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

Tours

The "Day Tour" is most popular. It includes round-trip transportation to the island and the audio tour (extra charge). Also popular and well-rated is the Night Tour, with special tours and activities.

To see all two San Francisco Bay islands in one day, get an Island Hop ticket, which will take you to both Alcatraz and Angel Island.

Alcatraz Island Tickets

• Don't be Fooled: The only way to tour Alcatraz is Alcatraz Cruises from San Francisco. Other bay cruise companies can take you by, but can't stop.

• Save Money: Anyone else selling an Alcatraz Island tour is re-selling tickets and may charge a processing fee. Save money. Do it yourself.

• Reserve Tickets Ahead: Alcatraz tours are very popular and tickets sell out fast. On a July Friday, I've seen them sold out until the following Tuesday. Get tickets online or call (415) 705-5555.

• Buy the Audio Tour: Filled with voices and sounds of the prison, this self-guided tour is absorbing and well worth its price. It's available in several languages.

• Unprepared? Your hotel's concierge or front desk may have tickets. Or consider taking the Island Hop tour, which doesn't fill up as fast.

• Early Birds: Unused hotel tickets are released to the Alcatraz ticket booth just before it opens. Be first in line you may get a same-day tour ticket.

Be a Smart Alcatraz Island Visitor

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

• Miss your Alcatraz boat? Don't despair. The ticket office, can direct you to the standby line for the next one.

• Primary Needs: There is no food available on the island, and sometimes they don't sell it on the boat either. You could easily spend a few hours on Alcatraz, and your tour won't be much fun if you're hungry or thirsty.

• Seeing Spots: The white spots all over the island aren't paint. DON'T look up if you hear a birdy noise! Rangers say several people a day acquire a "white badge of honor" as a gift from a seagull.

The Alcatraz Island Visit: Things to Do

The tour starts with a brief orientation (warning about seagulls, toilets, etc). National Park Service activities to help you learn about Alcatraz Island include a self-guided tour book (several languages, $1), ranger-led tours, an orientation film, visits by authors of books about Alcatraz and - best of all - the audio tour. Rent one at the cellhouse if you didn't buy in advance.

Alcatraz Tour Review

We rate Alcatraz 3 stars out of 5 because it is, after all, only an abandoned prison, the weather can be unpleasant, it stinks during seagull nesting season, and it takes up almost half a day to go there and back.

Others may disagree. You can see what other people just like you think, then bookmark this page and come back and tell us what you think.

How do you rate Alcatraz?

• 0 = Yuck! Just say no to this flea-bitten hole
• 1 = So-So More fun than a night in jail, but you might enjoy a good nap more
• 2 = OK Some people find it interesting. I didn't
• 3 = Good Go if you have time, but it's not a big deal if you miss it
• 4 = Great I really liked it. I think you will, too
• 5 = Awesome! It's a must-see sight I recommend to everyone

Getting to Alcatraz Island

Alcatraz Island
San Francisco, CA
(415) 561-4900 Information
(415) 705-5555 Reservations
Website
Alcatraz Cruises

Alcatraz Cruises is the only way to get to Alcatraz. They're at Pier 33, where you can buy tickets or pick up advance orders.

To drive, follow signs for Pier 39. Pier 33 is a few blocks east. The closest and most convenient lot is at 80 Francisco at Kearny, just one block away, across the Embarcadero from Alcatraz Landing. Street parking isn't practical because the meters have a two-hour limit and you'll be gone longer than that.

If you're staying in San Francisco, take a taxi or public transit. Muni's F Line runs past Pier 33 and the Powell-Mason cable car stops nearby. The best way to get to the pier depends on where you're coming from. Check out all the other options.