Alcatraz Island Tours
Alcatraz is a historic island prison in San Francisco Bay, once home to infamous criminals like Al Capone. Now a National Park, it offers eerie prison tours, stunning city views, and rich history. A must-see for history buffs, true crime fans, and anyone visiting San Francisco!
Alcatraz Day Tours
The Alcatraz Day Tour offers a deep dive into the island’s layered past, featuring stunning views, historic exhibits, and access to outdoor and indoor prison areas. With a round-trip ferry from Pier 33, you’ll arrive at the windswept island, where you can follow self-guided exploration trails, see political messaging from the 1969 Native American Occupation, and experience the award-winning “Doing Time: The Alcatraz Cellhouse Tour”.
Alcatraz Night Tours
The Alcatraz Night Tour offers a rare opportunity to explore the island after dark, adding an eerie and atmospheric touch to the experience. Visitors can enjoy the award-winning Cellhouse Audio Tour, watch a cell door demonstration, and participate in optional evening talks by Alcatraz historians. This Alcatraz tour is limited to just a few hundred visitors per evening and also offers breathtaking sunset views of the Golden Gate Bridge.
Alcatraz Bay Cruise
The Bay Discovery Cruise of Alcatraz is a 90-minute sightseeing adventure that takes you on a scenic journey across San Francisco Bay. This National Park tour offers breathtaking views of Alcatraz Island, the Golden Gate Bridge, Angel Island, Sausalito, and other iconic landmarks. Unlike the official Alcatraz Island tour, this cruise does not dock at the island but provides a rich, narrated experience about its history.
Alcatraz Ferry Schedule
When purchasing an Alcatraz tour ticket, you’ll need to choose a specific time slot for your ferry departure. However, for the return trip, you can board any available ferry, allowing you to explore the island at your own pace. Find out Alcatraz ferry’s schedule.
Day Tour or Night Tour?
Should you visit Alcatraz during the day or at night? Both daytime and nighttime tours offer unique experiences, but the atmosphere varies greatly. Discover the key differences to help you choose the best way to explore this historic island prison.
Bay Cruise or Day Tour?
Not sure whether to take the Alcatraz Day Tour or the Bay Discovery Cruise? This guide compares both experiences, helping you decide between exploring the island up close or enjoying a scenic cruise around its historic landmarks and breathtaking views.
Exclusive Alcatraz Tours: The Alcatraz Behind the Scenes Tour offers an exclusive, small-group adventure with rare access to off-limits areas of the infamous island prison. For a full-day excursion, the Alcatraz & Angel Island Combination Tour takes you to two iconic islands, blending history, nature, and breathtaking bay views.
Last minute Alcatraz tickets
Alcatraz is one of San Francisco’s most sought-after attractions, and tickets sell out fast—sometimes months in advance. If you didn’t plan ahead, you might be wondering: Is it still possible to visit? Well, even if tickets on the official website are sold out, there are still four ways to get last-minute tickets for Alcatraz Island tours.
Night tour standby tickets
The Alcatraz Night Tour is a highly sought-after experience, offering visitors a unique chance to explore the infamous prison after dark. However, tickets sell out fast, sometimes months in advance. If you didn’t book ahead, night tour’s standby tickets offer a last-minute way to secure a spot—but it’s a gamble.
Hotels near Alcatraz
Since it sits on a small island (22.5 acres / 9 hectares) in San Francisco Bay, there are no hotels on Alcatraz Island itself. If you are looking for a place close to Alcatraz, the best option is San Francisco, as the island is just 1.25 miles (2.01 km) from the northern shore. Find out the best hotels near Alcatraz Island
Alcatraz Cellhouse Tour
When you step onto Alcatraz Island, you are entering one of the most infamous prisons in American history. And there is no better way to experience it than through the award-winning Alcatraz Cellhouse audio tour.
Frequently Asked Questions
Planning a trip to Alcatraz? Our Alcatraz FAQ guide has everything you need to know—from tickets and tours to ferry schedules and must-see highlights. Get all your questions answered before you go!
Getting to Alcatraz Landing
Pier 33 Alcatraz Landing is located along San Francisco’s northern waterfront, also known as The Embarcadero. Find out how to reach the Alcatraz Landing both by public and private transport.