- Address: Ferries depart from Pier 33, San Francisco, California 94123, USA
- Hours: Multiple departure times available
- Admission: Varies
San Francisco ATTRACTIONS See all
Alcatraz Tours
The Basics
Alcatraz is only accessible by tour, and tickets sell out days (sometimes weeks) in advance. Lock in high-demand tickets by booking a San Francisco city tour that includes admission to the infamous federal penitentiary and a day of sightseeing via bike, bus, boat, or Segway. City tours typically cover highlights such as Chinatown, Coit Tower, North Beach, the Presidio, and the Ferry Building, while other booking options combine a hard-to-snag Alcatraz tour with a cable car ride, a bay cruise to Sausalito, or a multi-day adventure into the Marin headlands, wine country, or Muir Woods.
- Alcatraz tickets include round-trip ferry transportation (take note of the assigned departure time printed on your ferry ticket). You can take any ferry back to the city, available every half hour or so.
- Bring a camera and a coat for the chilly but beautiful ferry rides.
- You'll find a few snacks offered on the ferry and water available on the island.
- The walk to the prison from the ferry dock is steep and hilly; an electric shuttle departs from the dock twice an hour for visitors requiring assistance. While wheelchairs are not provided or loaned at the prison, the cellhouse does have elevators.
All Alcatraz island tours depart via ferry from Pier 33 near Fisherman's Wharf in San Francisco. There are several parking garages in the area with rates from $25 to $50 per day, but prices typically double during special events, so consider taking public transportation. Multiple Muni lines run through the area, including the F-Line trolley. To arrive in style, consider booking a Viator VIP experience aboard an exclusive cable car.
When to Get to Alcatraz
Tours & Tickets
Big Bus San Francisco Sightseeing and Alcatraz Combo
See all of San Francisco's top attractions with this special Big Bus hop-on hop-off tour and combo package. Create your own sightseeing itinerary, hopping on ... Read more
Location: San Francisco, California
Duration: 1 day (approx.)
3-for-1 Pass: Alcatraz, The San Francisco Dungeon and Madame Tussauds
Madame Tussauds, San Francisco Dungeon, and Alcatraz are three of San Francisco’s most intriguing attractions. On this exciting combo tour, you’ll have the ... Read more
Location: San Francisco, California
Duration: 3 hours (approx.)
San Francisco Combo: Ferry Building Food Tour and Alcatraz
The historic Ferry Building and Alcatraz are two of San Francisco's most prolific attractions. On this not-to-be missed combo tour, you get to see them both in ... Read more
Location: San Francisco, California
Duration: 60 minutes (approx.)
Alcatraz and San Francisco Bay Adventure Sightseeing Cruise
Enjoy two separate adventures on San Francisco Bay with this combo experience that includes an Alcatraz tour inside the world famous prison and a Adventure ... Read more
Location: San Francisco, California
Duration: 90 minutes (approx.)
San Francisco Helicopter and Alcatraz Tour
See the best of San Francisco by combining a helicopter flight above the spectacular cityscape with a tour of one of its top landmarks. Spend up to 20 minutes ... Read more
Location: San Francisco, California
Duration: Flexible
The Ultimate Day Trip: Alcatraz & Wine Country
Enjoy two of the Bay Area’s top attractions on this full-day tour that combines beautiful scenery and fascinating history. Spend the morning in Sonoma Valley, ... Read more
Location: San Francisco, California
Duration: 10 hours (approx.)
Jail and Sail: Alcatraz Tour and Twilight Bay Cruise
Explore the best of San Francisco Bay on this great-value Alcatraz and sunset cruise combo in the summer months or hop aboard the twilight cruise in the winder ... Read more
Location: San Francisco, California
Duration: 6 hours (approx.)
Alcatraz Admission and Small-Group Craft Brews and Bike Tour in San Francisco
Capture highlights of San Francisco on a full-day tour that combines admission to Alcatraz with San Francisco’s Original Craft Brewery Bicycle tour through ... Read more
Location: San Francisco, California
Duration: 8 hours (approx.)
Walk On/Off Flexible San Francisco Tour Pass (8 Walking Tours) With Alcatraz Option
San Francisco has so much diversity, from the ethnic communities of Chinatown, North Beach and the Mission (where you can get the best food), to historic ... Read more
Location: San Francisco, California
Duration: 1 to 11 hrs
San Francisco Combo: Alcatraz and City Segway Tour
Explore Alcatraz and take a city Segway tour to see top San Francisco attractions such as the Golden Gate Bridge, Coit Tower, and Fisherman’s Wharf on this ... Read more
Location: San Francisco, California
Duration: 5 hours (approx.)
