Alcatraz Cruises in San Francisco, CA

Alcatraz CruisesPier 33, Alcatraz LandingSan Francisco, CA 94111
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Overview

Walk the legendary halls of Alcatraz, where notorious criminals including Al “Scarface” Capone, and “Birdman” Robert Stroud once did time for their iconic crimes. See how inmates lived day-to-day in the mysterious prison while learning about famous escape attempts, the prison’s history, and the backstories of the criminals who called Alcatraz home.

up to 2.5 hrs 1 or more people

Good To Know

  • Plan to stay 2.5–3 hours.
  • Tours depart at Pier 33, Alcatraz Landing; look for the large "Alcatraz Landing" sign at the entrance to the pier.
  • Plan on arriving at Pier 33 at least 30 minutes prior to your departure time.
  • Government photo IDs are required.
  • Only bottled water is allowed beyond the dock on the island.
  • Wear comfortable, rubber-soled athletic shoes and dress in layers.
  • Weather changes quickly on Alcatraz—a light jacket or sweater, brimmed hat, sunglasses and pants are all recommended.
  • Backpacks, handbags, parcels, and packages are subject to security searches at any time.
  • Minors under the age of 18 must be accompanied by an adult age 21 years or older.

Description

Step back in time during a visit to San Francisco's most notorious site: Alcatraz! Now is your chance to explore Alcatraz Island and visit the world-renowned Cellhouse without the usual crowds.

Face coverings are strongly recommended throughout your experience. Please plan on a 3-hour Alcatraz Island tour experience, including roundtrip boat time.

Visitors will be able to explore the windswept island and learn about its layered history through outdoor interpretive signs, a Discovery Guide island map, and exhibits. Rangers will be stationed around the island to assist visitors and answer questions.

Your trip includes round-trip ferry service to Alcatraz Island.

Come experience the beauty, history and infamy of Alcatraz on the San Francisco Bay. You'll be astounded by what you learn and see.

Please Note: Government Issued Photo ID are REQUIRED for ALL Adults (18+ yrs) to pick up tickets.

Alcatraz Cruises Reviews

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SuzanneMalarae
Helena, Montana
"One of the best reasons to visit SF"
TripAdvisor user rating 4.0 out of 5
Reviewed May 18, 2025 NEW
Alcatraz is a must visit. The audio tour was very informational and entertaining. It is a hard walk up and down. But they do offer a courtesy shuttle for mobility challenged folks. Dan was wonderful,h he was very helpful. Gave a 4 star because it was very busy which is to be expected, but maybe they need to look at limited how many people are on the island at a time. Its hard to be able to see most of it because you are always waiting g on someone.
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tinylass
Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England
"Well organised"
TripAdvisor user rating 5.0 out of 5
Reviewed May 16, 2025 NEW
We booked a 10.30am ferry and were there about an hour before. It was busy but queue's moved fast and there was good organisation. Toilets were available before you boarded the ferry, as well as on the ferry. There was also a bar onboard selling drinks and snacks. The trip took about 20 minutes and you got great views across the Bay.
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jla113
"Great tour at night and in person talk was really interesting"
TripAdvisor user rating 5.0 out of 5
Reviewed May 15, 2025 NEW
We opted for the evening tour and as we had arrived slightly early for our boat we were allowed on the earlier one. Once on the island we were directed up to the prison and listed to a taped guide which was great as you could go at your sun speed. Once finished we then joined an optional talk from A guide which was about 2 of the es ape attempts. The guide was excellent in his descriptions pointing out the actual places and bringing them to life. It was dark and spooky when we left. A real highlight of our holiday
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ken_murray1975
Alnwick, Northumberland, England
"Has to be done when in San Francisco"
TripAdvisor user rating 5.0 out of 5
Reviewed May 08, 2025 NEW
This is a must do excursion when visiting San Francisco. We booked through the official website and this was an easy process before we landed in the US, was also the best priced site that I found. QR code was emailed direct so no need to queue when we arrived. Boarded the ferry and had a relaxed trip over being able to see the SF skyline and approach to Alcatraz. On arrival we had a presentation from the park rangers and made our way up to the cell house. So many opportunities to get photos to remember the trip. The audio tour is very good, gives an in depth insight into the living conditions and regime with the prison for inmates and guards. We also visited the exhibit detailing the Indian occupation which I knew nothing about so is very much worth seeing. Plenty of time to wander around at your own pace after the audio tour and see the gardens and wildlife. The gift shop is reasonably priced and plenty of things to purchase to remember your visit. Even got a book signed by a former inmate, William Baker (AZ1259) Occasional presentations by rangers/guests giving more in depth knowledge of the islands history, although timing for these aren’t advertised in advance (that I saw) so we missed some. All in all, an outstanding trip and really pleased we did.
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bunneeinoc
Orange County, California
"No customer service"
TripAdvisor user rating 1.0 out of 5
Reviewed April 26, 2025 NEW
We were in queue to buy tickets and had option to pay on our phone and through the ticket booth. I asked the lady at ticket booth if I should pay here or on our phone and she said “up to you” and I literally side step to pay on my phone but their website wasn’t working so I tried to ask the booth ladies for help but apparently lost my spot in line and was rudely told by both very ticket sellers that I couldn’t “cut in line” and told to go back the end of a long line. How is it” cutting “ if I literally stepped aside to pay and encounter a problem on their website ? Telling me to go way to the back of line is terrible and poor customer service . There was also no need to be rude or have an attitude with a customer either . The correct approach would be to help your customers out instead of rudely dismissing your customers and stating “ what don’t you understand —she told you to go back to the end of the line ?” These kind of statements are rude aggressive and humiliating to a customer . I was in line and never left the line and needed help because city cruises website wasn’t working and instead of helping they scolded me and literally said to me “go figure it out .” Just wow. If that isn’t terrible customer service , I don’t know what is.
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Frequently Asked Questions about Alcatraz Cruises

How long is the experience?

Allow about 3 hours for the entire experience including sailing to and from the island.

What should I wear?

The weather on Alcatraz is unpredictable and liable to change unexpectedly, so be prepared by bringing along a light jacket or sweater. The best recommendation is always to dress in layers. Wear rain gear during wet winter months. Wear comfortable walking shoes with grip-type soles. Avoid wearing sandals, leather-soled shoes, high heels and open-toe shoes.

Is Alcatraz Island accessible?

Much of Alcatraz is steep and hilly, so be prepared for walking long distances uphill. The distance from the dock to the prison at the top of the island is about 1/4 mile and the elevation change is 130 feet. This is equivalent to climbing a 13-story building. Please be prepared for this walk by wearing comfortable walking shoes. Visitors unable to make the climb up Alcatraz's roads may take advantage of SEAT–Sustainable Easy Access Transport, an electric shuttle that meets each scheduled arrival at the Alcatraz dock and transports visitors requiring mobility assistance from the dock to the prison building. SEAT returns visitors requiring mobility assistance from the prison building back to the dock at regular intervals throughout the day. Visitors requiring mobility assistance may be accompanied by one attendant in their party if space is available. Families with small children and strollers cannot be accommodated on SEAT. Seating is on a first come, first serve basis. The following areas are entirely wheelchair accessible: - Alcatraz dock area - Prison building main floor - All bookstores - Museum displays - Island theater - Pier 33 Alcatraz Landing - All Alcatraz Cruises vessels

Is parking available?

There is no parking on Pier 33. However, there is plenty of parking around the pier. There are fifteen commercial lots with a five-block radius of Alcatraz Landing at Pier 33, with a total of more than 3,000 parking spaces. The closest and most convenient lot is at 80 Francisco at Kearny, just one block away, across the Embarcadero from Alcatraz Landing. Do note that metered parking is available around Fisherman’s Wharf but can be difficult to find and acquire.

Can children participate in the tour?

Yes. However, minors under the age of 18 are not allowed to tour Alcatraz Island without the accompaniment of an adult. An adult must be with them at all times while on their tour of Alcatraz Island.

Can I bring luggage/coolers/oversized backpacks or packages to Alcatraz Island?

No. Luggage, coolers, oversized backpacks or packages are not allowed on Alcatraz Island due to safety concerns. In addition, there are no storage facilities in the Pier 33 area. Alcatraz Cruises does not store luggage for ticketed passengers. Please make arrangements for the storage of luggage and oversized items prior to arriving at Alcatraz Landing. Ticketed passengers arriving at Alcatraz Landing with luggage, coolers, oversized backpacks and packages may not be able to visit Alcatraz Island.

What time do we come back from the Island?

You can stay on Alcatraz Island as long as you like, multiple ferries depart the Island each day. The ride from Alcatraz Island to Pier 33 Alcatraz Landing is approximately 12-15 minutes. Boats are loaded on a first-come-first-serve basis.

What is the best time of year to visit the Island?

To avoid crowds, schedule your visit during the first two weeks of November, the first two weeks of December, and anytime during the winter months of January through March. To experience the nicest weather, plan your Alcatraz visit for April-May or September-October. (Surprisingly, summer actually brings cold and foggy weather to San Francisco and the Island.)