Main Cell House
Viewed from the path from the warf

 

 

The Warden's Garden
Originally maintained by inmates and now by volunteers.

The Warf Guard Tower
View from the path to the main cell block
 
 
    

Alcatraz Day Tour

 
Adults
Children
(5 to 11)
Seniors
(62+)
Your Cost
$36.00
$26.00
$34.50
Note: Children under 5 are free

      

 

About This Tour

Alcatraz Day Tour

The Alcatraz Day Tour is comprised of a round trip ferry ride to the island, a self-guided walking tour of the prison grounds, and an award winning audio tour of the cellblock portion of the prison.

Alcatraz is San Francisco's most popular tourist attraction with over 1 million visitors per year. In 1775, the Spanish explorer Juan Manuel De Ayala was the first to sail into what is now known as San Francisco Bay, naming one of the three islands Alcatraces, which has become anglicized to Alcatraz.

A presidential order in 1850 first set aside Alcatraz as a US military reservation and the US Army constructed a fortress there in the early 1850s. In 1933 the island was put under the control of the Federal Bureau of Prisons, as a maximum-security, minimum-privilege penitentiary to house the most incorrigible inmates in the Federal Prison System.

Following a 15-minute ferry ride to the island, a park ranger meets arriving visitors and provides a brief orientation, and then you are free to explore the prison grounds and cellblock at your own pace.

Leaving the ferry landing area, you begin the climb on the old service road to the cellblock, stopping along the way to view the exhibits and enjoy the views.

There is a free tram running between the ferry landing and cellblock house provided for those with physical disabilities. The ferryboats and the island facilities accommodate wheelchairs, baby carriages, etc. and are compliant with Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requirements.


The entrance to the cell house at the top of the island is on the east side and is reached by a short flight of stairs or a wheelchair friendly ramp. It is here that you pick up the audio phones for the award winning audio tour of the cellblock house.

After the audio tour you can wander about the island at your own pace, enjoying fantastic views of the Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco, Angel Island, and the often heavy recreational and commercial boat traffic on the Bay.

Most people spend about 1 ½ to 2 hours on the island, making the total tour time about 2 ½ hours.

We provide a booking service for the advance purchase of Alcatraz tickets. The prices shown on this page include a booking fee of $ 10.00 per ticket. The tickets are purchased in your name and you pick them up at the “will call” window on Pier 33, by presenting the credit card the ticket the tickets were purchased with and a matching photo ID.

We maintain a listing of available time slots and update the inventory daily (hourly during busy periods), but we cannot guarantee that the time you select as your preferred departure time will always be available. We encourage you to select one or more “alternate” departure times, especially during busy summer months and around holidays.

No food or drinks are permitted on Alcatraz. No pets are permitted on Alcatraz. The National Park Service administers Alcatraz Island as part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area (GGNRA).


Alcatraz Day Tour

 
Adults
Children
(5 to 11)
Seniors
(62+)
Your Cost
$36.00
$26.00
$34.50
Note: Children under 5 are free

      

 

Departure Times: 

Day tours depart at 9:30 AM, 10:15 AM and then every ½ hour until 2:15 PM on the winter schedule. The last day tour departs at 4:15 PM on the summer schedule.

Evening tours depart at 4:20 in the winter, 4:20 and 5:10 PM in the spring and fall, and at 6:20 and 7:05 PM in the summer.

Departs From:  

Pier 33 on the Embarcadero – near the corner of Embarcadero and Sansome on the “F” Trolley car line.

Duration: 2 to 2-1/2hours including roundtrip ferry.

Ferries return from Alcatraz Island approximately every 1/2 hour. While you may stay on the island as long as you wish, most people spend about 2 hours on the Island. The ferry trip takes about 15 minutes each way.

Includes Hotel Pickup:     No

Tour Includes Meals:   No

Operates:    

All year, every day except major holidays such as Christmas and New Years days.

Dress:

Casual. Alcatraz tends to be foggy in the morning and warmer in the afternoon. Wear layered clothing.

About the tour operator:

Tickets for this tour are booked with the National Park Service's authorized concessionaire. A $10 per ticket booking fee is included in the prices shown on this page.

Cancellation Policy:

All sales are final. No refunds, exchanges, changes, or cancellations.


Tickets & Confirmation:

Immediately after submitting your ticket order, your receipt will be displayed on screen. The receipt will contain the tour operator's contact information and your order number.  Within 24 hours you will receive an email with your confirmation (Order ID) number.

You can also retrieve your order Confirmation and Order Status by clicking on the Confirmation/Status link on Alcatraz trips homepage and entering your order number. You must present the credit card used to purchase the tickets and a matching photo ID to the tour operator when you pick up the tickets at the “will call window” on Pier 33, one hour prior to departure.

 

 

 

 

 
 
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