Alcatraz Island Reviews

As often, what I saw did not correspond to the image I had made of it, Despite everything, it remains a must visit when we are in San Francisco. The visit is quite short after the 15 minutes boat. Audio guides in French are very practical. One discovers in particular the famous block D for the hardest prisoners, with very small cells. And we also find people who have been locked up for really minor crimes. This tour is to be booked in advance if you want to pay the lowest price $45 otherwise it will cost you at least double by an agency. Another important point: take vest or sweatshirt even if it is hot when leaving because on the water and on the island it can be really cold (wind and fog).

Visited at the beginning of September. Prebooked the tickets 3 months prior.

Arrived a bit earlier than our booked time, we were ushered straight into the queue for boarding the boat. It's a very organised operation.

You'll get welcomed on the dock and then left to roam. I suggest you bring a dollar for a leaflet from the machine. The flies are a minor irritation (maybe bring something to waft around your face). The birds are to be avoided!

We had great weather so although we took layers, they weren't necessary. It takes at least a couple of hours wandering around and taking photos so take water!

The audio tour of the cells was fascinating. I feel that things like the wardens office could have been staged better and maybe more interactivity somehow to really engage with the history of Alcatraz. On saying that we had a great time and would recommend it.

Visiting Alcatraz was an amazing experience! The boat ride to the island had beautiful views of San Francisco and the Golden Gate Bridge. The prison tour was very interesting — I really enjoyed the audio guide. It helped bring history to life! I learned so much without feeling rushed or pressured. The staff were kind and made everything so easy, both at the dock and on-site.
When I stepped into the jail cells, the moment felt so surreal — like walking into a forgotten chapter of history. The echo of the wind, the cold air, and the view of the city across the bay created a deep emotional contrast. I couldn’t help but wonder how the prisoners must have felt being so close to freedom, yet completely cut off from it. It made me reflect on their daily lives, thoughts, and struggles.
I took the day tour, which was perfect for families and first-time visitors. The views of the Alcatraz ruins, seagulls, and the San Francisco skyline made the trip even better.
I give it 5 stars because access was easy, crowds were small, and the audio tour helped me get the most out of this historic site. Personally, I definitely recommend it!

Perhaps the best experience of our 15 days on the California coast. After having bought your tickets on the only booking site, meet 30 min before at Pier 39 where you will discover a model of the island waiting for your departure (15 min drive - put yourself on the left of the boat). On site, you will be given an audio guide after a small ascent of a few hundred meters. This will immerse you in the prison as experienced by the prisoners (narrators). Finally, you can linger on the island and take a few pictures. there are returns every 30 min or so so so so take your time and if you are lucky you can even meet a former prisoner, turned author, at the signing shop.

The fame and the history of Alcatraz make it a must do if you go to San Francisco. Unfortunately it appears that all of the money raked in from so many visitors is either being spent elsewhere or just wasted. If nothing is done to protect the island soon it will just become a crumbled ruin covered in bird poop. Whoever is responsible for Alcatraz please take some pride in your history and preserve it for future generations. Go to Port Arthur in Tasmania for inspiration if you need, it is a similar site but so well maintained

Shop around for tickets as some on line places are expensive or call at ticket booth. Short ferry ride across the harbour with good views of Golden Gate and Bay bridges. Be aware from the dock to the prison is like walking up 13 stories, but well worth it when you get there. The audio tour is very good and then you can wander the prison. Some fantastic views of the Bay area from the island. Pay attention to return ferry times.

I recently visited Alcatraz Island in San Francisco, and it was an amazing experience! The ferry ride over was very enjoyable, offering beautiful views of the bay and the city skyline Once on the island the attractions were fascinating especially the small prison cells. The history of the place is both eerie and intriguing and walking through the corridors gave me a real sense of what it must have been like for the inmates. There is also a nice view of San Francisco City from the island. I highly recommend a visit to Alcatraz for anyone in the area It's a unique and educational experience that you won't forget!

The self guided tour was awesome, so many interesting stories shared. It was awesome to experience the cells and see how the prisoners slept are and spent their little amount of dress time. A great experience for a bit of history or to scare your kids into behaving and not wanting to go to prison 🤣🤣

Fantastic tour!

While traveling for work, I booked a tour to visit Alcatraz Island through City Experiences for about $45.

Arriving 30 minutes early, there was a short 15-minute wait before boarding the ferry, which departed on time. The boat ride to the island took around 10 minutes.

Upon arrival, a park ranger welcomed us and explained the rules.

The tour itself was self-guided, both outside and inside the prison, with the aid of headphones. Initially, I considered skipping the headphones but decided to use them since I had hand sanitizer. I'm glad I did, as the audio guide provided a wealth of information.

I may have missed it, but I don't recall hearing about Al Capone’s cell.

To see everything, plan for about 2-3 hours.

Overall, the experience was well worth it!

Our visit to Alcatraz was an unforgettable experience and a true highlight of our latest Vancity Adventure. Exploring the historic prison with my son brought history to life in such a powerful way. The audio tour was incredibly well done—walking through the actual cells while hearing the stories of the inmates and guards was both eerie and fascinating.

The ferry ride offered stunning views of San Francisco and really set the tone for the experience. Alcatraz is a must-visit for anyone who loves history, mystery, or just a unique family adventure. Another incredible stop on our journey together!

Follow more of our father-son travels at Vancity Adventure — where every trip has a story.

Windy! Dress in layers. Expect lots of walking, especially up-hill. Spend the extra money and do the guided night tour. Tour guides were very informative and encouraged those to ask questions. Bathrooms are available on the island. Bucket list item checked off!

The boat ride to the island was calm and easy. Snacks are available on board. There was much more to see than I had expected. We did the audio tour which as very informative. Lots to learn and see. There is a long hill to walk up. One person in our group couldn't make the climb so the staff took her up in a golf cart.

Originally booked the night tour on October 3rd. Just got over to the island and started the tour when we were informed that the lights were not working and we had to leave immediately. No time to grab any pictures even though it was still light outside. No explanation given as to what the next steps were. Upon arrival back at the dock there was still no further instructions on what to do to recoup the $225 we were out. We rebooked for the next day on a day tour figuring that even if the lights issue wasn’t resolved we could still see the island before we left for home. On the 4th we headed down to the pier a couple hours early and just as we arrived we received notification that our tour was again cancelled. No reason given. We called the tour company and the girl who answered only advised that the earliest tour available was now October 8th. They didn’t hold any tickets back for those that were already booked and were not able to help those that already had tickets. Extremely disappointed in the with Alcatraz City Cruises handled this situation and the lack of support given!!!!

It was on our bucket list . Definitely didn't disappoint was a spectacular experience well worth it. Was fascinating walking around and having an insight into what life must have been like there. A special bonus meeting an ex in mate . Something we will never ever forget.

Must do when you visit San Fransisco!

Good:
-Pleasant ride between Pier 33 and Island. Beautiful views!
-Stand-alone experience, just like visiting any popular yet essential tourist spot!
-Recommended to have a tour guide to understand more about the island, helps to understand the contextual history of the prison and prison stories.
-It can easily consume 3-4 hours of your day with an average walking speed.
-Recommended to buy tickets in advance to avoid long queues. Do not recommend to visit this place during weekends.

Booked this well ahead of our visit as I had heard of people who couldn't get there. We went with City Cruises. Their information leading up to the day were very good and it was easy to get through security with our mobile tickets.
What they didn't tell you about was....the FLIES. As soon as we stepped into Pier 33 area, we were bombarded by lots of flies. They had kindly left some paper fans out to help swat them away.
We arrived early and the security guy let us through but his instructions were a bit vague (wait there until its time to go!) We sat being bombarded, watching people queue not really sure what we should be doing. I found another security guard, who was lovely & explained what we needed to do & where we needed to wait. So thank you!
When we got on the boat to cross to Alcatraz, the flies did not vanish and you could see the public were struggling while the crew were wearing nets on their hats/heads to cover their faces.
Once on the island we were herded together & given instructions...we decided to join a ranger talk, which was quite interesting...apart from the irritating flies. None of the staff/rangers explained the 'fly situation'. However a visitor told us, she'd heard it happens for 2 months of the year (yes typical we were there for this!) it's when the birds leave their nests & the island, the nests rot which attracts the flies!
Going round the former prison was fascinating. There was an audio tour - no need to pay extra for one its included, which led you through the buildings and explained some of the notorious inmates held there. I really liked the realistic sounds on the audio of doors slamming, the fights, the noises etc. We explored some of the outdoor areas after the indoor part, although there was a lovely sea mist forming later in the afternoon which not only made it very eerie & atmospheric it made it difficult to see things so we headed back & joined the long queue for the boat back.

As soon as we got off the boat & out of Pier 33...the flies all disappeared!

Definitely a must see thing if you are in SF!

Nice hike to America's most famous prison. The tour could be better organized and in some places we found it a bit chaotic.
For the rest it is an experience we would recommend

Alcatraz is the mandatory visit during a stay in San Francisco so you must comply with the rules!
Everything is very well organized. Audio guide on arrival (you do not have to listen to the ranger s speech especially if you are not bilingual, go directly to the right climb.
And c is the second surprise: it's climbing. And it's going up. For the elderly or disabled there is a cart system. For the others prepare your calves.
Once you get to the top you are given audio guides. It's pretty good and it allows you to understand what you're visiting. They are included in the price of the activity and are in multilingual.
The first surprise was the presence of flies. But flies by the thousands! They're sticky and they don't let you go. Honestly it ruined a good part of our visit (not in the prison but from the boarding platform).
Finally the pinnacle was the flies by the hundred thousand forming almost a carpet underfoot and the absolutely repugnant smell of bird droppings in the walkway.

In conclusion, the tour itself is very good but it is spoiled by the natural elements that unfortunately the organizers cannot control.

The price for him is a bit excessive in my opinion. About $30 would have been more justified.

15/20 minutes by boat to reach Alcatraz Island. From the moment we arrive, we are immersed in the past.
A magical mythical place.
The tour starts with a videophone.
We discover the cells, the kitchens, the outdoor courtyard. A beautiful morning

The tour of the presidium makes us reflect on the feelings of the man who stepped as a prisoner on the island. The place also has some original items that sharpen the interest and imagination of the visitor. Guided by individual audio in the chosen language.

Maybe I’d just built up too much excitement to visit Alcatraz before coming to see it. They give you headphones so you can take an audio tour at your own pace. It just felt dull. Not much to see. I felt like not enough emphasis was placed on the prisoners that were housed there. They needed more information on people, more “mock ups” of what life was like for the players, and just more enthusiasm in general. Very impersonal without a guide taking you around and not worth spending extra to be a VIP. Plenty of souvenirs for you to remember your trip though so there’s that…

Excellently managed the visit to Alcatraz, from the queue to the ship.
Useful and fun audio guide that makes you spend the time of the visit to the prison in a flash.
Nice to also go around the whole island

I really enjoyed this tour. This was one of the highlights of our trip, lots of history. Headsets provided helped to explain the history.

Who has never heard of this place where many criminals served their sentences in terrible conditions until 1963.
The tour is very well done with audiograms. It remains a must when you come to San Francisco

A fabulous behind the scenes tour! Wow what a history, this was a must visit on our PCH road trip! We spent hours on the rock taking it all in & our guide was very informative.
Very windy, wrap up warm - the fog belt known as Karl is not far away!

We did the Alcatraz tour thru Alcatraz city cruises. We did the evening one. We were surprised of how many people were at one tour but was moving along. You do get an audio headset f your preferred language. My wife's stopped working 5min in the tour but informed one of the staff and was replaced for her asap. I think I would prefer a tour with an actual guide but that would be impossible with the amount of people on each tour. My wife said she was getting weird vibes and wasn't crazy about it but I think it's really worth it based of the history of Alcatraz. The tour is specifically based on the jail portion only and not the rest of the history of the island.

We booked our Alcatraz tour online through City Cruises and the process was easy. The ferry ride from San Francisco to the island was quick. The boat was clean and spacious. One thing to be aware of is that there were a lot of flies at the marina before boarding the ferry and again even more around the water near the prison. It was very unpleasant in those areas. At times I wanted to puke. And nobody working at the pier or the island even acknowledged this. It was awful! It became much better once we were inside the prison. Once we arrived at the island there was a decent uphill walk from the dock to the prison. The self guided audio tour which is included with your ticket was nice. I think I prefer this to an actual tour guide in some situations and this was one of them. It offered a basic but interesting overview of the prison’s history and some of its more infamous inmates. The narration was informative but it didn’t go super in-depth. While we were there, a former prison guard was speaking to visitors and signing copies of his book. I’m not sure how often he is there but I think it is often. While outside the prison the island offers a beautiful view bay & surrounding area. You can spend as much or as little time on the island as you would like. I believe we spent approx 3 hours from arrival at the pier for check in to exiting the ferry after our island departure. Alcatraz is worth a visit if you're in San Francisco. It’s not the most detailed historical tour, but it’s a unique and memorable stop with some great photo ops and a fascinating backstory.

Amazing! Loved the audio tour. Lots of people, but so worth it.

I’d suggest going earlier in the morning and be sure you get in line well before your time as lots and lots of people filter in.

I wish there was a little bit more clarification regarding the angel island and Alcatraz tour as one person told me one line then another told me another line.

I almost missed the ferry!

Highly suggest this historic site even if we struggle with walking. There is a tram that can take you up, and plenty of sitting areas.

Highly educational and a piece every American should experience.

I wore pants all day and was a little warm and sweaty at times, but if you are going to Angel Island—wear pants for sure and bring plenty of warm clothing. It’s rather cold!

We booked with Viator. Extremely well organised trip … from ferry ride to audio guides. The tour is self led whilst wearing earphones provided. It’s very clear and easy to understand /use so you don’t get lost or move along too quickly. Just enough information to keep you interested (& teens!). It’s great in Alcatraz how you can walk into the cells and get a really good feel for what the guide is explaining. Really enjoyed the tour/trip!

A fantastic visit, it is advisable to take the audio guide to not miss detail, a very interesting visit!! Cells and corridors transport you back to that time!!

Wow, what a place to visit. You'll need a certain level of fitness to walk up the hills of the rock to get to the main prison. It's a really interesting place and definitely worth seeing. The staff are friendly and helpful. The boat trip over is great, we saw seals and pelicans and you can feel the impending atmosphere of Alcatraz as you approach. Spend time there, you won't regret it and if you go as far as the lighthouse, sit a while, enjoy the view.

We used a booking service recommended by Trip advisor it was a rip off. DO NOT USE A THIRD PARTY booking agent. Go straight to the ticket office. We were ripped off paying twice as much

Great few hrs, ferry from piers 33, 30 minute crossing. You arrive at the port, greated by a National park rep, quick do,s and don't. The prison is up on the top, walk if you can as you see all of the sights and other buildings. If you can't, there is a free ride to the top. The audio tour of the prison is fantastic, walks you through all of the main areas. Gift shop at the end, well worth a visit.

Totally underwhelmed by our visit, most of the island was ‘closed for your safety’ and under construction. The areas that were open were fine but there was a lack of facilities, rest rooms had queues and generally the place needs a makeover for the admission fees they charge. It was good to be out on the ferry for the views.

Have visited before with my family but this was the first time with our kids. We had a great trip. We booked beforehand and the ferry ride over was great with plenty of space and a snack bar. When we got on the island we opted to do the audio tour. We loved it and had plenty of time to wander and soak it all in. Any staff we encountered were nice. Lovely to see it still getting lots of people visiting.

This was my second time visiting the island. This time, I took the adult kids and we did an evening tour. The special talks given by the park rangers and the added eeriness of a nighttime visit was excellent. The audio tour is a great feature.

Bucket List place to visit so wanted to do it in style, only 30 others on the ferry over for the tour. Tour guide was fantastic, so knowledgeable and gave us all time to ask questions. Well worth the cost to be in a small group for 2 hours and to see things that are off limits on any other tour of the Island. The night time tour is included afterwards but was nothing in comparison to this tour.

Several factors have resulted in this rating. I had booked the Alcatraz Night Tour for Saturday, October 5 over a month before. At 8:30 am Saturday morning I was notified that the tour was cancelled and we were changed to the Bay Tour or could contact them to discuss a refund. I wanted a refund. Except I was on hold for 45 min and had to leave for other activities so hung up. Same thing the next day. The next available Night Tour was the Tuesday night but we were flying home Tuesday morning. I decided to book the day tour on the Monday and worry about a refund later. When we showed up for the tour time on Monday I went to the ticket window and the lady there was extremely helpful and able to refund the cancelled tour immediately. Do this!! Do not attempt to make contact via telephone you will never talk to someone in person - go to the pier and talk to the ticket agent there. The refund was back in my account the following day.

As for the tour, having taken the Night Tour on a previous trip I was disappointed in the day tour. While the audio is fantastic with stories told from inmate and guard point of view, it is much more crowded. There were extra demonstrations with the night tour and more information about Alcatraz Island provided. You were also able to see the area in daylight and in the dark which gave a different ‘spooky’ feel. I would recommend the Night Tour over the Day Tour if given the choice.

We enjoyed our trip to Alcatraz Island. The prison museum is very interesting and quite fascinating to see as you walk around and listen to the very well put together commentary. It's a pretty island, with lots of lovely views and some attractive plants growing there. Lots of birds nesting there - again part of the island's history. The museum's gift shop on the island is really large, and quite comprehensive in terms of the stock of different items you can purchase there, including replica prison artefacts, books written by previous inmates and lots of other souvenirs. This really isn't the place to go if it's raining, because once you've seen the prison there is still lots of the island to see, but it's all outside and won't be anywhere nearly as pretty in the rain. The ferry crossing from Pier 33 takes around 15-20 minutes. I would suggest that you get your tickets and avoid going in a group - it's much nicer to just please yourself on the island. A visit to see all there is to see would definitely take no longer than 3 hours maximum.

Even if it's cliché, you should do it. We did it and we don't regret it. Make sure to reserve tickets early. The lady at the boat did not want to let us and others on our booked boat anymore, even though we arrived in time. Since friendly but emphatically ask again in case the same happens to you. The tour comes with an audio guide, possible in various languages. We thought that was very well done. In particular, the background noise sometimes made you wander mentally as if you were actually in the prison life of those days. That the whole thing is also distressing and oppressive should be aware beforehand. Those who have difficulties with it or cannot tolerate large crowds should consider the excursion. Clear recommendation for everyone else.

Such a wonderful experience, great audio tour - usually audio tours are lame but this one really hits the mark, and keeps everyone else quiet so you can enjoy the experience

Went with my two teen daughters. We all loved it! The audio tour inside the prison was fantastic! Not too busy IMO... better weather this time of year too... not having to deal with the notorious summer fog.

Very interesting piece of history to visit. Short ferry ride. Brief talk before you head up on your own. The walk up is no joke. Wear good shoes. Go at your own pace. Audio tour is very interesting. Views are spectacular. Walk around the prison and look at the gardens. Give yourself the 3 hours recommended.

I had the bad luck to sprain my ankle the day before my visit to Alkatraz and I almost canceled but I'm really glad that I didn't.
There was transportation for those with mobility issues ( not for those with strollers) up to the top and a elevator for the last portion.
The tour itself is on flat surfaces and has some benches to rest on the way.
The staff was very polite and helpful.
As for Alkatraz itself, it is 100% worth seeing if you have any interest in history and the free audio guide was informative.

We had a fantastic trip out to alcatraz which was made even better because the ONLY surviving ex inmate "William Baker" was there signing his book. I asked him "how does it feel being back in alcatraz"
Loved his answer " I'm free and I'm making a ton of money"
You can spend as long as you like there. We saw everything, took our time and on the island for about 3 hrs.
Great experience

It is touristic but do not miss the visit of Alcatraz. Great audio tour that explains everything in detail and is very well done. You will see the cells and the very very difficult living conditions in this prison out of time

- Best experience ever!
- The boat ride over was a bit wet (they are open boats so the rain wets the seats on the decks)
- your boat is met at the dock by a ranger who will give you all the information you need to enjoy the island
- The walk around the Island is all uphill (45% roads) but they have a small cart to take those unable to walk up
- No food or drink allowed on the island - apart from water
- The audio tape for the actual prison part is awesome! They have all the sounds that make you feel like you were there as an inmate.
- They have a gift shop at the end - with an author signing books
- Boats back to the mainland are very regular
- Allow at least 2 hours

Interesting trip when you're in San Francisco. We had bought tickets in advance, but that doesn’t seem necessary, a lot of people go on a boat, and a boat goes pretty much every half hour. The queue seems long, but it's so resolved.
After fifteen minutes of sailing you arrive, and you can walk freely on the island. There is no catering, and you are not allowed to eat and drink on the street, so make sure you have eaten and drunk enough before going there (you can buy food and drinks on the boat).
After walking around on top of the island, with a nice view of the city, it is best to take an audio tour (free of charge). There you will be told about life in Alcatraz based on stories of guards and former prisoners. Boat back and forth takes about 3 hours.

Head to Pier 33 to purchase your tickets for the ferry ⛴️ to Alcatraz island. Adults are about $47. Well worth the price if you have never experienced this nation park. Educational and interesting self guided audio tour. You will be walking up some steep inclines. Very breezy so bring a jacket.

The boarding on the boat is very well organized
The crossing is fast and gives a beautiful view of San Francisco
Audio guide allows a rewarding visit
You should not hesitate to cut it to enjoy the views
The shop at the end of the visit is huge and we have a hard time not buying anything
The night visit allows a beautiful night view on the return.
Just a pity that the whole island and prison is not accessible
Hopefully one day it will be possible

Actually went in 2022 (couldn't scroll back that much). Alcatraz is truly exceptional, and if you are in San Francisco I highly recommend this. One thing I regret is not finding out more about the escape from alcatraz. It made my visit there less interesting. You can always read the signs, but I'm not that kind of person.

I am still in the line waiting to board the ferry, even though I booked for 11:30am.

We got here at 10am and were told to come back for 11:15. We came back at 11am (30 mins before boarding time), like the email suggested.

We waited for the sign to appear for our time slot and then got into the queue! We watched all the people before us board the boat, as we waited patiently!

We are still waiting … it’s 11:45!

Question: what is the point of booking a time slot if you don’t prioritise and board according to time slot?!

We could have stayed and got in line at 10am but we would have taken someone else’s space… and it was discouraged by staff.

As I write this, the boat is pulling into dock for the next lot - that should include us.

I can only hope the rest of the experience is better !

Worth it. The reviews are right. Log on early to buy your tickets in advance. They do sell out. All in all this is worth your time and money.

Went over to Alcatraz on the official ferry. A very interesting place and a must see if you are in San Francisco. The ferry only takes 15 minutes and the prison is incredibly interesting. The island itself is surprisingly attractive.

We participated in the Escape from Alcatraz triathlon and it made sense that after the race we would visit the prison. The visit was somewhat disappointing because there is only one building per se. The audio guide is very good (and available in several languages) but it does not mention the life of the guardians on the rock, on the other buildings present....
This remains a visit not to be missed...we did the last visit, and at sunset, it's magnificent!

Great tour with insight into the prison and life on the island. If you are in San Francisco then this is must visit. Really well organised and you can take your time exploring as there are ferries leaving all day.

The visit to Alcatraz was great, a must-see in San Francisco.

Pros:

Very little waiting thanks to our tickets booked in advance, which made the experience fluid from the start.
The audio guide is fantastic! It tells the story of the prison with poignant testimonies of prisoners and guards, which makes the visit very immersive.
Being able to be inside a cell is a unique and crazy experience, which really gives an idea of what life was like on the island.
The boat trip is well organized and adds a beautiful dimension to the experience, with incredible views of San Francisco Bay.
In short, a fascinating, well-organized and richly historical tour. Don’t miss it if you’re in San Francisco!

I last visited 46 years ago and remember it as a fascinating place- has been updated with great exhibits about Native American sit in and the place of prisons in our society. A must see.

An iconic landmark in SF Bay. Well worth a trip if you are historically interested. Keep om mind that there are a lot og steep climbs and stairs, so bring your best walking shoes.

We did not take an organized tour. Instead I booked it directly with Alcatraz. There was no reason to pay more to have a guide. The taped tour was excellent and the handicap assisted trolley, and ferry were easy to find.

Brilliant tour to the island. Would highly recommend this and worth the visit! Location good to find and boat easy to get on and off and good time at the island

Really interesting visit to Alcatraz. The audio tour is well setup and the views of the island and back to San Fransisco are great from the ferry. We had this tour included in a package with our flights and hotel which included the city bus tour and then dropped off at pier 31 for the ferry. We all really enjoyed the trip to Alcatraz. We felt that maybe some more of the island could be opened up to the public but it might not have been safe to do so.

We were booked onto the 09:20 trip which boarded and set off on time. I don't think the boat was full but there were still plenty of people on board. Once on the island, you're greeted by a Ranger and directed to the self-guided tour headphones, should you wish to use them. On a previous visit, a couple of years ago, we had decided to avoid the tour and just wander around by ourselves - great, but I'd recommend the tour as you get much more information about what you're looking at.
The tour guides you around the jail in a set order with commentary from ex-inmates and ex-guards describing what it was like. Fascinating stuff.
Obviously, the tour ends in the gift shop, which is pretty good. On the day we were there, an ex-inmate was signing copies of his book - very interesting.
Definitely worth ticking off your list.

It's likely that your first impression of Alcatraz Island in San Francisco Bay was via one of Clint Eastwood's movies, 1974 The Enforcer and/or 9179 Escape from Alcatraz. Trust me, it's a whole lot different when you see it up close and personal. This small island, located about 1.25 miles offshore from San Francisco, near the Golden Gate Bridge and the Golden Gate Strait, once was a fort, a military prison and a maximum security federal penitentiary that once held such celebrated and infamous inmates as Al Capone, Robert "Birdman" Stroud, Alvin Karpis, George "Machine Gun" Kelly and Arthur "Doc" Barker. Designated as a National Historic Landmark, it closed on March 21, 1963 after 29 years of operation. Today, it is a national park and one of San Francisco's most popular attractions. It opened to the public in 1973 and attracts more than 1 million visitors annually. Known as "The Rock," its average population was 250 inmates, never reaching its capacity of 336. In fact, it held less than 1 percent of the total federal prison population. During its time, it also served as a Civil War fortress, bird sanctuary, the first lighthouse on the West Coast and the birthplace of the American Indian Red Power movement in 1964 and 1969-1971. Visitors will get a thorough education into the history of Alcatraz by viewing the award-winning audio presentation "Doing Time: The Alcatraz Cellhouse Tour."

Visiting Alcatraz Island was one of the highlights of my trip to San Francisco. The moment you step off the ferry, you can feel the weight of history in the air. The audio tour inside the prison is incredibly well done — hearing real stories from former inmates and guards brings the whole place to life in a powerful, sometimes chilling way.

The experience itself is fantastic. I would recommend anyone going. It’s quite chilling being there, it’s a surreal experience, especially being inside the cells.

Ferry was a well-organized short trip. Helpful map and guidebook were available. The audio tour is exceptional. Excellent exhibits at the end raised good questions about incarceration and solitary confinement. Structure is deteriorating -- would cost to much to restore to use as a prison again!

This was the second time, the first about 10 years ago during the day, while this time in the evening. It doesn't really change much. Audioguide in Italian, the first time there was no in Italian. Always interesting but less exciting. My wife says in English the explanations were longer and more detailed, I don't remember. On the negative side the fact that part of the cells were closed for maintenance, and also some external paths were not accessible.

Even if crowded with a little patience, the visit booked in advance with the boat that moors to the island in a few minutes remains very interesting. The visit is well planned after a short walk to climb into the penitentiary where the audio guide is immediately delivered with the desired language, and walking along the cells is well described the history and events of this infamous place.

Great trip from pier 33. No need to pre book from your cruise operator.
A pleasant trip to the island and the seals were showing off.
On arrival there was a short informative talk and off we went exploring the old prison. You can take the audio tour, or do your own thing. There’s plenty to explore.
Interesting place and was obviously intimidating for the prisoners of the yesteryear.

Our trip was cancelled on the day and we were transferred to the Bay Cruise. It took an hour of holding on the phone to actually talk to someone about this and we are still waiting for the difference in price to be refunded to our account.

experience not to be missed in San Francisco, definitely to be booked in advance, preferably even for a few months.
well-organized trip, just follow the directions received by mail post Reservation and be punctual at the indicated time. Transport is of course by ship and once you arrive at the island, Recommendation first of all to retrieve the audio guides and follow the tour in complete autonomy.
The story is well done (you can choose your own language) at the end you then have the opportunity to explore the different outdoor environments, to finally return to the boarding area. the return time is not binding, so you can stay on the island as much as you want, until the last available ferry.

We took the tour from Pier 33 and the whole trip was amazing. The boarding and seating on the boat were well organised and the boat trip great. The audio tour was excellent as you could take the tour at your own pace. The prison was fascinating and well structured although it was a little busy at times. Worth a visit.

The small prison island of Alcatraz is one of San Francisco’s most famous sights and should not be missed when visiting the city. Even the short ferry crossing offers impressive views of the skyline and the bay, which can be surpassed from the island: In fine weather, the Golden Gate Bridge presents itself in its full length.

A guided tour on the island is not necessary. The free Audiguide (also available in German) provides an exciting insight into the former lives of prisoners and guards. If you would like to find out more, you can find a lot of interesting background information on the official website of the National Park Service.

Less beautiful is the condition of the terrain: Many areas are covered in bird droppings, and the smell is unpleasant in places. The organization of the return trip could also be better - we had to wait around 45 minutes in the sun for the ferry. You should allow about an hour and a half for your stay on the island itself.

History and stories have accompanied this prison for decades and seeing the inside of the penitentiary leaves an impression.
You'd say it's a must of the United States or lyre than for San Francisco.
In the experience

The Alcatraz Tour was amazing, we are so pleased we went. The service was high from start to finish from confirmation emails and online tickets, to the cruise over to the island (efficient and on time), the intro when you arrive on the island and the audio tour is the best I've ever had. Learning about the history was fascinating, especially recordings with inmates and officers. So pleased we did the tour, even our 14 year old daughter loved it.

When visiting San Francisco you should allow some
time to visit Alcatraz. It’s an amazing experience and so much to learn when going around the island.

Stories of ex prisoner’s and escape attempts are just some of the great learning experiences of the island.

With your ticket you get a ferry ride to the island and also back.

Touching experience through visiting cells that for many years housed dangerous criminals
Audio guide also in Italian

This is the best tour I've ever been on! I was a little hesitant at first, since it's an audio tour, but it's so engaging and immersive that I barely noticed. In fact, it actually makes the tour MORE personal, because I don't have to listen to all the random people around me! We went at night, which seemed extra cool, because with the sun setting, the creepy factor was enhanced. It also allowed us entry to parts of the building that aren't always open (like the hospital ward) and a beautiful view of the sunset.

You can't go to San Francisco and not visit Alcatraz. It's a strong and fascinating experience at the same time. It makes you understand the difficulty of life in those places devoid of privacy and very harsh and you understand why he was willing to do anything (even die) to leave that place.

This experience was everything and more. They provide an amazing boat ride to the island, with beautiful views of the bay area. With the Cellhouse Audio Tour, they allow you to roam however long you want and there are so many unique and cool things to see. There are ever changing exhibits, a beautiful gift ship, and experienced and kind rangers on site.

1st time to San Francisco & U.S from Australia and Alcatraz was a must visit we did the self tour with headphones and found it very informative would definitely visit again if we come back.

At first, I thought the price was a bit steep and was concerned about the value proposition of the tour. But I was impressed by the island and the overall experience. I arrived Pier 33 about 1 hour before the time of my booking, but I had no issue getting onto an earlier ferry. I think the overall tour/experience has been thoroughly by other reviewers; so here are some personal tips/observations:
1. The island tends to get windier in the afternoon, so consider an earlier tour if possible if you want a calmer experience
2. If you want to tour the entire island, facilities and the various exhibits, plan to stay at least 2.5 hours on the island.
3. The walk up to the main jailhouse is steeper than it looks - so pace yourself accordingly.
4. There are two bottle filling stations, one by the dock and one by the lighthouse.
5. While you want to get to Pier 33 with time to spare before your sailing to the island, you don't have to be there 30 minutes before (as cautioned/instructed on your ticket)

second visit to Alcatraz after 20 years; fascinating experience again both for me and for those visiting for the first time. Despite the cold and wind you don't want to hurry, the audio guides (free) help you get into the atmosphere and life of the prisoners.

An unforgettable experience visiting Alcatraz. A extremely well presented audio tour is available and is highly recommended, perspectives from both inmates and officers as they guide you through the prison blocks. The demonstration of the cell doors opening and closing is a must see, quite a chilling experience which the tour guide explained excellently.

5/5
Our guides were awesome and he tour was cool beautiful. We were able to go at our own pace and really
See everting they had to offer

Very informative with the self guided tour. The ranger shared so much information that I was unaware of. He was very informative. Lots on walking on a hill so be prepared.

I last went there over 40 years ago when we were shown around by ex prison guards. Our trip this time was just as good because the audio guides were absolutely excellent: interesting stories, history, insight from various perspectives (prisoners, guards, relatives). Very very highly recommended.

Interesting hike that takes about half a day: 90-120 minutes on the island, plus return ferry and queues at boarding. Impressive the path in the central building and the story of the vicissitudes of the prisoners

Must-see hotels in San Francisco
Very well organized tour with staff who manage tourists well.
Fortunately we took the first Ferry and were therefore the first on the island, so no waiting, unlike the next one we could see on the way out. The queue is mostly I think of the entry for the distribution of audio guides.
Thought of taking a small pocket fan or a fan (there are some, available) because the only BIG drawback are the flies! they are different from us, there are a lot because of the cormorants present on the island, so they land all over us. Some guides even have mosquito nets in their faces.
During the visit no fly worries but in the queues outside to take the ferry for example.

We visited Alcatraz end of August.
Amazing ferry across to the island with stunning views of SF.
Alcatraz was amazing. We thoroughly enjoyed walking around and the tour of the cells was brilliant.
Wasn’t a lot of privacy for the inmates and the cells are small. Really enjoyed listening to the commentary whilst walking around.

Whilst we were there one of the inmates William baker who was 92 years old , was there signing his book. We got to speak to him. He signed the book for us. Hubby read it and said it was such a good book and gave you a real in-site to what it would have been like.
We had a great day

The flies were horrid though but the did say it was mating season so they tend to have 1000s of them. Loved seeing the birds on the island but they did smell! Which Proberly encouraged the flies .
Would definitely go back one day and do the night tour

Excellent tour of Alcatraz.
Very hilly but if you take your time you can get round with ease. There is transportation offered for those with any disabilities.
The headset which guided you round the main cell area was excellent, you felt you were there with them. Very chilling experience but very interesting and enjoyable. Wear very warm clothes as the boat ride over and back is so cold and some areas of Alcatraz get high winds that are extremely cold also.
We thoroughly enjoyed our visit to Alcatraz.
The gardens are beautiful and the volunteers are on hand to help make your visit more enjoyable with their expertise and point out the wildlife in particular. Lots of gift shops ok the island and not overly priced. Make sure you bring lunch as there is nowhere to purchase food and snacks and all must be ate at the dock area, no food to be consumed during the actual tour. Water only. Keep warm and enjoy

The Alcatraz behind the scenes/night tour was AMAZING!!!! It was a dream of mine and it did not disappoint. It was made even better that we were there on the anniversary of the 1962 breakout! I was like a kid at Christmas. Our guide was so knowledgeable and personable! Going into the basement solitary cells was chilling.
Seeing the breakout cells was beyond what I thought they would look like. You get this heavy, overwhelming feeling when there. I will definately be back!
**Bring warm clothes...we were not aware how windy and chilly it is on the island

It is reached by boat from Pier 39 Audio guide also in Italian Impressive and interesting place to visit not to be missed

The audio was of excellent quality and was spoken clearly and at a good pace to see everything.
As an Australian I found this part of history very interesting.

Can’t miss destination on any trip to San Francisco. We did an early morning tour to try and avoid crowds, but that came with morning fog which made visibility difficult. That being said, the fog added ambiance to the experience and we didn’t mind it. On the ferry ride back the fog had lifted so we still got great photos of the island!

As a "The Rock" fan, visiting Alcatraz was a must. It was very impressive how a former prisoner told his story.

here there is no other absolute recommendation than ""RESERVE BEFORE" even if you arrive early and go to the box office, they will not sell you tickets, because it is necessary to show your passport, there are no resellers. Better, as soon as you have your airline tickets It's better to book, cross your fingers that it fits into your itinerary

This trip was one of the highlights to San Francisco. We were the first boat out and whilst it was crowded on the boat, once on the island it felt relatively empty. Walking into the cell block with no one around is quite an eerie experience. The audio tour is excellent. Also the souvenir store is fantastic.

Alcatraz has been on our list to visit for a long time! When we finally made it to California we knew we couldn’t leave without visiting. We have toured many jails, prisons and asylums on our travels and enjoy learning the history. The Ferry workers and staff at the island are very helpful and friendly. The audio tour is very well done and easy to follow. I did not however, expect the foul smell from all the birds that have inhabited the island as well as the terrible fly infestation. The flies cover you from the time you get on to the ferry to stepping inside the prison and once again when you step out and make it back to the pier. If it wasn’t for those two things it would have been 5 stars!

We took a ferry ride that was quick (about 15 min). I learned a lot and thought they did a good job telling the story of the island from different perspectives. The island has pretty gardens and lots to see. I would say we were on the island for 2 1/2 hours and that was us walking around the whole island and spending time in the prison.

I really enjoyed our visit here! We had beautiful weather today, though the flies were out in late summer/early fall. It's a bit of a hike up to the top, but the audio tour was very informative. Absolutely gorgeous views of San Francisco!

Was 20+ years between visits. Won’t be that again hopefully. Still a very entertaining and educational experience. A lot of walking, uphill, but nobody was complaining once you’re there. Plan a lot of time to explore the whole island. Still haven’t had a chance to do that!

I love a good prison tour so I was excited about this one being so iconic. I can't urge you enough buy your tickets in advance, they sell to fast. You meet at the ferry that takes you to the island to explore, its a bit of a hike up the hill to the prison, but they have a tram for anyone who has health issue that can't climb. You get a headset for a self guided tour. The info was informative but there were so many people everywhere, it was hard to get close to some signs, navigate around things and in general was just annoying. They sell to many tickets and there are just to many people on the island for it to be truly and enjoyable experience. I would rather pay more for my ticket and have less people. They have alot of areas blocked off so the tour goes quick, we came on the 9:20am ferry and left on the 11:25am Ferry so you will need 2-3 hours max here. Its an iconic must see if you're in the city, but once was enough.

I was in San Francisco with my partner for a few days celebrating our 20 years of being together June 2024. We had pre-booked Alcatraz and booked an early slot. We arrived early and at the pier to board the ferry over there is information about the island and models to look at. We decided to see if we could use our ticket early and were able to get on the first ferry of the day across which was great. The ferry itself ran well and has a small cafe/bar which we didn’t use. The journey itself didn’t take long but it was nice looking back at the City and seeing the famous fog. Arriving at the island we were greeted and were given a quick talk and we could grab maps. We were then left to our own devices to explore the area. At the prison we got audio guides and they were easy to follow going with the flow of the prison. Lots of interesting information and photo opportunities. It is an impressive and oppressive place to say the least and has a real atmosphere. It was nice to explore the island seeing the small rocky gardens and the nature in particular the bird life that’s taken place. We could take our time and one ready to leave just waited for the ferry to come to take us back to the main land. Well worth booking in advance and worth the trip.

The audio tour is great. I would make sure I did the audio tour. It explains everything that went on in the prison and walks you through the prison. Make sure after you get done go to the lighthouse, you get and awesome view of San Francisco and the Golden Gate Bridge.

Very interesting excursion and prison kept in a very real state compared to the times when it was functional.
Inside the tour is well organized, it is a shame that the Audio Guide is not very clear on the path to follow.
Certainly, we could better organize return boarding, without forming very long queues to return to S. Francisco.
Recommended!

Located on an island off San Francisco Bay, this wonderful place full of history where historical figures like Alcapone, Birdman and other miscreants resided. Also in this place not many, too many movies were recorded, I recommend watching alcatraz escape, which tells the story of the escape that caused the prison closure.

We booked the tour directly through citycruises - which is highly recommended. At Getyour Guide, the ticket must first be validated at a shop (no idea where).

At Cotycruises you get a QR code after payment and show it at the entrance directly by paper or wallet.

The tour is well organized and departs at Peer 33. On Alcatraz mine has no time limit and there is an audio tour in all languages. You cannot miss these.

You get the information by mail, not to take backpacks or drinks etc. However, it seems that nobody cared, even if we stayed out of it. On the ship, however, you can also supply yourself.

Price performance is ok and we would definitely recommend it.

We rode the ferry over and did the night tour. As it was June, it was not dark while we were on the island. The boat ride was lovely and the views were wonderful on the way back. It was very easy to walk from Ghirardelli, enjoying Fishermen's Wharf, the seals and Pier 39 on the way.
The island was beautifully landscaped and the people we very helpful and informative. The self-guided tour was full of details and first person anecdotes.
We were unable to attend any of the special presentations due to our choice of boat time. I would suggest planning to go over on the first boat of the evening and coming back on the last if you want to see the special things offered with the night tour. The door demonstration was scheduled for something like 8:30 and meant you had to bring the last boat back.
I visited here 30+ years ago and remember the tour being more personable. I think the addition of the self-guided tour allows more people to visit but does reduce the impact of the visit.

Visiting Alcatraz was one of the highlights of our San Francisco stay! The ferry crossing already offers great views of the skyline and Golden Gate Bridge. The audio tour of the former prison is very exciting and informative – you get an impressive insight into the history of the island.

Important: Tickets should be booked in advance as tours are often sold out days in advance. A rewarding experience not to be missed when visiting San Francisco.

So glad I went!! Nice ferry w bathrooms and concession on board. Walked straight up to audio prison tour (tram available). So informative and interesting. I did audio tour 2xs. Walked all over island enjoying the info boards, birds, giftshop and flowers. Very friendly, professional staff. I loved how you cld take any ferry back, no time limit. Definitely recommend!

Visited Alcatraz for a mid morning g trip while jn San Fransisco. It's a must visit for anyone while staying in SF. Cell tour is well worth the cost alone, great photos while on the cruise over. A few things to bear in mind, there are some steep walks to do while on the island, shuttle is available but may have queues. There are also lots of flies in port, on the ship and while on the island, take the swats that are available before you get on board. Overall, a great place to visit, and well worth the cost.

It was an amazing trip. It's really breathtaking to see the island from San Francisco. The audio tour is great, really informative, and easy to use.

Staff were all great and informative boat trip to the island very pleasant. It was a bit wet when we were there, so whatever the weather, you need to be prepared.
It's everything I thought it would be and more.
A must do in San Francisco!

Very interesting visit, the tour inside the prison is exciting, and organized well despite the large turnout of people. You can also visit the outside in total freedom.
The information given through brochures and audio guides is comprehensive and interesting.
The departure from the pier is well organized, but book well in advance, from the site is simple.
Tour that definitely leaves a mark.

Alcatraz Island is the notorious prison based on an island in the middle of a very treacherous San Francisco Bay. Pics taken from ferry!

Alcatraz Island, often referred to as "The Rock," is an iconic historical site situated in San Francisco Bay. This notorious former federal prison operated from 1934 to 1963 and held some of America's most infamous criminals including Al Capone and "Birdman" Robert Stroud. The island's layered history spans its initial use as a military fortress and prison in the 1850s, through its time as a maximum-security federal penitentiary, to its current state as a National Historic Landmark we can all enjoy touring.

I had never the gardens before and they were open. They are often overlooked by guests. Officers, their families, and even prisoners found solace and a sense of normalcy in tending to these gardens. The plants chosen was a strategic decision. Many of the plants were chosen for their ability to thrive in the island's challenging conditions, characterized by strong winds, salty air, and limited soil.

Amazing visit like always.

Well worth the visit.
We paid for a 2 day bus tour and Alcatraz trip which worked out better value for money. Do it online, in advance, as it saves money and you don't miss out on going to Alcatraz if busy.
I would say, double check when it is open as we were lucky. Decided to go on the Tuesday without knowing it was shut on Wednesday for maintenance
The Island itself was full of history and the audio tour is great. Quite a hill up to the prison but they have a small tram for people that need it
The outside is exposed so be prepared for the weather and the smell! With the bird population, there is a strong smell of ammonia
The boat trip over is brilliant and we were blessed with calm waters. Best to bear that in mind as well.
Oh, I nearly forgot the flies. Thousands of them!
Overall, a 5 out of 5 and should be added to your itinerary

Great teamwork via WWP had fun thank you 🙏🏼 I recommend it to strengthen camaraderie and communication skills too. This is a bit challenging but worth the time and our Warden Karl was great

Amazing! I’ve wanted to visit for many years and it certainly lived up to my expectations. The tour was great, could walk round at your own pace. The only downside was that the toilets were blocked on the island. We were told that does happen regularly however, due to me being disabled a staff member allowed me to use their toilet, it was blocked but when you’ve gotta go you’ve gotta go.

I did the 5:55pm Night Tour, because other reviews spoke of the great views of the bridge and the general area at sunset. Unfortunately it was foggy and chilly so there was little view of anything. In hind site, a regular "day tour" probably would have been better. In my experience, the night tour wasn't better than a regular say tour.

The provided audio tour was good and gave the right amount of information to keep it informative yet enjoyable. Even on Alcatraz it was very foggy, windy and chilly which did make me really want to walk around up and down the kills exploring. Due to my trip planning, I had had a full morning and afternoon or touring and walking around, so I was just tired by the time I went to Alcatraz. And since I had to be up early for the next day's door, I was hoping for a slightly earlier evening, so I was keeping my eye on the time more than I would have liked because I didn't want to miss the earlier ferry. I've always been so fascinated with Alcatraz and was so excited to visit, but it was my poor planning and chilly/foggy weather than put a damper on my visit. The site, attraction, and staff were great and I highly recommend. Just plan your trip a little better than I did.

A must do visit when in San Francisco. Short comfy ferry ride over (city island cruises). The walk up to Alcatraz is steep so make sure you wear comfy trainers. Once there you are given an audio device which leads you on the tour around the inside of the prison and is narrated by prison guards and prisoners. Once you hand this back at the end of the prison tour you can then walk around the island. An enjoyable visit.

It was a very interesting visit that you can not miss if you pass by San Francisco. The tour inside the prison done with the audio guide also in Italian is really well organized and allows you to see everything in detail with clear and exhaustive explanations. The exterior can be freely visited. The departure from the pier is well organized, it is better to book in advance to avoid queues or lack of availability. Not to be missed

My husband had never been to the island. Using the audio tour was so helpful to get more out of the visit. As we were on a tight schedule, the return time for the boat was perfect for us.

This visit is definitely worth a visit.
For what it represents and the atmosphere of this prison that you will discover, but also for the round trip by boat that will make it a beautiful possibility to see San Francisco from another angle just like the Golden Station.

We didn’t have an audio guide price and this is done without problems

Can't visit San Francisco without visiting the Famous Alcatraz Island with prison .Take ferry from pier 33, walk around prison with commentary headphones ,tells you all about the history of island & prison ,you can walk into the cells & can see where Al Capone Slept in his sell .

We spent an afternoon on the island, I think it's a must stop in San Francisco. In addition to the visiting prison facility, the arrival at the island (with the city skyline) and the natural views of the island and ocean are also fascinating.

Sept. 15 11:00am ferry. Some flies were seen on the ferry ride to the island. Arrived Alcatraz, greeted with a lot more flies. Saw workers on dock wearing clothes covered from head to toe + bee keeper netting over the head & face. Walking to the cells was dreadful trying to swat flies off the face, head and all over our body. The exhibition was OK and nice view on top of the island. Walking back and waiting for the ferry was awful. Had to put on my hoodie to cover head and neck and concentrate on defending my face. Worst paying experience ever.

Wow! The Alcatraz is a must see tour. I loved the boat ride out to the island, they offered drinks and snacks on the boat. However, you couldn’t bring food onto the island. The tour lasted for 1 1/2 with a guided headset to explain the history and different areas of the island. They also had employees assisting you along the way. It was very informative and I would do it all over again. This is really a must see if you’re into tours.

Did the tour and the whole thing just was stale. Old prison with some history. Ferry was short but I am glad it was. Couldnt wait to leave. Did it once though. Only +

Great time and the stories of Alcatraz are really brought to life with the audio tour. One thing to remember: bring earphones. The tour is downloadable on your phone and you don't want to be without your earphones as I was. No services on the island so bring a snack and some water.

The island is infested with flies that are super disgusting. We have been to Alcatraz before—- don’t go in certain month

We booked the ship and the audio guide. All was absolutely well organised. The groundstaff really worked suffiecent snd friendly. The experience at alcatraz was extraordinary. The audioguid was very interesting. A SFO-Must do.

An icon of the city and one of the visits that must be made. We did the daytime and nighttime tours, and we would recommend the latter because there are more open spaces (infirmary, showers...), fewer tourists, and they organize thematic talks. The visit includes an audio guide (didactic, although very superficial) in the language you prefer and lasts about two/three hours. It is recommended if you go during the day to book on the first ferry (there is no set return time) and bring warm clothing. Eating is not allowed on the island, except in the dock.

What an amazing experience! I have no words , only, you need to go. It exceed my expectations. I would highly recommend the evening tour and definitely wear a jacket or coat for on the ferry as you can get wet if sitting on the open top deck. You can take your time as the tour has an audio guide. There is also a gift shop but take plenty of money ad some things are quite expensive.

After a fairly quick ferry ride to the island, it’s all very organized and makes for a great visit. The guide lets us know the guidelines and important details, like washrooms and where you can do what and where to get to pick up the headphones and remote for the audio tour. You have a choice but trust me. Take the audio tour! It’s makes everything so much easier as opposed to just wandering from sight to sight wondering which way to go etc. it is a fun experience. Real life past employees and inmates tell you lots of interesting stories at each point you visit along with sound effects that almost sound like you’re at these points in time they’re talking about . Lots of great photo ops too. I’m glad I finally went.

Good way to spend 3-4 hours in the Bay Area. Book tickets in advance to ensure last minute disappointment. Ideal for history buffs. The story of escape attempt by the inmates adds to the aura.

I'll get the bad out of the way now, the flies are crazy this time of year. They are everywhere and annoy you constantly, some of the staff even wore nets over their heads it's that bad. I wish they gave us a warning that it's like this ahead of time.
The behind the scenes tour was so good though. I loved going through the tunnels and climbing ladders into the guards walkways. The highlight was getting to go lights off in solitary confinement, it was really eerie. The audio tour after was really good but not a patch on the guided part. It's just a shame the flies were so pesky.

Alcatraz Island offers a fascinating blend of history and intrigue. The former federal prison is a must-visit for its captivating audio tours, stunning views of San Francisco, and rich Native American history. A unique experience that's both educational and memorable.

I went with a friend at the end of February. The weather was great, though we did need a sweater while on the ferry. We chose to do the sunset/evening option, so it was daylight when we went over to the island and the sun was going down as we were leaving. We got to see the light come on in the city as we were heading back to the SF ferry dock. There's a reason so many people visit Alcatraz - the history is fascinating. I'm not not normally big on touring prisons, but this was definitely a unique experience.

We went 23rd September with city cruises. The official partner for Alcatraz Island city cruise is great. Get you across there no dramas once you approach Alcatraz Island the stench of ammonia is overwhelming and the closer you get the worse it becomes, but worst of all, and this is what nobody told us, the flies, oh my God the flies, it’s an absolute infestation of them. You cannot escape them so if you visit Alcatraz, take a nose peg and as much insect repellent as you can possibly carry or dress full covered from head to toe.
That said the experience of Alcatraz, thethe tour of the jailhouse et cetera absolutely fabulous can’t fault it .

Brilliant !
The ferry over is efficient and the view amazing as you approach. You can then join a free walking tour or do your own thing.
There are audio tours when you get to the cellhouse at the top. The tour is very entertaining and informative and kept the kids mesmerised.
You can go into a cell and the whole place is very eerie. Lots of chances to take photos.
Quite a lot to explore afterwards. Would recommend a day of it although no food is allowed on the island, only bottles of water.

Brilliant place to visit, especially in the evening as the sun is setting. Very informative, and a great experience . A must do if visiting San Francisco .

It is possible to buy the ticket from the web, in advance, this allows to arrive and line up to board the ferry to Alcatraz and if one arrives a little earlier than the scheduled time, you can also board, if there is room.
The trip takes 15 minutes, maximum, there are several levels, on the ferry, the terrace is always the most panoramic (views of San Francisco, the Golden Gate, Alcatraz).
On arrival, there is a short talk, explaining the different sectors of the island, there is a map (to take photos) and an instructional (has value) if one so prefers.
And from there, you are free to walk everywhere (as long as it is allowed), you can recharge water.
It is a contrast between better and worse maintained sectors, demolished areas, reconstructed areas.
A separate theme, the complex of the cells along with the audio... impressive.
The time of the visit is determined by everyone, there is no need to run, but pay attention to the return time of the last ferry

The place is unique, and the fact that you travel by boat overlooking the bridges of San Francisco and in the middle of the bay, has its charm.
The Spanish self-guide is very correct
Large areas remain to be redeveloped, and gardens and/or external areas should be more carefully maintained. I believe that with the income generated by the activity should be used for its reform, rehabilitation and care.
There are very and very heavy flies, from the moment you get on the boat. It's very unpleasant. Funny why these flies aren't on the docks in San Francisco, they're on the way and all over the island.
I booked the activity but it would not have been necessary, there were free places on a weekday in September. No problem getting tickets

It is an interesting visit and I recommend watching before going to the movie Escape from Alcatraz. I was very impressed by the size of the cells and the solitary ones, it should have been very cold and really dark at that time. Today it is still, but it has a tourist footprint, with souvenirs shop. I saw many children.

If you're interested in witnessing the harsh treatment of inmates, Alcatraz is worth a visit. However, I’m sure there are documentaries or shows on TV that cover the topic If you're just looking to satisfy your curiosity. I’d prefer to spend my time at a winery instead. And flies were horrible. people working at Alcatraz had nuts over their faces.

It would be remiss of you if you didn’t take the time to go across the water to Alcatraz if you are in town. The flies during our visit were a tad annoying but they didn’t spoil the trip. The highlight of the tour is definitely the audio cell tour. It’s difficult to believe what it would have been like when the cells were full but the audio helps to transport you back to those times. There was a lot of construction taking place which was a shame and the island was looking a tad tired given it’s a national park. Could do with some renewing of some of the outside areas in my opinion but nonetheless a trip worth doing.

So disappointed. We visited Alcatraz 15 years ago and it was amazing, we did the night tour and visited the hospital wing, the canteen, they even opened and closed the cells in the jail house.....today however is completely different and so sad that Alcatraz has been let fall further into disrepair. The only part we could access was the jailhouse along with hundreds of visitors because everything else was closed because it needed work. Why when a national park like this generates 60 million dollars per year can it not be respectfully looked after? I don't mean turn it into Disney I just mean repair the ceiling or the wall or whatever bit falls down. I really hope that next time we are in SF and take a trip to the rock that things are maybe preserved, it's a pity to let such a landmark disappear

Really interesting place worth going and seeing yourself. You can take your time and explore the place. The audio-guide is very convenient.

A must for tourists in San Francisco
Very interesting and multilingual.
It takes about 2-2.5 hours.
Reservation is absolutely necessary

Very nice visit to Alcatraz Island! From the moment you board Pier 33, everything is well organized and fluid. The ferry ride offers great views of San Francisco Bay, the Golden Gate Bridge and the island itself.

The audio guide (available in several languages, including French) is extremely well done: immersive, captivating and very informative. It allows us to better understand the history of this mythical prison.

The buildings are well preserved and the island offers a magnificent view of the city, with breathtaking panoramas.

This was a great decision and a great tour. The National Park Service has hit a home run for sure. The concessionaire that runs the boats, the ticket process, the follow up emails, arrival on the island, greeting, instructions audio tour, volunteer gardens, exhibits, bookstore…. I enjoyed myself and my kids19 and 21 did too. We did the day time tour, but I would go back for another tour next time to try something different like the night tour. great job!

A very interesting and informative visit. If you visit San Francisco then this is a must place to visit. I won't describe what's there because it's already documented all over the internet.

The only disappointment for me was the condition of some of the buildings. I appreciate cost is a factor but more restoration and upkeep should be undertaken to preserve for future generations.

Honestly, the excursion did not make me crazy and I do not recommend it, I would not go back in proportion to the price paid. The island is fascinating to see it from a distance shrouded in fog, I saw a nice skyliner by SFO because there was a very clear day.

To visit the island inside there is the guided tour: at the beginning you take the audio guide and explain how the prisoners lived the prison rules etc.

I recommend you do not miss the inevitable souvenir of Alcatraz stone at $17 without taxes...........

This is definitely a must see while in San Francisco. Not only do you get amazing views of the bay and the mainland, but also a history lesson about one of the most notorious prisons in history. I took the self-guided tour and learned a lot.

This place has been on my bucket list for years and it did not disappoint. The audio tour is well worth the extra cost. They even had the last living inmate Bill Baker there signing his book. It is a must see and do while in town. It really is a piece of history frozen in time on that little island.

After a boat trip about fifteen minutes from Pier 33 you arrive in a mythical place. You will show to the main building where you are distributed an audio guide available in a multitude of languages. It guides you through the voice of a former guard and detainee in the atmosphere of the time and you will learn a lot about this place. It is really well done. The site also offers a beautiful view of San Francisco and the Golden Gate.

I last went to Alcatraz in the late 90's. The island has deteriorated noticably since then and needs some serious money spent on it before SF lose it for ever. Less areas were open than when I last visited.
Having said that, it was still an amazing experience to see a peice of history.

It was a very unique and good experience to visit Alcatraz Island. I saw a lot of quite interesting stuff and had a good time .

Alcatraz is a historic place not to be missed when visiting San Francisco. The Cellhouse Audio Tour, which is offered in different languages, is exciting and very informative. History is presented there alive. The Gardens of Alcatraz and the view from Prison Island to the city skyline are also impressive.
It is best to book the ticket for Alcatraz in advance.

I had been to Alcatraz several years ago and had told my teenage son that it was a spectacular excursion. Obviously the boat trip and the jail itself are the same, but I make the audio guide much worse. We are struck by how little they delve into key issues, such as the escape that prompted the prison closure. Too bad.

My extensive journey included a stop to Angel Island. That's lovely, but if you're in a rush, I wouldn't suggest it! Although it's not quite as good as Robben Island, Alcatraz is nonetheless eerie and makes you ponder. The audio tour is excellent.

Must-do tour while in the San Francisco area. The audio tour is incredible - hearing the actual inmates and guards tell their stories. One of the most immersive audio experiences at any attraction I've ever been to - extremely memorable; don't miss it.

Such a fun experience, short ferry ride, good food on board, moderate uphill walk (there was a vehicle available for those that needed it), audio tour of cell house (which is at the very top) was useful and worth it, great views!

The boat to the island is very basic. You can buy some sweet rolls, candy and soda downstairs. On the island you can buy some bars and sweets in the souvenir shop. Nothing else.

When you get off the boat it is best to go straight through-open to the cell complex (don't wait for what the ranger with microphone says). Then you'll be the first to the audio tour and it'll be quieter.

The audio tour is worth it. The rest of the island will be over in no time.

Glad we chose to land on Alcatraz . It’s a steep, short climb up, thankfully there is also a trolly up, for those with mobility issues, which I currently have. The audio tour makes the whole place come alive, and makes it a really atmospheric experience . Definitely a must do whilst in San Francisco .

It was a good experience to visit Alcatraz. There were so many facts I did not know about it. I would suggest one Google and learn about little more about it before you go. By all means, visit this attraction , GO!BTW if you have walking handicaps, there is a free tram at the top of the rock that will take you from the boat landing to the front entrance door where you can easily walk around. Then take the tram back down to the boat docking area.

If you are planning to visit Alcatraz in August, be prepared for a FLY infestation. It starts on the ferry and continues on the island itself. It only gets better as you hike up to the prison. The flies are relentless.

What a great tour. The ferry over was nice. Sold a selection of beverages & snacks, reasonably priced. Upon arrival you meet with the park ranger goes over everything. I like that you can pick self guided or tour guide. You can take your time. There were volunteers along the way to tell you the history of the gardens, the yard & about the history of the island. A must see when visiting San Francisco.

Recommended for when you are in San Francisco!
Be sure to buy tickets in advance: offering you tickets without is like Russian roulette but with a certain probability that you will lose: the seats are certainly all filled the day you want. And full is full, you just can't get in.
Dress well: the wind blows through the crags of Alcatraz!
The tour is fantastic and with a Dutch audio guide everything becomes very clear.
It can be a bit crowded but you have to take that into account.
You can also visit the whole island (it is actually a reserve) but also only the buildings of Alcatraz.
You go by ferry that departs according to your ticket but it is very convenient that you choose which ferry you want to return with.
Alcatraz, learned so much more than what I knew from the movies!

First time in jail! Glad I was a visitor, the island is stunning. Beautiful views, gardens and architecture. The history of the island is interesting as well. Thank goodness they have a tram ride available for those of us with health issues, no way I could have made the steep walk up. Great experience.

This really was an amazing surprise. The trip starts with a ferry ride over. Take a light jacket or sweater as ferry ride can be cool. There is a lot of walking on the island so be prepared. To reach the top of the barracks it is all up hill although there is a ride available for those unable to walk but that only gets you to the top. There is an audio tour that you listen as you make your way along the jail. It is informative, easy to listen to and start and stop. You are able to take photos including being inside a cell. The history of the prison and the prisoners is well presented. You will see the “ yard” and walk it. Along the outside of the prison you will read about a prisoner who gardened and planted beautiful gardens. Take your time!!! There is a lot to take in. It is sobering to see how these prisoners had to live. It hits home how they had to feel being only a mile away from San Francisco. When finished you go back to where you were left off and take the ferry back. Plan on several hours for both ferry ride and tour.

went real quick before boarding a cruise . the power was out at first so kinda creepy … we did a self tour did not stay with the group we were done in an hour and a half … could spend more time going around island and shopping in gift shop bit great tour and doesn’t take long if you go on your own away from the guided tour

We booked a 10.30am ferry and once on the island did the included audio tour which was definitely worth it. It was very interesting and the island itself a great place to wander around. We were lucky enough to meet one of the last surviving former inmates and he signed the book we bought which was an added bonus!

We thoroughly enjoyed the educational experience. The self-guided audio tour included in the admission does an excellent job explaining the conditions at Alcatraz while it was a prison. Be sure to spend additional time walking around the grounds to learn more from the informational signs. Also, be sure to book through the boat company whose link is on the National Park Service website. The other companies charge additional fees.

We took the Ferry over to Alcatraz, booking tickets in advance to secure our spot. The ferry is about $40 round trip and operates every 20 minutes for some reason there are a lot of flys. Admission to Alcatraz is free but you have to pay transportation over to it. You were allow to walk the island and you’re given an audio set while you walk through the cell barracks. Lots of construction were going on the island that several places were restricted. Given it is an island, there were a lot of seagulls and a lot of seagull poop which did make it a smelly island. We spent about 2 hrs there. It is windy so dress warm. It was an eerie and fun visit.
.

A visit worth visiting. The audio tour was great and guided us in each section. This island is beautiful....scary! You understand you never wanted to be incarcerated there.

Murielle, our Doctor of Sociology and researcher in the Humanities, reports to us, after the presentation of his report to his sponsor, on his stay in the United States of America, at an international seminar on the foundations of prison incarceration. His real surprise was the organized visit to the former maximum security federal prison, Alcatraz penitentiary, known as The Rock, for Le Rocher, rich in history of human behavior. She tells us her story. The island of Alcatraz or Alcatraz Island is an island located in the western United States of America, in California, in the Bay of San Francisco, known as Frisco, which includes two other islands, and is located 1.92 km from the port. Since the alcatraces are the brown pelicans that found refuge there, the island is located east of the Golden Gate, the inlet that connects the bay to the Pacific Ocean. Its surface is 9 hectares, 530 m long by 180 m wide, in a seismic region, with a sandstone basement where the Ohlone Amerindians came to hunt, fish and collect the eggs of birds, before the arrival of Europeans and found refuge there, in the 18th century, to escape the Spanish missionaries. Spanish colony, the oldest known owner of the island, is Julian Workman, to whom it was given, by the governor of independent Mexico, Pio, in June 1846, in exchange for the promise to build a lighthouse there. In 1850, purchased by California military governor John Charles Frémont on behalf of the U.S. government and annexed by the United States. A presidential order launched the project to establish a military reserve on the island for the United States Army. The gold rush led to San Francisco’s population growth, and the growing need to protect the bay led the US military to build a fortress there. The army was to install a hundred guns to make it the best fortified site on the west coast of the United States. Along with Fort Point and Lime Point, Alcatraz formed a defensive triangle protecting the bay and the island was the first operational site in the American West to host a lighthouse. In 1853, under the direction of Zealous Bates Tower, the United States Army Corps of Engineers began fortifying the island. The work lasted until December 1859, when the first garrison of Camp Alcatraz was established. The island was surrounded by high walls and a citadel was built at the top near the lighthouse, it could hold 200 men in case of siege. The military brought in land and built Victorian-style gardens from 1865. With the outbreak of the American Civil War in 1861, the number of soldiers and the artillery power installed on the island were increased. The site was also used as the arsenal of the city of San Francisco and Alcatraz served as a prison for Confederate sympathizers. After the American Civil War, technological advances rendered Alcatraz' fortifications and armaments obsolete. The guns were gradually withdrawn. Modernization efforts were undertaken between 1870 and 1876 but remained unfinished. In 1867, a brick prison was erected and the following year Alcatraz officially became a place of detention for military prisoners. In the 1870s, 19 Hopi Native Americans, who had rebelled against the American policy of assimilation, were imprisoned in Alcatraz. The number of prisoners rose from 25 in 1899 to 441 in 1900. After the 1906 San Francisco earthquake and subsequent fire, civilian detainees were transferred to Alcatraz. Its role as a prison was reinforced by its isolation, the cold waters of 10° to 13°, the violent currents of the Golden Gate, its sharks, made it a place from which prisoners should not be able to escape. In 1909, the U.S. Army moved from the citadel to Alcatraz as a military prison. In the same year, the military prisoners began to build a large concrete block that included 600 cells, a kitchen, a dining room, an infirmary and offices. It was completed in 1912 and later became famous under the nickname The Rock. A power station was also installed. During World War I, he received conscientious objectors, including Philip Grosser, who wrote a pamphlet entitled Uncle Sam's Devil's Island, and in October 1933, the prison's status changed to include civilian prisoners, and ownership of Alcatraz was transferred to the U.S. Department of Justice for use by the Federal Bureau of Prisons. In 1934, the federal government decided to make Alcatraz federal prison a model facility, offering maximum security to prevent escapes and granting few privileges to inmates who could not negotiate their prison terms or exert pressure on staff or the warden. There was one guard for every three prisoners and prisoners were called by a registration number rather than by name, in order to break them morally and to show the public that the State was committed to halting the increase in crime in the 1930s linked to prohibition, which had increased by 1000% in 30 years. Alcatraz Island hosted 1,576 prisoners with an average of 312 detainees, including famous ones such as Al Capone, registration AZ85, in 1934, Machine Gun Kelly, Birdman, Robert Stroud, the German spy, Erich Gimpel who was locked up there in 1945, for 30 years in 336 cells measuring 1.5 m by 2.7 m for 16 to 23 hours a day. There were two distinct ways in which prisoners' lives were very harsh at the time of the premiere and they were subjected to strong psychological pressure to punish them, and then in the 1960s prison life was softened, with the screening of two films a month, one hour of music a day. Successful escape in 1962 of John and Clarence Anglin and Franck Morris. On March 21, 1963, by decision of the Attorney General of the United States, Robert Kennedy, the prison of Alcatraz permanently closed its doors after twenty-nine years of service, because the management costs became too high with the delivery by boat of food, clothing, mail, fresh water, with 3.8 million liters per week and also the degradation of cement by droplets of salt water thrown by the wind. Occupied by 400 Native Americans, called the Indians of All Tribes, from 1969 to 1971, for 19 months, who claimed ownership of the island, under an old law that specified that any abandoned building became the property of American Indians, they were evacuated, by force, on the orders of the federal government at the instigation of President Richard Nixon. In 1972, the U.S. Congress created the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, into which the Alcatraz complex was integrated. Alcatraz Island was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1976 and declared a National Historic Landmark in 1986. It opened to the public in 1973 and quickly became one of San Francisco's busiest tourist attractions. A historic site managed by the U.S. National Parks Service, it remains a birdwatching site in the Bay. Every year, more than a million tourists visit the island and the prison of Alcatraz. We saw a collection of objects that trace life in the 19th century fortress and in the 20th century prison.

You should definitely visit Alcatraz when you're in San Francisco. It was a great attraction that offered a lot of insight into American history. Exploring all the cells was really interesting. I could also get good views of the suspension bridges, the city and the sea. It was just a shame that some of the areas were shut off for maintenance and repair.

Make a reservation for your Alcatraz tour few days or weeks in advance. Otherwise you won't have a chance to get on one.
To get to the island, you will pop on a ferry. The drive takes about 30 minutes from the shore in Sand Francisco to Alcatraz. The island is not so big and even if you want walk slow, it'll take about 1 hour to see everything. Prepare to walk a bit up to the hill, but it's nothing dramatic. Since Alcatraz is a national park, be mindful of its nature and birds nesting there.
The biggest attraction and the reason why most of the visitors go to this island is the former prison that's located there. The tour in the museum will take about 1,5 hour and it was the most interesting part of the visit for me. I strongly recommend to go for audio guided tour. You can pick-up your audio guide at the entrance of the museum, it's without any extra charge.
You can spend as much time on the island as you want. To leave the island, get into the line for ferries leaving the island at specified times.
Prepare for stronger wind at the island.

The sunny weather gave us the chance to visit this symbolic island in very good conditions, for a month of March.
Very nice sea, comfortable ride.
The organization is very professional.
Everything goes through the official website, only downside, it seems that one cannot order online for the same day.
Welcome to the dock, on the boat and very organized island, American style, with lots of instructions.
The tour goes well, with free audio guide, provided at the entrance to the prison.

It is recommended to avoid weekends, as too dense

I got absolutely despoiled by cluster mines and precision air strikes. Nerf the ak-74 and buff the static i want mw3 warzone back. Terrible precision tactical shooter game. 🥀🥀🥀

A must do. We did the evening tour 6pm to see it at night as well as in daylight. It is windy so take some layers. Recommend the audio tour as has interviews with former guards and stories of the inmates.

The fews are amazing when travelling over on the boat, my first impression was wow, we stepped on to alatraz ,a lady was talking about the past of the island, we went for the tour, which was great, we also met the last living prisoner,we purchased his story of when he lived on alatraz, all in all it was an excellent opportunity to walk in the foot steps of prisoners who were on alatraz.

Very cool and unique experience. Bought tickets online from the only official provider, and did not have to wait much to get on the Ferry. Great views of the Bay Area once your ferry departs. Visited in December - it was cold and windy so be prepared.

Visit of Alcatraz was part of Dylan bus tour so our tickets were included in the price of the tour. We were told to take our passports with us and indeed, the lady at the ticket kiosk asked to show them. The ferry is going every half an hour - we went from Pier 33. It's amazing journey both ways, we chose benches at the back of the boat and enjoyed it. When we arrived to Alcatraz we bought a self-guiding information booklet for $1 - they are in several languages. We could wait a long row for audio tour but we decided we will not wait. If you have problem walking like I had (I used a walking stick) there is a free transport from dock to the cellhouse and it was great as it would take me a long time to get there. Everywhere are very good information displays which we appreciated. At the top was very windy which was surprising as when we came out from the ferry we hardly felt a bit of wind. Eating is not allowed on the island except at the dock area - they protect seabirds, and there is a lot of them . You can take water with you. At the dock area is also a small shop but it was already closed when we were on the way back to ferry after we spent over 4 hours there. We started our tour at the cellhouse, then saw the lighthouse from where is excellent view to the city and you also see how quickly is water running and swirling under. Warden house is now a ruin, next to it was garden with names of the plants on the labels. From there is also great view to the seabird population. Back to the cellhouse in different route inside and again out where are toilets. Going slowly down we saw more gardens with beautiful flowers next to the houses of the officers. You cannot visit all buildings at the island, at least during our visit there was no access to a few. We have been lucky to see this once feared place and we will remember everything.

Very educational and informative! The whole experience gave me a better understanding of the island of Alcatraz as more than just a prison. Well worth the trip for those that want to learn more about the island’s history. My wife went in September and it was cool weather. The audio guide, which was free, had first hand interviews and accounts.

**side note** for those that don’t know the island is home to a protected species of bird. A sign of a successful hatching season for this bird is an abundance of flies. They were EVERYWHERE!! But as the ranger pointed out as soon as we got on the island, the flies don’t bite and don’t spread disease, they are merely annoying!

The former federal prison turned compelling museum: outstanding audio tour, sweeping Golden Gate views, and ferries from Pier 33. Tickets sell out book ahead

This place is so amazing! The historical and big place can offer you so much! You will need comfortable shoes to walk every place!

A one off opportunity to visit the most notorious prison in the world. Soooo interesting- definitely do the night tour as you have access to areas that the usual tours don’t see. Great guides - very well informed.

Booked my Alcatraz Day Tours via "City Experiences.com" [the official concessioner to the National Park Service] - around 2 months in advance. I missed an opportunity to visit the last time I was in the city and learned tickets can sell out up to 60 days in advance, so as soon as you know you'll be in the city book this! Had an excellent few hours just wondering through the island and all the exhibits. Well worth it!

We went on the night tour and it was fabulous. We had one person using a cane, so she got to ride on the small bus to the top. ALL the tour people were great!! I would recommend it to anybody! Our cruise ship was a bit late getting in and they held the boat for us, I can't say enough. Thanks so much!

This was our first time touring the island and we enjoyed it. We were unsure how long the experience would be, but in the end were surprised how quickly we saw everything. Other than the audio tour, you can walk to see the lighthouse and other buildings, but it’s not a half day experience by any means. We left on yhe 9:20am boat and were back by 11:30 and still felt we had seen what we needed to see. I’m sure you could make it a longer trip, though.

A must do, about £50 for the boat trip and entry across, some areas off limits due to safety so it is a little limited in areas.

The only real attraction worth seeing and doing in San Francisco. Exciting and the meeting and dedication on the baker’s book (the last survivor) was a great joy and emotion. Absolutely recommend.

The island was well worth a visit having a history of the prison and many interesting stories. It’s only $47 per adult if you pay at the ferry. A tour of the cell block is available for free to all visitors. I paid almost double that and didn’t get anything more (was given an app tour but it was pretty useless).

Very moving, despite those who were detained should not be children at heart.
a weird feeling. I love movies about this prison, but saying I really am, it's not just movies, it's a reality. To be done. I really liked it. The ex-convicts, would certainly say, they mad these visitors.

The cruise was well put together and the auto tour was informative and well presented. The staff was all very helpful, bathrooms where clean, and water and bottle filling stations were available

Amazing place, no words to describe this experience! Everything simply perfect who can and want to meet goes without fear!

The viewing was very interesting. With an audio guide you can visit the prison and the island on your own.

Let's face it.Price/performance absolutely does not fit.For 240€ for 3 people I can save that.You only visit one floor in prison and then there are far too many people there.There are 10 people in the cell on 4 square meters.Add to that the plague of flies in the outdoor area and the worst stench of seagull shit.People save you the money and knock it out differently.

loved the interactive and engaging audio tour, the narration with background sounds makes you feel you are in the moment and get to resonate with the happenings occurring at the jail

It is a mythical place to visit since it is part of American culture and especially of the life of the city of San Francisco. Alcatraz Island Penitentiary is also known as The Rock, a former maximum security federal prison located 2 km off San Francisco. This site hosts a fort, and the main prison building was built between 1910 and 1912 as a military prison. After closing in 1963, Alcatraz reopened as a public museum. The site has thus become one of the main tourist attractions of the city. Al Capone stayed there as a prisoner in 1934. Frank Morris is also known to have escaped there in 1962 but was never found and so they decided to close this prison in 1963.

Before the ferry was within 100 yards of the island, the overpowering rank stench of bird feces overtook us. Once we were docked, the flies were everywhere. The history of the place was second to the annoyance of the smell and flies. Also, people were coving their heads because the gulls flying over were nonstop. the walkways were covered in bird droppings. Tumbleweed feathers. Inside the jail, dust covered all of the props. I don't think they've tried to clean, sweep, dust, or power wash that place, ever. The Native American building was closed, other out buildings were closed, stairways/stairwells were closed, not worth the price of admission. They could at least sweep up all the feathers and power wash the walkways. It was such a distraction.

This is the second time I have visited Alcatraz and I have to admit I was disappointed this time. The tour has been made significantly shorter. Some of the stories which we listened to last time have been removed, one being the actual Great Escape and how they did it. Amazing place though and has to be seen, we did the sunset tour in September, make sure you wrap up warm.

We had bought tickets ahead of time and we arrived about 10 minutes before our ticket and were able to get right onto the ferry. We weren't able to get seats and didn't want to go up to the top which was outside so we ended up standing which was fine, it was about 15 min on the ferry. When we arrived we walked up to the prison and did the audio tour, they were quite efficient in handing out the devices and it went through the shower room so there was a little bit of information to read while you waited. Two of our group had the tour in the wrong language but they were easily able to correct this. The self guided tour was interesting and for the most part was easy to follow although at one point in the middle it got a bit confusing as to which way we should go.
After the audio tour we walked around the grounds for a bit longer. The buildings were identified by name but there wasn't any information other than that. We had purchased the paper visitors guide but it also didn't have a ton of information. We wanted to know more about the escape attempts and they had someone doing a presentation later in the day but we didn't want to spend the whole day on the island. We also wanted to know more about the families and children that lived on the island but couldn't find a lot of information about them. We spent about 2.5 hours there.

I recommend visiting Alcatraz. An interesting tour with lots of information about what happened there and its history.

Amazing tour, loved it. The audio was the best with clearest instructions I’ve done anywhere else. Whole tour from pier 33 was so well run.

If you are in San Francisco then you also have to go to Alcatrez and it is a nice trip in itself, but not a must. It's nice to see how they held prisoners here and see a bit of history, but I don't think it's a "must see" place. In itself the price is not so bad to go there, so it is not something to leave, but once seen is also seen.

Can't believe I had never done it sooner, but this was great! So much history to it and everything was presented and kept so well. Bonus views back overlooking the city on a rare sunny day!

Needless to say, this was an incredible visit. I will be quick on this topic.
The place is full of stories that will at least interest you, at best (as it did for us) bring you to tears. I will name only two that really moved us. The first one is the story of the guy that was supposed to be on the successful evasion and who missed it. Other inmates said he spent the night crying. The other is one you can read about at various places on the island : the "Indians of All Tribes" 1969-1971 occupation. Alcatraz really was the birthplace of the Red power movement. It was incredible to discover this story! We absolutely did not know. Apart from that, the audio guide is well made, very interesting and it comes in a lot of languages.
What I want to emphasize the most, however, is the high quality of the service. Everywhere you see national parks' staff taking care of this historical place. They are always nice and open. One lady explained to my fiancée and I where to find the most birds, and explained to us everything nesting season was about. I particularly want to mention the man who was doing the "Capone on the rock presentation". Not only was the presentation thourough, it was extremely interesting. The speaker had told us that he had sometimes trouble focusing due to a prior medical intervention. It did not feel like it! The presentation was lively, with a lot of pictures, anecdotes, context. We learned a buch about the capone and alcatraz.
Sir, if you are by any chance reading this, my fiancée and I wanted to thank you for your service. You are a true model of dedicated citizen.
I sincerely hope that the high quality of national parks will remain what it is. It is all thanks to the committed workers, and we salute them respectfully!

It is still a mythical place.
Everyone has a little history with alcatraz, everyone knows this island through a different means.
I’m call of duty.
But I want to get straight, I wasn’t born in 2011 so wasn’t trying to talk to me about rebirth Island there.
No, I am better, superior to the rest of you.
The coolest and most OG of all the people in Gen Z.
For me this island is above all “Mob of the dead”.
BO2, zombie mode, make creeps so you can complete the secrets.
What memories.
Still a little stressed to see "Sleeve 1" appear somewhere.

Anyway.
Really a cool experience, with an audio guide not too gross frankly.
To be done.

I last visited this place when I was 40. Yep, me and my wife met there even long ago. Whenever she remembers a lot about our dating time she asks me if we could go to Alcatraz. I can't refuse either. But this time she asked 10 years later, and i loved being with her there. Fascinating place to fall in love.

Was great to get to know Alcatraz, see, feel and walk the place you see in movies and documentaries. The place is surreal and you get a sense of what people lived there. It is a shame that many parts of the island are off limits, I hope they restore them soon.

We had a great few hours thete last week. Queued about 10 mins for tickets which were just under 50 dollars each. A boat/ferry took us to the island. On arrival someone explaing the area, where to go etc. We were lucky, the weather was amazing, the visit of the island was educational and well organised. We very much enjoyed our time there, thankyou

Amazing place to tour and learn the background surrounding it! Ferry boats have to be booked by tour agency in advance, but run like clockwork out and back all day. The included National Park audio guide is fantastic, narrated by former prison guards who really make you feel the hopelessness of the place. A highlight of seeing things in San Francisco

Although every prison is depressing, the visit is very interesting and the audio guide narrations are very good. Both guards and prisoners.

Must-see? I'll say yes! Immersion is cool, the visit is well-honed, the immersion is successful. There was an exhibition about the Indians too, there was like a pathetic atmosphere where humanity clung too much to this pebble colonized by birds!

Definitely a must see if you’re in San Francisco!! We got the 10:10am ferry which was full so I’d recommend booking in advance, the jet lag helped us get up early!! We stayed around 4 hours and saw everything, the audio tour of the prison and the guided walking tours (we did the history one) were both excellent.

The actual tour of the cells was really good and very informative , but owing to the internal lighting, areas closed off around the island and lack of external lighting it was not of atmospheric as I expected, and it was not possible to explore the rest of the island. It would have been better (and cheaper) to have done the day tours and explored more of the island. I feel my people thought the same as the boat was fuller on the return journey than the one going out with very few people staying on for the final boat of the evening.

Good trip to the island by ferry (got an early one to avoid the queues - well worth getting up for) and a really interesting audio tour of the prison. Some great views over the Bay from the island as well. Only downside is the steep climb from the landing to the prison, but well worth the exercise and a must do when you are in San Francisco. There was even a former inmate signing his books when we were there!

Well organised on the boat.
Freedom to walk around in your own time
Very good video on the Indian Occupation. Enjoyed the audio tour explaining everything about how the prison worked. Enjoyed all the flowers and seeing the birds including the snowy egrets with the golden gate bridge in the background. Also attended a talk by someone who had been in prison about what it was like to be incarcerated . Overall spent 4 hours on the island

Definitely something to see. Once is probably enough though. It's a little depressing but there is a ton of history in this 1/2 day tour. We left at 9:20 and were done by 11:45. We did the audio tour which was very cool. One of the prisoners was there signing his book but the line was very long so we passed on that

Great experience. Travelled across by boat when it was dusk with commentary on the boat. Really set the scene.

It is a long walk uphill to get to the top but you stop along the way.

Once inside, you collect your headset and then you just follow the audioguide from room to room. It’s so dark and dingy - it really does feel like you’re in a prison.

Overall it’s a great experience and would encourage anyone thinking of doing it, to book.

We booked a trip to alcatraz with a Golden gate bridge tour. I am 62 and have wanted for some reason to visit Alcatraz since I was a child. From beginning to end of the trip was amazing. We were early for our trip,however there was space on first trip of the day. Our guide I think his name was Frank,was absolutely amazing. He was well prepared with a bag of old pictures. He was articulate, serious and funny when appropriate he was an asset to that tour. The golden gate bridge tour after Alcatraz was also amazing and again very informative. If you go to San francisco this tour is a must.

Never been. Very interesting to hear some of the stories that went on. Had fun going into some of the cells. Tiny and very strict what they could and could not do. Good experience for everyone to see.

Must see if you're in town because of their history so you can understand what they felt while there. Starting from the pier 33 boat ride of about 15 minutes where you can see a panoramic view of the city and also if there is no fog of the Golden Gate. Upon arrival 2/3 hour tour on your own and with free self-guide narration available in many languages

Apparently flies are attracted to the bird nest. From the moment we entered the ferry the flies were all over, return ferry was even worst. Pretty much everyone swatting themselves. They provided hand held paper fans but not enough for everyone. The announcer made it sound like it was minimal but it was awful. Actual tour was ok. This is definitely a one time thing.

This was my third visit and I learn something new every time. This time from the short 30-40 minute ranger walking tour from the pier to the museum entrance. Well worth it! The Audio tour is excellent an well timed to keep everyone flowing.

remember to book in advance to make sure you have room
and I recommend the first visit in the morning if possible... after it is like the must-see tourist sites there are quickly a lot of people
crossing the bay fast
as mentioned in other comments the general condition of the site is not terrible
the audio guide is appreciable on the prison part

The ferry ride to Alcatraz already feels special, with great views of the San Francisco skyline and the Golden Gate Bridge. Once on the island, rangers give a short intro before you’re free to explore at your own pace. The audio tour through the cellhouse is excellent... the voices of former guards and inmates bring the place to life in a way photos never could.

Some areas could use a bit more upkeep, and it gets crowded during peak hours, but the mix of eerie atmosphere, history, and scenery makes it easy to see why this is a must-do in San Francisco. Bring a jacket; the wind on the bay is no joke.

The ferry trip to Alcatraz was quick. There was a lot to see on the island. Great place to take pictures of San Francisco skyline.

We really loved this experience. Its spine chilling in parts however well worth the trip.
There is only one Company that takes you to and from the Island and we booked in advance before leaving the UK.

The crossing was great and the mist rolled in and out making the main land and the bridge disappear and reappear which was just brilliant to see.

The National Park Rangers on the Island did a short walking Tour explaining how the Island had been used over the years (not just as a prison) which was informative and entertaining.

You get a headset to use inside the prison which takes you around all the key points and was really useful.

On the day we visited a former Prisoner who had written a book on his experience was on site signing copies (He is in his 90's) . He took time with people and told the kids he should not have done what he did.

The size of the cells and the size of the Prison itself was very small.

Really well worth a visit especially as you can leave anytime time you like unlike some of the previous visitors to the Island.

It is not worth making the journey, however tempted.

The island itself is disgusting, infested with flies that’ll crawl all over you, in your hair and clothes. You’ll wait for the ferry back watching tens of flies crawl over the person in front of you in the line, knowing it’s happening to you too.

And it stinks, of bird poo that coats every path and corner of the island, never power washed, and no cover. You’ll see people wearing hoods and fly nets. There are also feathers everywhere, that smell and are dirty.

And finally you reach the one good attraction, the cell block. The audio tour walks you through and creates huge crowds and blockades as everyone is on the same timeline. It’s crowded and unpleasant, ruining the spectacle.

And for the poo covered fly infested, smelly, dirty, disgusting excuse for a museum, you’ll pay $50.

SF is an incredible place with neighbourhoods worth exploring and lingering in. Alcatraz is today a huge waste of your trip, until they invest proper money in making it a real attraction.

We have been several times and decided to do the night tour for a change. The boat left at 03;50 pm and the sunset was at 05:52 pm so it was only dark when we left the island.
We were expecting to see the hospital as far as we are aware it is part of the more night tour but it was closed off even though the sign said it should close at 05:40, so that was disappointing as we really wanted to see it.
The yard was also closed off for works and that was not mentioned when we reserved the tickets.
The night tour was still good and a bit spooky when we left the island in the dark. The SF skyline in the dark with lights from the boat was very nice too.

It was awesome. I loved every moment. I wish there was more of the prison to see but that is just me being nosy. The ferry ride there is freezing. Bring a jacket.

You take a boat between Piers 30 and 31, the old one is short, no more than 20 minutes. Upon arrival you will tour the prison premises with a self-guided tour, available in several languages. They impress the cells, the stories of the characters and of course the story of the famous escape of 3 convicts. Fully recommended

After 4 failed attempts in the last 20 years (bad weather, fog, fully booked, too strong wind...) it finally worked out this time! Blue skies, hardly any wind and the tickets booked months before! Short drive (15 minutes) from Pier 33 to Alcatraz. There mandatory tour in the prison buildings with lots of interesting information (headsets with different languages). Nice view of San Francisco. After returning to Pier 33, be sure to visit Pier 39 - with plenty of good food options!

Visited in September 2024.
This was my 3rd time in Alcatraz (2001; 2010;2024).
I find this a fascinating place to visit. You watch movies about it and then get to visit the entire place, it’s one of those must go tours! Tip: make sure you read what tour you’re buying. Some boats will go around it and don’t stop at the island. I’d say reserving 2 hours once you get to the island will give you enough time to explore (audio tour + walk around it).

We did the night tour of Alcatraz, and I'm glad since it limited the flies. They were annoying while waiting in line to board the ferry. There were a few on the ferry, but once on the island we didn't see any more. Whew. The ferry had some paper fans, but we didn't end up needing them.

We used the headsets to tour the cells, and the narration was helpful and interesting. We asked one of the guides a question and he was very helpful and seemed happy that we had interacted with him. Since it was a night tour, Block A was open and that was interesting to see.

As a former teacher, I would like them to use better higher quality signage on the cells. The paper signs look unprofessional and could easily be upgraded. It didn't detract from our tour, but when you see the paper signs hanging on the cells, you will know what I'm talking about.

We visited the gift shop and purchased a few items. The prices were comparable to other tourist shops.

One important note - it is a hard walk up the hill to Alcatraz. They do offer a shuttle, but make it clear that it is for the disabled. By the time I got to the top, I felt like I qualified! :)

It is cold and windy, especially at night so dress warm.

I'm glad we went!

Took the ferry to Alcatraz. On arrival you had a short orientation speech then walk up to the prison. Yu then ge an Audio guide to go round. We found it all very atmospheric and could jus imagine what it was really like. Very interesting and educational. Nice to see in real life after seeing t in vaious films. A must see for San Francisco . Highly recommend.

We have been wanting to visit this iconic place for ever!
Really enjoyed the audio tour - it is very well done and very informative!
We had an 8 month old baby with us and the staff was so very helpful helping us navigate around - taking us to elevators etc very nice.
The island offers outstanding views of the city and the Golden Gate Bridge !
Wear good shoes - lots of walking and there are some areas that can be steep for certain people !
Well worth the visit - it is nicely done!

You're either for it or you're not for it to go to old prisons. But this one really should not be missing. With the headset and tour in your language, you get a nice picture of what lived there. Ok, you pay mainly for the transfer boats but don't let that stop you. Go back especially in the evening by ferry, in September between 18h and 19h for the sun thv the Golden Gate bridge

A legendary visit not to be missed! The visit to the prison is very interesting and the audio guide is available in French. However, some explanations are missing about the life of the keepers and their families on the island, which is a shame.
We spent about 4 hours there (round trip by boat included).

Awesome. Really cool and Worth the money. Loved the cellhouse tour and really great audio tour. The night tour was awesome.

It's an Attraction to do. We had taken an Audio Guide in French. Everything is well explained the visit is pleasant and at the same time impressive.

Among San Francisco’s many attractions, Alcatraz might not be the first that comes to mind, but it’s certainly one of the most popular. Tickets should be booked online and well in advance, especially during high season, as it’s difficult to get same-day tickets.

The visit includes a package with the ferry ride, entrance fee, and all facilities, including an excellent audio guide. The ferry trip itself is enjoyable, offering stunning views of the city and the Golden Gate Bridge.

Alcatraz Island is more than just a former prison—it has a rich history, from Civil War-era forts to its time as one of the most secure prisons in the U.S., offering a deeper insight into American history. The entire experience takes about three hours. If the weather is nice, walking around the island is a real treat.

The price is reasonable for what you get.

The tour to Alcatraz was one of the highlights of SF. We chose to do the evening tour and glad we did so as it felt more atmospheric and a couple of areas (the hospital) are open in the evening but not in the day.

The audio tour was very informative and took around 45 minutes to walk through. I would recommend spending longer on the island to listen to the warden and inmates talks as they are very interesting and provide more information about the US penal system and life inside Alcatraz. Plus they were all delivered very well by the presenters and the stories of the former inmates were both entertaining and inspirational.

The tour is very well organised but there were so many people that it was difficult to fully enjoy the experience. Also, the cellhouse is just a big empty building, and I just felt a little underwhelmed. The ferry is efficiently run, and provides nice views of Alcatraz Island and San Francisco bay, but overall, the whole thing left me a bit disappointed. The audioguide is very good, and gets you round the cellhouse with ease, and whilst I would recommend this trip, don't get your hopes too high.

Really good, trip to island was good and then we had time to explore. Seeing the cells with the audio description was very engaging. Plenty to see and enough time to see it without feeling rushed!

Visiting this island prison is impressive but unfortunately the cost is way too much for an old audio tour to visit two or three rooms of the prison. So many people in the tiny space.

Felt like it was a tour designed in the 90s that no one wants to update. They add timely exhibits and meet &greets but everything feels underwhelming.

The boat tour was nice, but lots of mosquitoes on the boat and well, it’s not the primary attraction.

What an amazing tour. We did the night tour so the hospital bit was open as well.

The island is foreboding and oppressing especially in the fog and fading light. Once in you get a sense of just what it must have been like to be imprisoned upon the island

Great commentary on the tour and a nice boat ride across

100% get yourself on this tour

This is an amazing trip we went on the first trip out so it wasn't too busy and went around the prison without too much hassle, the walking up the hills is a challenge but nothing too bad for my wife and I.
We met an ex-inmate William Baker who wrote a book which we bought and he signed for my wife, he was a very pleasant chap even if he was an ex-con.

A great few hours spent exploring the island and prison, lots of information on offer via headphone sets giving a real sense of how it must have been to be a prisoner here, well worth a visit.

Great views of the San Francisco sky line and Golden Gate bridge both from the boat and the island.

Alcatraz Cruises did a great job.

Highly recommended.

Very nice experience.
Highly recommended to book in advance, otherwise the risk of finding all the seats occupied and not being able to participate in the excursion is very high. You buy the ticket for the ferry with date and time, and you return with the ferry you prefer (in practice, being the visit free, who wants can 'take an hour, who two etc.).
Once on the island you can visit the gardens, the old buildings and then access the interior, where you can see the cells, the canteen, the area dedicated to the treatment of prisoners with operating room, room to perform radiological examinations, isolation area.
There are explanatory signs and the possibility of the audio guide.
I would put it among the must-see experiences in San Francisco without a doubt!

Great day out, & lovely weather for the ferry crossing , really informative audio walking tour, would definitely recommend.

Fantastic time and very easy to manage, tickets were texted to me and we were second in line. Alcatraz was everything I expected. Very interesting and full of history.

Learned so much more than you see in movies. Wear warm clothes. 4/14. The wind was Punishing. Part of the island is closed during the spring through Fall due to bird nesting. Informative Park Rangers.
Unfortunately Vicky is no longer with us.

It is very interesting being able to get on a ferry and approach the island. Once you are on the island you can explore various parts and take an audio tour of the cell house. Just note that most of the island is off-limits as it is a bird sanctuary.

I especially found exploring the cell house pretty neat as it is pretty quiet due to everyone listening to the audio tour in their headset. You can go in the solitary confinement cell for example, which was cool.

Overall the experience was great! Even better if you go when the marine layer comes into the bay area!

We didn't know when we would be able to visit, so we didn't prebook the trip, every one was saying you need to prebook, but we took a chance. It was a Thursday, mid morning when we decided to go. We got a robot taxi to Pier 33. There was a queue of only a handful of people at the booking kiosk. I queued for about 5 minutes before buying the tickets. They were for the next boat to leave in about 15 minutes time. Looking around you knew the boat would be nowhere near it's capacity. The journey to Alcatraz was amazing, wherever you looked around there was a great view, the Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco skyline and getting closer, Alcatraz. Once on the island there was a short intoduction from a Park Ranger. She spoke about the audio tour of the main block, steep paths and stairs on the island and a few other bits. There was a booklet here to purchase ($1) printed in most languages. The walk to the main block is fairly long and up hill. There is a buggy to take people up if they require it. On the way you are treated to spectacular views of San Francisco and surrounding area. We even saw seals in the waters below. There is a small gift shop on the way and a couple of small exhibitions to look at dealing with the islands history. Once you get to the cell block you are directed to the audio tour area where you get headphones and a small player. You will be shown how to use it (basically just press play at the start point). The audio tour takes you around the cell block, giving you the details of certain points of the prison, details on what their typical day was, famous prisoners and of course the escapes. Photo opportunities are endless. You are not rushed at all, you can pause the audio at any time and then resume your journey. Once the audio tour has finished you can redo it, or just walk around at your leisure without the audio on. After you return the audio equipement you pass into the main gift shop. You can walk around the island at your leisure, there is a lot that has yet to be opened / made safe for the public, but there is enough to keep you occupied. When leaving the island you catch the next available ferry, no times to worry about. We went in the first week of October, mid week. For us there was no long queues or waiting for a later ferry across. If you go on a weekend, during peak holidays I would say you have to pre book. The island was not packed, again weekends etc will be different. This is a must place to visit if in San Francisco. When on the island take your time, take in the views. Do the audio tour (included in ticket price). Take as many photos as you can.

A must see. The audio tour was excellent. Suggest buying tickets ahead of time. Quick Uber ride to pick up tickets. Have fun!

A must do when in San Francisco! Guided tour is informative and it is way to get around. 10-15 mins by ferry and you can easily spend 2-4 hours exploring.

**PRE BOOKING ADVISED** We did this as part of a combination tour and booked this a month in advance.

We arrived and due to having pre booked tickets it meant that we were able to go and pick up our tickets with a valid photo ID. The tours sell out extremely quickly and so I would recommend that the earlier to book the better to make sure you have a spot. We were given a time for our boat out to the site and were advised to arrive around 15 or so minutes early to make sure it all goes smoothly.

After the ticket pickup we waited for the boat and once on had the opportunity to sit inside or outside. The on boat facilities provided some refreshments (sandwiches, crisps, drinks, etc). There’s plenty of photo opportunities on this journey of a verity of San Francisco landmarks.

On arrival you’ll disembark and be greeted as a large group by the Rangers, who will give you some advice, information and offer answers to any questions. Afterwards you’ll head to collect the audio sets to begin the tour of the site. This was nice and easy simply being asked how many people are in your group and what language you’d like. They give you a quick explanation of how to work it and troubleshoot any issues on the spot. I would recommend to make use of the pause and start function a lot so that you can make the most of looking into cells, rooms and wander the site. Otherwise you’re set to go!

You can spend as much or as little time as you would like, at the end simply dropping off the audio sets and going through the gift shop. There are toilet facilities on the site too. All that’s left is going back to get the return boat back to San Francisco. It’s worth making note of the timings for boats so that you don’t wait too long in a queue for one.

Overall, we all enjoyed the visit and learned a lot. No visit to San Francisco would be complete without visiting here!

The visit was interesting. We did it through Viator and I do not recommend it. We paid almost twice as much and had to find our own life. Nobody contacted us. When we arrived at the ticket office, we were told that the tickets were taken by them and that was our only contact. Much better to do the excursion on your own than with viator

We visited Alcatraz Island in October 2024 & it was absolutely incredible.
Walking around the island, knowing it’s where the infamous Birdman of Alcatraz once was & also where Escape from Alcatraz & the underrated, The Rock were filmed was surreal. Some of our favourite movies brought to life as we walk around.
The audio tour was fantastic, giving us chilling yet fascinating insights into the history of the prison.
The views of San Francisco & the bay are stunning & exploring the cell blocks really made you feel the weight of the history here.
As a couple, we both loved every moment. History, movies, & scenery all rolled into one unforgettable experience.
Definitely a must-visit if you’re in the Bay Area

Excellent excursion me and my family enjoyed this from start to finish. Would definitely recommend the trip, thank you

My son and I came from Texas to visit Alcatraz Island.. I have been waiting to do this almost 40 years as I’m a huge Clint Eastwood fan and I told myself in my teenage years I would come visit Alcatraz.. and after waiting 40 years it did not disappoint.. although we shared the day with hundreds of others it still didn’t lose its intimacy for me. There is a lot of construction going on there but it still doesn’t lose its appeal. We went to all parts of the island sparked conversations with strangers and rangers that were there. One Ranger named Donna went out of her way, well to some people it would be out of her way but for her it just seemed natural to converse and answer all the questions we had and it just made the day perfect. I can tell she is passionate about her job . It was a total 10 experience imo. I will def not wait 40 years to go back.
Alcatraz This Texas Family Thanks You!

Audio tour of the cell blocks was very informative. Though somewhat crowded, still able to see and take pictures with ease. We even got to meet a former inmate who was there signing his book in the gift shop, so that was an unexpected treat. Ferry going in and out was an easy process.

Always wanted to visit. We'd heard and watched so much about Alcatraz and its prisoners, but wow, there was a whole lot we didn't know!
If you can, go on the behind the scenes and night tour. Stanford was our guide and he was so knowledgeable about it, he really brought it to life. Glad we went

Take food and snacks (no obvious catering options) and stay for longer than the 2 hour audio tour. Plenty of other things to look at, not least the city skyline. Actually worth a short day.
The audio tour us not well signposted on the audio or signs so pay close attention to directions and follow them! Loads of people getting lost and out of sync.
The shop is very reasonably-priced and some good stash so dwell there for a bit.
If you get a chance watch "Escape from Alcatraz" in advance. Was really enjoyable having the film come to life infront of our eyes.
The native Indian exhibition was worth a good 30 mins alone.

Interesting place to visit. Access is via a timed ticked on the ferry at Pier 33. These run every 30 mins or so throughout the day. The journey to the island is timed but you can come back whenever you are ready. There are various talks throughout the day, advertised on a chalkboard when you arrive. We did the 'escape' talk which was excellent. The rest of the island is a self guided tour with a headset which was well narrated. It is really busy so it is good to get on one of the first ferries of the day so you can move on when it gets really busy.

Leave early in the morning to be in the first boats around 9:30 (Alcatraz City crossed) from Pier 33 so avoid the crowds. If you’re a little ahead, visit the sea lions who are lounging at Pier 39 and attracting people. Arrivals, a very good Welcoming where we are explained the course of our visit. Don’t forget to take the map of the Island. Audio guides are free and allow you to go at your own pace. Not all the visit is with, especially the part of the island with birds or old gardens. Count 3 good hours in total (take water up! And good walking shoes.

We made reservations a couple of weeks in advance since we knew it might be sold out on the Saturday that we were going. The boat ride over to Alcatraz Island seats a lot of people - both inside and outside. The audio tour is a must! A person would miss out on so much is they chose not to do the audio tour. You pick up the headphones in one of the buildings at the top of the incline. The audio tells you specific things to look at and where to walk. The stories on the audio are so interesting. We stayed for about 2 hours and then took the boat back to SF. The boat has lots of snacks you can purchase, which was great.

I visited Alcatraz many years ago and decided I visit again during my stay in San Francisco, I wasn’t disappointed. Booked at the ticket office with very helpful staff for the following day. Arrived the next morning and boarded the ferry on a beautiful sunny day. The island is still a very interesting place, the audio tour gives real insight and I had plenty of time to explore the island and take many photos. A very enjoyable visit. The ferry back to the city was made even more thrilling with the Blue Angels practicing in the bay ready for Fleet Week.

Lived in CA almost all my life and this was the first time I’ve ever been. I’m so glad I went. It’s such a neat experience. Highly recommend you build it into your itinerary.

Our favourite experience in san francisco. Really good, fascinating, and very interesting book tickets online and opt for first ferry, when island less busy.

Beautiful experience. Decided at the last minute to book with the local shipping company saving considerably compared to GetYourGuide x example. The visit is in fact the same for everyone. Audio guide in Italian included. Only negative note: lots of flies x way of the eco system of this time of year.

Great tour and very informative. The audio tour was really interesting and well designed. We all loved it, parents and our young adults/teens

The audio tour of the prison, narrated by former guards and inmates, brings the eerie atmosphere to life with vivid stories of escape attempts and daily prison life.

Interesting and nice trip but above all well organized despite the many participants we did not wait long for both departure and return.
Attention book well in advance

Amazing! To do absolutely. The audio guide is in French which is great. The explanations are told in the form of a story, it is captivating.
If you are going to San Francisco, I recommend it +++

Visiting Alcatraz Island is an unforgettable experience. Located in the middle of San Francisco Bay, the island is most famous for housing the notorious federal penitentiary that once held infamous criminals like Al Capone and "Birdman" Robert Stroud.

The tour starts with a scenic ferry ride, offering views of the Golden Gate Bridge and the San Francisco skyline. Once on the island, you're free to explore at your own pace. The self-guided audio tour inside the prison is captivating, featuring firsthand accounts from former inmates and guards. As you walk through the cell blocks, solitary confinement areas, and the warden's office, you can feel the heavy atmosphere of its past.

The stories of escape attempts, prison life, and the complex history of the island make the visit deeply interesting.

The island can get quite crowded, so booking tickets in advance is highly recommended. The overall experience is well-organized, with knowledgeable staff.

Alcatraz is a must-visit if you're in San Francisco. It’s more than just a former prison—it's a walk through a complex piece of American history.

Very interesting visit, impressive to see how inmates were kept in extremely small cells, and also the island is actually stunning.

This is a must see on a trip to San Francisco. There is so much history on this island, and the views of the bay area are incredible. The park rangers were really friendly and had many great stories.

I feel like the idea of Alcatraz is just as cool as Alcatraz itself. It’s not very historically significant or architecturally beautiful, it really is just an abandoned prison on an island. I’m the type of person who usually spends hours at museums but I felt like I had gotten my fix 30 minutes in. Plus, this place is extremely crowded, and there was a line to take the ferry back to the city.

I don’t think you’re missing out at all if you skip this on your SF trip.

Very nice experience and walk. It starts by taking the Alcatraz Cruises ferry at pier 33 and a 15 minute crossing approx. It is very well organized, they deliver audio guide and blueprint to make the visit at your own pace (2 hours is fine). Amazing to be in that old prison, today museum, and to know the history.

Great tour taken to island by boat where you are given a talk by a park ranger the things to do and not to do then off you go walked around the island listened to a talk in the laundry room about the prisoners the work they did make your way to the block where the prisoners where kept take the head phones and listen to the guards and prisoners as you walk around it is a great tour you should not miss if in san francisco

Absolutely lovely trip, boat ride out was stunning with sightings of seals, once docked you can explore the island before the buildings to avoid the crowds, an audio tour is available or a diy experience, really interesting and historic tour, you can spend as much time as you want, boats back to mainland are frequent.
Well worth the visit and we didn't pre book as out of season and saved a lot of money but in high season I wouldn't risk it. Would thoroughly recommend

If your in San Francisco a trip
to Alcatraz is a must.
Make sure you book in advance this is a very popular activity.
Once you arrive at the island you collect a set of headphones that guides you around the island and tells the story of Alcatraz

Have always wanted to visit Alcatraz, and it was a little disappointing.

The prison doesn’t have an awful lot of literature to read about .
There must be a lot of history , but didn’t feel there was much to read about.

Would still recommend .

The ferry trip, is always busy especially on the way back, so be prepared to wait .

We enjoyed our tour of Alcatraz. It gives the visitors a realy good idea of what the prison was like when it was open and operational.

The tour was very organized. Your ticket includes the ferry ride to and from the island along with the pre-recorded radio tour. You get a specific departure time from Pier 33 but can return on any ferry. The ferry itself only took 15 minutes. When we arrived, there is a ranger giving an explanation on what to do and what to expect. The main event is the pre-recorded audio self-tour….. which is a “Walkman” attached to a headset. The “Walkman” wasn’t difficult to use. It did a good job of giving you an understanding, feeling, narration of the various parts of the cellblock. It also gives the perspective from various people; from inmates, to family members to prison guards.

Things to keep in mind: It can get windy and drizzly. Bring and wear appropriate clothing. There is no food available on the island, only on the ferry. There are water filling stations, but no place to purchase water aside from the ferry. It is a steep climb from the ferry landing to the main cellblock.

There were other parts of the island that we didn’t explore due to time constraints. It is very iconic and definitely worth your time.

Unfortunately due to time we could not visit this island with its famous prison now transformed into a museum and first city attraction. We came close on the boat.

Amazing experience go to Alcatraz! I don’t know they can lose it when going to San Francisco, important to book days before entry, they sell out.

Lucky enough to do the behind the scenes tour, two guides with us giving the history and different stories of inmates and guards. It was expensive, but was worth every penny.

What a magical experience, really enjoyed our trip to Alcatraz prison.
To walk in the footsteps of Robert strode and Al capone and not forgetting actors such as telly savalas and clint eastwood, sean connery.
A must do experience

This is a fantastic and perhaps essential stop for any visit to San Francisco. The audio tour features recordings of actual guards and inmates, providing an intimate and compelling perspective on life at Alcatraz. The cell block and prison yard are fascinating, as is the entirety of the island. The ferry to the island by Alcatraz City Cruises is great for views of the city, Alcatraz, and in the distance, Golden Gate Bridge.

A really interesting trip.

Book tickets directly online - avoiding other resellers who add to the actual ticket price. It's very well organised. Show your ticket... wait in an organised queue, scan the ticket and get on the ferry. It has toilets if you need them! We went to the top deck to enjoy the views but you can get on the ferry, turn immediately left and stand at the very front of the boat which was the best place to be! The ferry is not crowded.

When you land you listen to the ranger explain about how it works - you can then walk up the slopes to the top or if you have mobility issues there is a free land train service which was really good - they are super helpful. There is also a lift to move into the cellblock too. There are bits you can't see with mobility issues as there are a lot of steps or slopes to navigate. The land train only stops at the very top and bottom.

You get the walking tour device at the top of the hill as you enter the cellblock. It talks you round - but pause it at the recreation area and walk outside. Go across the yard to the metal door diagonally opposite and you can walk down the steep steps and see the sea bird colonies and have a great view of the GG bridge. Retrace your steps and carry on with the tour.

It's an informative tour and you can see the cells setup as well as go in one and in the solitary confinement cell.

Even in the gift shop there are informative signs and artefacts to see.

It's worth walking the slope or steps to the lighthouse as you get great views over another large seabird colony of 4000 birds and great views of Bay bridge and the city.

On the way back, you can get great views of the GG bridge and maybe see harbour porpoises or even humpback whales!

Great tour, really well organised and run. The rangers are great and superhelpful.

We thought it would take 1 hour to dash around the island but truly, take your time.
If you're not the fittest, walk slowly up the hills and staircases.
It's a great workout with lots of routes and so much more than just the cells.
You can walk around to the lighthouse, gardens, up the steep stairs at inmate arrival security booth at the back of the island to the outdoor rec yard and around and back up the incline to the special exhibitions. You can easily spend a full 3 hours or more here.

The gift shop is also worth a visit and is well-stocked.
We were able to meet the last surviving inmate Mr. William Baker who was there for his book signing. He was such a humble guy and loved meeting visitors from all over the world!

You can get your postcards stamped with the date of your visit as a keepsake souvenir. Ask the cashier to stamp it for you. Believe the hype, this is a MUST-SEE on your visit to San Francisco!

A piece of history that shouldn't be overlooked. As spooky as they say it is, The kids that grew up there bc their parents worked there can shed some light via a movie that you watch to know they were normal kids with a normal life