Alcatraz Island

What you need to know

Alcatraz is a small island in the middle of San Francisco Bay, about 1.5 miles offshore. From 1934 to 1963, it served as a maximum-security federal penitentiary, housing inmates like Al Capone, Machine Gun Kelly, and Robert Stroud (the “Birdman of Alcatraz”). The island’s location, surrounded by cold water and strong currents, made it one of the most escape-proof prisons ever built.

Today it’s one of the most visited sites in the National Park system, drawing over 1.7 million visitors a year. It’s run by the National Park Service, and every visit starts with a ferry ride from Pier 33 on the Embarcadero.

What to Expect

The island tells multiple stories: the Native American occupation of 1969-71, the military fortress that predated the prison, and the 29 years when “The Rock” held some of the country’s most notorious criminals.

The audio tour, narrated by former guards and inmates, is exceptional. You walk through the main cellhouse hearing first-hand accounts of daily life, escape attempts, and what it was like to be locked up within sight of a city you couldn’t reach.

Plan for 2-3 hours on the island. You’ll want time to explore the gardens, the recreation yard, and the various exhibits beyond the main cellhouse.

Booking Tickets

This is critical: Book your tickets as far in advance as possible.

Alcatraz tickets sell out weeks (sometimes months) ahead, especially for night tours and peak summer dates. They go on sale 90 days in advance, and serious planners grab them the moment they’re released.

Book at: alcatrazcruises.com (the only official vendor)

Day Tours: First ferry departs 8:45 AM, last usually around 3:30 PM. Early morning tours are less crowded.

Night Tours: Offered select evenings. Fewer people, sunset views, and a different atmosphere as darkness falls. They sell out fastest.

Behind the Scenes Tours: Extended tours that visit areas not open to regular visitors. Worth it if you’re interested in the history.

If tickets are sold out for your dates, don’t buy from scalpers or “alternative” sites charging premium prices. Check the official site daily. Cancellations happen, and tickets occasionally open up.

What’s Included

Your ticket includes:

• Round-trip ferry from Pier 33
• The award-winning cellhouse audio tour
• Access to all public areas of the island
• Ranger and docent programs (schedule varies)

The ferry ride takes about 15 minutes and offers good views of the San Francisco skyline and the Bay Bridge on the way out.

Tips for Your Visit

Dress in layers. The island is exposed and often windier and colder than the mainland. Even on sunny summer days, bring a jacket.

Wear comfortable shoes. You’ll walk about 2 miles including some steep hills. The path from the dock to the cellhouse is a steady uphill climb.

Eat before you go. There’s only a small snack bar on the island with limited options. Have a proper breakfast or grab food at the Ferry Building before your ferry.

Take the early ferry. The 8:45 or 9:10 AM departures mean smaller crowds in the cellhouse.

Don’t skip the outdoor areas. The recreation yard, the ruins of the warden’s house, and the gardens are all worth exploring. On a clear day, the views of the city and the bay are wide open.

Check the return ferry schedule. Ferries depart about every 30 minutes. Check the return schedule when you arrive so you don’t have to rush at the end.

Getting There

All Alcatraz ferries depart from Pier 33 along the Embarcadero, not Fisherman’s Wharf or Pier 39.

By transit: The F-streetcar stops nearby, or you can walk from Embarcadero BART in about 20 minutes.

By rideshare: Have your driver drop you at Pier 33. Give yourself 30 minutes before departure to collect tickets and board.

Parking: Limited and expensive. Taking transit or rideshare is much easier.

Arrive at least 30 minutes before your departure time. You’ll need to pass through security screening and you won’t be allowed on if you’re late.

History Highlights

Alcatraz operated as a federal penitentiary from 1934 to 1963. During those 29 years:

• 36 prisoners attempted escape in 14 separate incidents
• No escapes were officially confirmed as successful, though 5 escapees were never found
• The most famous attempt was the 1962 escape of Frank Morris and the Anglin brothers, later dramatized in the Clint Eastwood film “Escape from Alcatraz”

Notable inmates included Al Capone (1934-1939), George “Machine Gun” Kelly, and Robert Stroud. Despite his nickname, Stroud actually conducted all of his bird research at Leavenworth. He was never allowed to keep birds at Alcatraz.

The prison closed in 1963 due to high operating costs (everything had to be shipped to the island) and decades of salt water damage to the buildings. Six years later, Native American activists occupied the island for 19 months, from November 1969 to June 1971, demanding the return of federal land to Indigenous peoples. Exhibits on the island tell this story too.

📍 Location: This activity is in The Embarcadero. Explore the neighborhood →

Pro tips

Book tickets as far in advance as possible. They sell out weeks or months ahead. Dress in layers, wear comfortable shoes, eat before you go.