Alcatraz Island

📍 The Embarcadero 💰 Free 🎯 Landmark

The Verdict

"A federal maximum-security penitentiary from 1934 to 1963 on a 22-acre island 1.25 miles offshore. The 1962 Frank Morris and Anglin brothers escape is still officially unsolved. Book through Alcatraz City Cruises 90 days out (2026 day tour $47.95, night tour from $59.65), ferry from Pier 33, allow 2 to 3 hours on the island. Bring layers."

What you need to know

Alcatraz is a 22-acre island in San Francisco Bay, about 1.25 miles offshore from Pier 33. It operated as a federal maximum-security penitentiary from 1934 to 1963. Inmates included Al Capone, George “Machine Gun” Kelly, and Robert Stroud (the “Birdman of Alcatraz”). Today it’s part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, run by the National Park Service, and draws around 1.7 million visitors a year.

What to Expect

The island has multiple layers of history: a Civil War-era military fortress, the federal penitentiary years, and the 19-month Native American occupation that ran from November 20, 1969 to June 11, 1971. Exhibits cover all three.

The cellhouse audio tour, “Doing Time: The Alcatraz Cellhouse Tour,” is included with admission. It’s narrated by four former inmates and four former correctional officers and runs about 45 minutes. The route moves through the main cellblocks, the dining hall, the library, and the recreation yard.

Plan on 2 to 3 hours total on the island. That leaves time for the gardens, the warden’s house ruins, and the parade ground beyond the cellhouse.

Booking Tickets

Book ahead. Tickets release 90 days in advance and sell out weeks ahead during summer and on weekends.

Where to book: cityexperiences.com. Alcatraz City Cruises (City Experiences) is the only authorized ferry operator. Tickets are non-transferable and require photo ID.

Day Tours: First ferry departs Pier 33 at 8:45 AM. Returning ferries run roughly every half hour through late afternoon. 2026 adult day tour price is $47.95.

Night Tours: Run select evenings. Smaller group sizes, longer time on the island, sunset views. 2026 adult night tour starts at $59.65. These sell out first.

Behind the Scenes Tours: Visit areas not on the standard route, including the hospital ward and gun galleries. Limited departures, higher price.

If your dates are sold out, check the official site for cancellations. Third-party resellers often charge well above face value.

What’s Included

Your ticket covers:

Round-trip ferry from Pier 33
The “Doing Time” cellhouse audio tour
Access to all public areas of the island
Ranger and docent programs (schedule varies)

The ferry crossing takes about 15 minutes each way.

Practical Tips

Dress in layers. The island is exposed and typically 10 to 15 degrees colder than the city, with steady wind. Bring a jacket even on warm summer days.

Wear comfortable shoes. The walk from the dock to the cellhouse climbs about 130 vertical feet over a quarter mile. A switchback path with handrails is available for those who can’t manage the main road.

Food on the island is limited to a small snack and gift area near the dock. Most visitors eat before they board.

Check the return ferry schedule when you arrive. Departures run every 30 to 40 minutes.

Getting There

All Alcatraz ferries leave from Pier 33 on the Embarcadero. This is north of the Ferry Building and south of Pier 39.

By transit: The F Market & Wharves historic streetcar stops at Bay Street, a block from Pier 33. From Embarcadero BART, it’s about a 20-minute walk along the Embarcadero, or a short ride on the F-line.

By rideshare: Drop-off at Pier 33 is straightforward. Allow 30 minutes before your scheduled departure for security screening and boarding.

Parking: Pier 33 has no dedicated lot, and Embarcadero meters and nearby garages run expensive. Transit or rideshare is the more reliable option.

Arrive at least 30 minutes before your departure time. The ferry will not wait for late arrivals.

History Highlights

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

36 prisoners made 14 escape attempts (two men tried twice)
23 were caught, six were shot during their attempts, two drowned, and five remain missing and presumed drowned
The 1962 escape of Frank Morris and brothers John and Clarence Anglin is the most discussed. Their fate is still officially unknown. The 1979 Clint Eastwood film “Escape from Alcatraz” dramatized that attempt.

Robert Stroud, the “Birdman of Alcatraz,” actually conducted all his bird research at Leavenworth before his transfer. He was not allowed to keep birds at Alcatraz.

The prison closed in 1963 because of high operating costs (everything came in by boat) and decades of salt water damage to the buildings. The federal government later transferred the island to the National Park Service in 1972 as part of the new Golden Gate National Recreation Area.

The Native American occupation began on November 20, 1969, when a group calling itself Indians of All Tribes landed on the island and demanded federal recognition of Indigenous land rights. The occupation lasted 19 months, ending June 11, 1971. Graffiti and signs from the occupation are still visible on several buildings.