Alcatraz Island

A must visit National Park in SFO.
With your paid ticket you get free admission to 4-5 other San Francisco area.
This island prison was for the most vicious criminals.
The stories sent chills up my spine.
The audio is super full of informative stories with sound effects.
The island is a sanctuary for many species of birds. Once migration begins for some of them, areas are protected so they can breed.
We had a great experience.
Dress warm or you will be cold and uncomfortable the entire time you are there.
Keep in mind you are surrounded by water and all the buildings are concrete and cold!
Make your reservation on line, it will save you a lot of waiting.

The prisoners who were once on Alcatraz were doing hard time and the worst of the worst. Now, you can see and learn about what life was like for those men and the men who guarded them. Surprisingly, the wardens had an actual mansion on the island and the guards lived in apartments on the island with their families!

The ferry boat ride over and back is definitely a big part of the experience as you approach and leave the island and can see the bay and San Francisco also. Once on Alcatraz, the Park Service ranger gives you an overview and then you can tour the main prison building (cellhouse) and other limited areas. I definitely recommend the included audio tour, where you hear the voices of some actual prisoners and guards describing what life was like.

They also explain and there is a current exhibit about the American Indian occupation that took place after the prison closed. It too was an important piece of American history to know about.

We booked through the authorized (by the Park Service) provider, Alcatraz CityCruises via their web site. Reservations in advance are recommended and they leave out of Pier 33 in the Fisherman's Wharf area. They recommend arriving 30 minutes or more early. We did and were actually able to get on a boat that was just getting ready to leave (otherwise we would have had to stand in line for 30 minutes for our scheduled departure).

I had made Alcatraz Tour reservations a couple months prior to the COVID pandemic and called the booking agency in mid-April 2020 to cancel due to obvious reasons. I was informed that Hornblower Classic Cab, the operator, would be refunding the charge, however, City Info Experts, the marketer, was not so willing and elected to instead provide a credit (good for 5 years) for the next time I use their services. In order to use this credit, I must call the company and let them know that I have it with them and, I assume, the original confirmation from the order to verify the transaction took place. I have a feeling they are just hoping people forget they have the credit and just pocket the processing fee as I suspect most people will not remember having it or retain documentation to prove they have it, especially if it's another 3 years before they re-book the tour. I'm a bit taken aback and disappointed that they wouldn't offer a refund and get a sense ownership lacks compassion even during a pandemic crisis. That being said, I definitely will try to avoid using their services going forward.

This is someplace that has been on my bucket list for a number of years. So a few things I like to know about someplace before I go is the tour self guided or by guided tour only? This was a self guided tour with lots of displays with more info for each place you stop along the audio guide route. The boat trip only took I think 15 to 20 mins and the boat was crowded and was the dock when we got to the island. The prison is on top of a steep incline took about 15 mins to get to the top and we went in to start our tour. It took about an hour to get through the whole audio guide and there are a few steps but the area being seen is flat and on one level. There are several places that are closed off and not viewable by the public. The gift shop was very picked over on the way out of the prison block they were either out of stock or did not restock otherwise I would have picked a tshirt for sure. Overall was a great visit and would highly recommend this informative and visually stimulating experience (stunning views of the bay and San Francisco) to anybody in the bay area with half a day that needs to be filled.

Great visit, well worth all the hype. Tours were sold out so we were very glad to have booked months in advance. The system for boarding ferry is efficient and moves fast.
The audio tour was well done, and moved through the cell block nicely. Definitely bring snacks and a drink and be prepared to spend time walking the island after the tour - it is beautiful with stunning views back to the city.
Queue for the return ferry starts 20 min before depart time.
Highly recommended.

Exploring Alcatraz was fascinating. I debated paying the extra $ to take the cruise that docks on the island & am glad I did! The tour guide gave us a great overview when we arrived & then took us on a basic tour to get us started, after which I went to the current exhibit marking the 50th anniversary of the Indian Occupation of the island.

The Indians of All Tribes occupied the abandoned island and began the Red Power movement that has continued through Standing Rock and more. The art, photos, & personal stories were powerful.

Next was the traditional Alcatraz exhibits and audio tour. It's all self-paced after the tour guide's beginning tour, so I wandered around for about four hours to see everything. There were two small booklets available for $1 each about the island and escape attempts that I was happy to buy. It's easy to imagine it as an active prison, especially with the audio tour that included the voices of actual former Alcatraz guards & prisoners. The contrast of the warm community of Indians of All Nations and the harsh prison was hard to wrap my head around, but in either case, the grounds themselves were absolutely beautiful, filled with greenery and flowers of all kinds, and the views of the city skyline, the Bay Bridge, and the Golden Gate Bridge were amazing.

I highly recommend visiting Alcatraz. They say the average visit is around two and a half hours, but if you don't have kids rushing you along, I'd plan to stay longer - there is just so much to absorb!

My daughter and I visited Aalcatraz in January this year. Such a beautiful spot with stunning views of San Francisco. We had thought we might be a bit underwhelmed by the tour of the actual prison but the Audio Tour was superb. Being narrated by former inmates and prison guards the Alcatraz experience was really brought to life for us. We would recommend catching the ferry in the morning so you have plenty of time to explore the island before the final ferry leaves in the afternoon.

Alcatraz was the first thing I booked (after flights) for our whole USA trip, you def have to book months in advance otherwise you will really miss out!

It was one of the highlights of my whole trip, we absolutely loved it. We went on the first trip across, i would 100% recommend doing this as you are then the first on the island and don’t have to queue to start the tour! When we came out the queue to get in and get your headphones and pack for the tour was super long!

The tour itself is fab, I love that it was self guided and told by former inmates, I learnt a lot and felt that nothing was missed.

I would a million percent recommend visiting, but remember to bring a jumper and don’t wear shorts (even in summer as it’s chilly!!)

Not being able to visit inside the cell block, or any building on the island except the restroom was disappointing - thanks to the virus. Passengers on the ferry were limited to 150, which takes about 15-20 minutes each way. But all you can do is walk outside the buildings which kept my visit to just over an hour, including a 5 minute stop at the gift shop. They could have discounted the tickets or allowed smaller groups to enter the buildings for a limited time, but that was not an option. Although it was nice to see the island, if you want to fully enjoy your tour experience and get your money's worth, consider waiting until after this virus mess is over.

Incredible experience, from beginning to end. The ferry ride was very enjoyable and scenic, about 5-10 in duration. They had a departure every 20 minutes I believe. The line was not long at all, and the wait was not tremendous as they allow lots of people on the ferry at once. Once you arrive on the island, it is a self guided tour, they provide you with a audio recording to listen to. It is very very well made and full of interesting facts and details. You are allowed to see pretty much everything and you are free to wonder around the entire island, in and out of the building for as long as you like. I strongly recommend that you do not only limit yourself to the inside of the building. The basketball court and the outdoor facilities were very interesting to see as well. I was lucky enough to visit on a very beautiful afternoon, therefore the views of the city and the golden gate from certain parts of the island are truly jaw dropping. Worth every penny!