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Hey all,
A friend is visiting and I wanna bring her to Alcatraz but the online sales are either sold out or seem like a scam in some websites.
I'm even considering walking to Pier 39 to try to buy tickets in person. Is there a legit website or way you've been able to buy "last minute" (within a week) tickets?
Thanks!
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The ONLY official ticket seller for ferry ride and access is via National Park Service partner Alcatraz City Cruises . Link at NPS site at end of 2nd paragraph https://www.nps.gov/alca/planyourvisit/fees.htm
I use this every time out of town friends visit.
You might consider going to Angel Island. It's a great place to hike around, awesome views of the bay, and they have a snack bar on the weekends.
This is the real answer. Tourists go to Alcatraz. Locals go to Angel Island.
u/edugiansante
it's just as epic a ferry ride as Alcatraz. You see the SF skyline and the golden gate bridge.
If you hike to the top of the small mountain on Angel Island, you can see 360 degrees around the the entire bay.
Watch the clock though. There's only a handful of ferries per day and if you miss the last one ~4pm you're stuck there for the night.
Camping there is epic, too.
from nps.gov:
Purchase Ferry Tickets
Alcatraz City Cruises is the official source for ferry tickets to Alcatraz Island. You may buy tickets online, by phone or in person.
Online: www.alcatrazcitycruises.com
Telephone: 1-415-981-ROCK (415-981-7625)
In Person: At the ferry departure point at Pier 33
The ticket booth sometimes have same-day tickets available, but you have to line up BEFORE they open at 9AM. No guarantees.
As others have mentioned, Alcatraz City Cruises is the only concessionaire approved by the National Park Service to sell tickets to the island. However, other companies do buy these tickets from Alcatraz City Cruises and resell them (usually at a higher price or as part of some kind of tourist package).
If you’re willing to pay more and can find tickets for the day you want, you can try purchasing through these resellers. Maybe use a credit card that has good consumer protection just in case.
Sells out a month or 2 in advance. I bought mine back in June for next week. We’re only a handful of tickets left back then.
its boring and not worth the dough