Buy timed tickets in advance to avoid queue at box office at Pier 33. The boat queue moved quickly once boarding started. Calm day so the short boat ride was great with soft drinks and snacks available (although lots of people seemed to have brought their own). A guide greets new arrivals at the island pier with the usual H&S info and 2 minute what you will see see. A map for $1 donation is available here, then after a short walk up hill go indoors and watch an introductory film. Then continue up towards the cell block. If you need help walking there is a shuttle that will take you from the pier to the top of the hill where the cell block is. I recommend taking the self guided audio tour but listen carefully to the instructions and look at the signs and stop the tape if you are falling behind to read more of the information or just admiring the view or you might find yourself missing a section. It was interesting to hear the story of the island from multiple points of view - guards, prisoners, families and the special exhibition about the Indian occupation. Having finished inside (at the obligatory shop) and handed back the tape, we wandered around the island (some steep stairs) back towards the dock (parts are blocked off during bird nesting). With great views of San Francisco and the Bay and you can easily see why the "escapees" thought they could swim to freedom and why they probably did not make it.

The whole visit is extremely well organized. The ferry leaves on time, you’re greeted by a park ranger who gives you all the info you need, and the audio guide is excellent (and available in many languages). You can stay on the island until 16:30 (no matter at what time you get there) Only warning, buy your tickets in advance online! In busy seasons, it can be sold out up to 1 month in advance

Booking for the tour was fairly straightforward and the fact that only one company runs the tour makes it very easy. When we got off the boat we attended an information talk given by one of the ranger. Then we headed to watch a short film about the island. Make sure you take the free audio guide and then head to a self guided tour of the prison. There was a special exhibition in one of the buildings however we were unable to get to it. There are some great views of the San Fran city from the island. We spent just over 4 hours at the island, one can easily spend more time but allow at least 4hrs to make the most of your visit. My only comment will be regarding the terms and conditions listed in pre-booked online tickets. It asked us to arrive at the pier an hour in advance and bring an ID for everyone who was taking the cruise. However when we got there, we were told to come back 15mins or so before the boat departure time. We could have used that time elsewhere instead of waiting at the pier in the rain. Also the pier building is closed for renovations, so we had to wait outside in the open with only a few under cover areas. Our ID's were also not checked.

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.