Alcatraz Island Ticket & Official Round-Trip Ferry with Audio Tour - San Francisco

Board the official ferry at Pier 33
and cross to Alcatraz Island

Board the official Alcatraz City Cruises ferry at Pier 33 and cross San Francisco Bay. Alcatraz City Cruises is the authorized provider operating ferries to Alcatraz Island in partnership with the U.S. National Park Service.

The ferry ride to the island takes about 10 minutes. Along the way, you can take in open views of the Golden Gate Bridge and the downtown San Francisco skyline from the water.

Explore the cellhouse
with the audio tour

Once on the island, explore the prison at your own pace with "Doing Time: The Alcatraz Cellhouse Audio Tour." Walk the corridors once home to Al Capone, George "Machine Gun" Kelly, and the "Birdman of Alcatraz," and step inside a solitary confinement cell.

On the audio tour, former inmates and correctional officers share first-hand stories, including the behind-the-scenes details of escape attempts that captivated the whole country.

Discover the island's history,
from military fort to Native American occupation

Before it became a prison, Alcatraz was a Civil War-era military fortress, and in 1969 the Indians of All Tribes occupied the island for 19 months. In the New Industries Building, you can see the exhibit marking the 50th anniversary of the occupation and the political messages left by the occupiers.

The permanent exhibit "The Big Lockup: Mass Incarceration in the United States" connects Alcatraz's past with mass incarceration in the United States today.

Wander the historic
outdoor spaces freely

You can also freely explore historic outdoor spaces such as the Eagle Plaza, Recreation Yard, Sally Port, and Rose Garden. To learn more, join one of the ranger-led interpretive programs held throughout the day. After your visit, take the ferry back to Pier 33.

※ Visitors usually spend about 2-3 hours on the island.
※ The path from the dock to the cellhouse is an uphill walk of about 0.4 km (elevation gain of about 40 m).