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San Francisco: Alcatraz City Cruises with Ferry & Audio Tour

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$47.95 /person
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About the activity

Alcatraz City Cruises is the only authorized official provider with exclusive ferry services to Alcatraz Island. Explore the island at your own pace with an audio tour and discover its history.

  • Free cancellation
    Cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund.
  • Instant confirmation & Mobile tickets
    Receive your ticket right away. Use your phone or print your voucher.
  • Skip the line
    Get priority entry.
  • Valid
    1 day
  • Includes
    • Round-trip ferry from Pier 33
    • Alcatraz Island admission
    • Award-winning Cellhouse Audio Tour ("Doing Time")
    • Discovery Guide island map
    • Outdoor historic spaces (Eagle Plaza, Recreation Yard, Sallyport, Rose Garden)
    • New Industries Building & 50th anniversary Occupation exhibit
    • The Big Lockup: Mass Incarceration in the United States" permanent exhibit
    • Ranger-led Interpretive Programs
Highlights & Description

Highlights

  • Feel the thrill of crossing San Francisco Bay on the official Alcatraz ferry
  • Explore Alcatraz Island at your own pace with an award-winning audio tour
  • Hear firsthand accounts from former inmates and guards about escape attempts
  • Discover the island's layered history, from a military fort to a prison
  • Wander outdoor historic spaces like Eagle Plaza and the Recreation Yard

Description

Board the official ferry from Pier 33 and cross San Francisco Bay to one of the world's most legendary landmarks. As the only authorized provider in partnership with the National Park Service, Alcatraz City Cruises gives you exclusive access to "The Rock" — with sweeping views of the Golden Gate Bridge and city skyline on the way there and back.

Once on the island, explore at your own pace with the award-winning "Doing Time: The Alcatraz Cellhouse Audio Tour." Walk corridors that once held Al Capone, "Machine Gun" Kelly, and the "Birdman of Alcatraz." Stand inside solitary confinement. Hear firsthand accounts from former inmates and guards about the escape attempts that gripped the nation.

Alcatraz is far more than a prison. Your ticket unlocks centuries of layered history — from a Civil War military fort to the landmark 19-month occupation by the Indians of All Tribes in 1969. Explore the New Industries Building and see political messaging left by the occupiers themselves, alongside a special exhibit marking 50 years since this pivotal moment in Native American history.

A new permanent exhibit, "The Big Lockup: Mass Incarceration in the United States," connects Alcatraz's past to America's present — where 2.3 million people remain behind bars, more than any other country in the world. Outdoor historic spaces — Eagle Plaza, the Recreation Yard, the Sallyport, the Rose Garden — are yours to wander. Ranger-led Interpretive Programs run throughout the day for those who want to go deeper.

Good to know before you go
  • Duration: 2–3 hours on the island
  • The path from the dock to the Cellhouse is ¼ mile (0.4 km) with 130 feet of elevation gain — equivalent to a 13-story building
  • Comfortable walking shoes required
  • A S.E.A.T. Tram is available for guests with mobility concerns
  • Alcatraz weather changes fast — bring a jacket
Meeting point

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Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is the cancellation policy for this activity?
Cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund.
2. When will I receive the confirmation of my booking?
You will receive an email notification right after your successful payment. If you don't see it in your inbox, check your spam or junk mail folder. When the payment is completed you have the option to download your ticket directly.
3. What does the 'skip the line' ticket mean?
'Skip the line' tickets provide the fastest possible entry with no or very little queuing.
4. Are mobile tickets enough or do I have to print them?
Tickets don't need to be printed. You can show your ticket from your smartphone as a PDF.
  • Adults
    18-61 years
  • Seniors
    62-99 years
  • Youth
    12-17 years
  • Children
    5-11 years
  • Infants
    0-4 years
June 2026
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