5 Must-See Spots of Alcatraz Island on San Francisco Bay - Tips, Maps and More

Alcatraz Island 

A visit to Alcatraz Island is a must when in San Francisco. The place oozes history. The audio tour is great and the talks given by the Island Rangers is very informative & funny. 

If this is your first time to go Alcatraz Island, you'd better know that visiting Alcatraz is partially a self guided experience which you can do at your own pace. National Park Service staff offer numerous free programs throughout the day on a variety of topics: escapes, military history, American Indian occupation, natural history, etc. 

Alcatraz Island Map

Alcatraz Landing Parking Facilities

There is no parking on Pier 33. Follow dotted path to nearby parking facilities. 

Things to do on Alcatraz Island 

 1. The Ferry Trip 

The ten minute ferry trip to Alcatraz from Pier 33 may be short, but during that time you'll see the most fantastic scenics of the Bay you can imagine. As the ferry zooms out you'll see the Golden Gate Bridge, the Bay Bridges, Treasure Island, Angel Island, Coit Tower, the TransAmerica Building, Sausalito, the East Bay and, of course, Alcatraz Island. 

 2. Cellhouse Audio Tour 

Stop to picture yourself in a dark solitary confinement cell, hear the stories of life inside from former inmates, and feel the intensity of a prison breakout from correctional officers who lived and worked on the Island. The Cellhouse audio tour is available in Dutch, English, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Mandarin, Portuguese, Russian and Spanish.

 3. Alcatraz Island Gardens 

Walk through breathtaking gardens full of color and life while touring the Island. Through gardening, Island residents created beauty in a place focused on defense, punishment, and confinement. The families of the guards enjoyed tea parties in the gardens, and gardening became a welcome pastime. For trusted inmates, the gardens were an escape from daily prison life. Even today, the thriving gardens are a stark contrast to the somber prison.

Tours leave the Alcatraz dock at 9:45AM every Friday and Sunday. There is no additional charge for the Gardens of Alcatraz tour. In order to participate in historic garden tours, please purchase tickets for the 8:45AM or 9:10AM tour departures.

 4. The Museum 

Throughout the Island you will find hundreds of unique artifacts and reproductions of original artifacts on display. Items include historic photographs, documents, objects made by inmates, items used by correctional officers and much more. Some of the collection is displayed throughout the self-guided tour of the Cellhouse, on the walls and in the cells. Additional pieces are found in the special exhibits inside Building 64, the dockside barracks building.

 5. New Industries Building (Exhibitions) 

The New Industries Building at the northern end of Alcatraz Island is a large open building that houses exhibitions. The building features large windows that face onto the Bay with stunning views of the Golden Gate Bridge.

Hotel in San Francisco

Fairmont San Francisco: Great hotel to stay in. The room is super clean and well maintained with a great view of the bay, Golden Gate Bridge and water front. And the staff was friendly and very helpful.  

Adrress: 950 Mason St, San Francisco, CA 94108-6000.

Tour Tips 

1. For your safety, please listen to the announcements at the dock, since various areas of the island are closed to the public depending on the season.

2. Ferry departing about every half hour until 4:30pm and you can return to San Francisco on any ferry. If you wanna fully visit the island, you may spend at least two to three hours.

3. If you prefer to be on your own to explore you might prefer the day visit, if you prefer a more guided experience you might prefer the evening program (generally available Thursday through Monday). But some areas of the island open during the day are not open in the evening due to safety concerns.

4. Tickets can be purchased 90 days in advance. Book yours as early as possible as they can sell out quickly.

5. Make sure to arrive at Pier 33 at least 30 minutes before your scheduled departure time to get at the front of the queue for the best seats. And grab a seat on the right hand so that you'll end up facing Alcatraz for the duration of the trip.

6. During mid-summer through early fall, Kelp flies on Alcatraz Island are found in large numbers around the dock area and on Alcatraz Cruises boats. It's important to know they do not bite or pose a health risk to island visitors.

Alcatraz Island is a very interesting and historical place. Walk around the island and do the audio tour of the cell block which makes the whole experience unforgettable.

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