Alcatraz Island
America’s most famous prison, a short ferry ride and a world away from San Francisco.
Photo: Chris6d · CC BY-SA 4.0
Alcatraz guide: how to book ferry tickets from Pier 33, the cellhouse audio tour, night tours, the 1962 escape and what else to see on the island.
Out in the cold currents of San Francisco Bay, Alcatraz served as a military fort and then, from 1934 to 1963, as a maximum-security federal penitentiary. Al Capone and George “Machine Gun” Kelly were among its prisoners. In 1962, Frank Morris and the brothers John and Clarence Anglin escaped on a raft made of raincoats and were never found.
The award-winning cellhouse audio tour is narrated by former guards and inmates, and it makes the cramped cells, the dining hall and the isolation block feel very real. Outside, you will find gardens planted by prison families, nesting seabirds and stunning views of the city and the Golden Gate Bridge.
The island also tells another story: from 1969 to 1971, Native American activists occupied Alcatraz, and their graffiti is still visible on the water tower. Ferries leave from Pier 33; night tours add special programs and the city lights.
Don’t miss
- 1The cellhouse audio tour
- 2The cells used in the 1962 escape
- 3The night tour with the city lights
- 4Views of the Golden Gate Bridge from the island
Insider tips
- Buy tickets only through Alcatraz City Cruises, the official ferry operator.
- Bring layers: wind on the island is strong even on sunny days.
- Plan 2.5–3 hours, including the ferry.
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