3 Best Alcatraz Tours

Check out this 3 Best Alcatraz Tours list if you plan a trip to San Francisco. A trip to Alcatraz Island is a must-do during your visit to San Francisco. The famous legendary prison island on San Francisco Bay makes a huge impression. Prison cells, thick walls, and bars make you move your imagination to the movie Escape from Alcatraz. What are the 3 best Alcatraz tours? What to choose when visiting San Francisco? In this post, we share our photos and reviews from the best Alcatraz tours we made. We share our opinions and tips on booking an Alcatraz ticket.

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The Best Alcatraz Tours: photo collage with Alcatraz island, prison buildling and sunset over San Francisco.

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The 3 Best Alcatraz Tours – Introduction

One of the most famous prisons in the world is Alcatraz, California. It is worth visiting during a trip to San Francisco. The choice of Alcatraz Island tours is huge, so you may be confused about what to book.

In this post, Chris and I present the best Alcatraz tours and photos we took during our visits to San Francisco. We also share some tips about booking tickets. We hope it can help you decide which Alcatraz tour to choose when you visit San Francisco.

Most importantly, we will also tell you how to get to Alcatraz on your own, how to buy a ferry ticket, and how to get an entrance ticket to the prison so that you can visit this landmark at your own pace.

Trip Tip Planning: If you plan a trip to San Francisco, check out our related articles: San Francisco 3 Days itinerary, Where to Stay in San Francisco? and Yosemite National Park 2 Days Itinerary.

the best alcatraz tours: cells in prison and bars in the doors.

the best alcatraz tours: main building of the prison.

Facts About Alcatraz Island & Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary

The beginnings of the Alcatraz Prison

The Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary is also known as the United States Penitentiary, Alcatraz Island, or The Rock.
Alcatraz Island is located 1.25 miles (2.01 km) off the coast of San Francisco.
The main prison building was built in 1910–1912 as a United States Army military prison. But Alcatraz also used to be a lighthouse, a military fort. The island became a prison of the Federal Bureau of Prisons in 1934.
It was a maximum-security federal prison. Moreover, the Island location and cold waters of San Francisco Bay allowed believing prison operators that Alcatraz is escape-proof and America’s strongest prison.

the scenic view of the San Francisco with the ALcatraz island in the backdrop.

alcatraz island with the main prison buildling.

The most famous convicts

Alcatraz prison could house 450 convicts in cells measuring about 10 feet by 4.5 feet (3 meters by 1.5 meters), but no more than 250 prisoners ever occupied the island at one time.
Alcatraz served as a prison for the most dangerous convicts in the American penitentiary system. Among its famous denizens were Al “Scarface” Capone, George “Machine Gun” Kelly, Robert Stroud, the “Birdman of Alcatraz,” and Alvin “Creepy Karpis” Karpowicz. During the Alcatraz tour, you will see the cells of some of them.

cell in prison with a desk and musical instrument: organ and sheet music on it.

Escape from Alcatraz

There were 14 known attempts to escape from Alcatraz, involving 36 inmates. 23 inmates were captured, six were shot and killed during their attempted getaways, two drowned, and five went missing and were presumed drowned.
From May 2 to May 4, 1946, the “Battle of Alcatraz” took place. 6 inmates tried to escape from Alcatraz. Prisoners overpowered their guards and obtained firearms and keys to the cell block. U.S. Marines stormed the cell block and suppressed the incident. Two guards and three escapees were killed. Moreover, more than a dozen guards were wounded. A few inmates did manage to escape from Alcazar island. But it is unknown whether they survived in the cold waters of San Francisco Bay.
The 1979 Clint Eastwood movie Escape from Alcatraz popularized this famous escape attempt. It is worth seeing before an Alcatraz tour.

A wire fence in a prison overlooking the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco.

One of the old prison buildings destroyed and overgrown with grass.

The End of Alcatraz Penitentiary

The Alcatraz Penitentiary was shut down in 1963 because its operating expenses were too high. Throughout the years, Alcatraz housed 1,576 men.
From November 1969 to June 1971, Alcatraz Island was occupied by Native American activists. They were protesting the U.S. government’s ongoing economic, social, and political neglect of Native Americans.
Alcatraz Island became part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area in 1972 and was open to the public in 1973.
Since 1980 is organized Escape from Alcatraz Triathlon. The event includes a 1.5-mile swim to San Francisco, plus an 18-mile bike ride and an 8-mile run.

A large barred prison window and under it black and white photos with portraits of the most famous prisoners.

Best Alcatraz Tours: main buildling with the guard tower.

Tips Before You Book the Best Alcatraz Tour

Is the Alcatraz tour worth it?

The tour of Alcatraz is worth it. A trip to the famous Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary is extremely attractive educational, historical, and architectural. A visit to San Francisco without seeing the most famous USA prison is incomplete.

Should I book the best Alcatraz tour tickets in advance?

Definitely, Alcatraz Island is a trendy place. And it is worth booking a trip well in advance. Otherwise, you can get stuck in the 3-4 hour line waiting for the island’s ferry and not getting a ticket. Tickets to Alcatraz are in high demand, so it happens that you can’t get to the ferry without an earlier booking. Alcatraz Tours can fill up about 90 days in advance, especially during tourist peak months.

During a pandemic, booking is mandatory due to a limited number of places.

The flag of the United States on the ferry to Alcatraz.

How long does the best Alcatraz tour last?

All Alcatraz Island tours depart from and return to Pier 33 Alcatraz Landing, along the Embarcadero. It takes about 15 minutes to get by ferry to Alcatraz Island. Visiting the prison will take approximately 2 hours. So, book for your Alcatraz trip for around 3 hours.

Is it better to visit Alcatraz in the morning or afternoon?

Visiting Alcatraz is interesting both during the day and at night. The early morning was the best for us because we could focus on photos.

Alcatraz Island and prison during sunset tour.

Can you go to Alcatraz Island without a tour?

Yes. You don’t have to buy an organized tour, but you must pre-book your ferry and ticket on the official website. Well in advance. Otherwise, you may not be able to get to the famous Alcatraz Island. You’re stuck in the line.

All Alcatraz Island tours depart from and return to Pier 33 Alcatraz Landing, located along San Francisco’s northern waterfront promenade.

When you get by ferry to Alcatraz island, you will get the Cellhouse Audio Tour at the ticket price. You can stay on Alcatraz Island as long as you like, but you can enjoy the Cellhouse Audio Tour for two hours.

Check the ferry departure schedule to get back to the mainland. It is also the cheapest option to visit Alcatraz. A return ferry ticket and entry to the prison with an audio guide cost only $45,25. The prison sightseeing is possible only with the audio guide.

old abandoned prison building in the morning

Prison buildings and blue water in San Francisco Bay

buildlings on Alcatraz Island and the ferry to Alcatraz starting mooring.

The 3 Best Alcatraz Tours

Alcatraz Early Morning Access Tour

We decided on Alcatraz Early Morning Access Tour. We wanted to visit the Alcatraz prison when there were no crowds yet to feel the atmosphere of this place and take good photos. And that was a great idea. We could easily see the prison’s interior, courtyard, and other corners of the island. Moreover, we could take pictures with no random people in the frame. It’s important for us, as we love taking pictures. We could enjoy the exploration of Alcatraz island. So, if you want to avoid crowds is one of the best Alcatraz tours.

stairs leading to the prison and an American flag

Sunset Cruise over San Francisco Bay

Last evening in San Francisco, we chose a Sunset Cruise on a Luxury Catamaran. On this trip, you do not descend to Alcatraz island but sail past it. But it’s an amazing experience. The views were stunning. It was relaxing sailing by Alcatraz Island, Sausalito, and the Golden Gate Bridge.

The Alcatraz prison by night, just after sunset

View of the San Francisco city skyline and Golden Gate Bridge as the Pacific Ocean’s sunset were breathtaking. The Alcatraz prison looked a little creepy and majesty under the night lanterns. We could imagine how convicts tried to escape from the rocky island under cover of night.

Moreover, the price of this Sunset Cruise is affordable, and the experience is amazing. It’s one of the best Alcatraz tours. Therefore, we can honestly recommend it. It can be an interesting option, especially for couples who want a romantic evening.

Golden Gate Bridge during sunset tour to Alcatraz.

Other Exciting Alcatraz Tours

We have been to San Francisco many times. We love this city, and we visit it often. But we have made two Alcatraz tours so far. We can only recommend tours that we did. But of course, the choice of offers is much wider, depending on your interests or needs.

On our dream list is Scenic Flight Tour. We would love to fly over San Fransisco Bay, taking in views and photos of the Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz Island, Muir Woods, and more.