If I could only visit one site in San Francisco, it would be Alcatraz, hands down. The island's history from military fort to notorious federal penitentiary to the site of a pivotal Native American occupation captures so many different chapters of the city's past and present. I highly recommend the behind-the-scenes tour and, if you can swing it, the evening visit with the live talks and presentations. The night tour offers a completely different atmosphere: smaller crowds, fog rolling in, and richer storytelling from the rangers. One tip: tickets sell out fast, especially for evening slots, so book a few weeks ahead. Easily one of the top attractions on the West Coast, and one of my all-time favorites. read more

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Visiting Alcatraz Island was one of the highlights of our trip to San Francisco. Taking the ferry over with the kids was fun in itself, and arriving on the island on a beautiful sunny day made the whole experience even better. We loved exploring the island and learning about its history. The audio tour is a must--it's included with your ticket and really brings the experience to life in a way that's engaging and easy to follow. Our daughter was absolutely fascinated and stayed engaged the entire time. Our 5-year-old, on the other hand, lost interest about halfway through and mostly enjoyed running around the island while trying to complete the kids' activity form they provided, which still kept him entertained in his own way. Overall, it was a great family experience--educational, scenic, and memorable. Definitely worth doing when visiting San Francisco. read more

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Visiting Alcatraz was one of the main reasons I travelled to San Francisco. I booked my tour tickets a few months in advance and I am glad I did because I overheard they may have been sold out the weekend I was there. The process of boarding the ferry and making it to the island is super organized and there's plenty of staff to help answer any questions. Ranger Ray was assigned to give my behind the scenes tour. He was super knowledgeable about the history of Alcatraz and provided so many details throughout the tour. Prior to concluding the tour, he provided additional information about what to visit on our own time and how the self guided audio tour worked. He really made the experience great. I learned a lot on my tour and am glad to have finally made it here. I highly recommend a visit when in San Francisco! read more

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Review #1111: As someone who grew up in the city, I surprisingly never visited, nor had any interest in visiting Alcatraz until just recently. Aside from knowing that it was a former prison housing notorious inmates such as Al Capone (Cell 181 if anyone was wondering), I didn't know much about the island. As it turns out, the island started off as a fort for the US Army, then later converted to a long-term detention facility for military prisoners in 1868. And eventually designated as a federal prison in 1933. You can choose to do the audio tour, or simply walk on your own pace and direction and read the various placards around detailing the history and points of interest. The cells are quite small and cramped, and truly amazing that prisoners spent years of their lives residing in such cramped quarters. And although each cell contains a crude toilet, the only accessible bathrooms for the public are located at the ferry dock and the cellhouse. Alcatraz was a nice checkbox of local places to see off my list. However, it's also a one and done destination with no real need or desire to go back. read more

Alcatraz Island - Museums Near Me - San Francisco, California

Lived in LA for 26 years and never got to Alcatraz the handle of times I visited the city. So happy I was finally able to go today, and did not know that it was part of the national park system. Also did not know the history and thoroughly enjoyed the audio tour. Very very interesting, and loved the flowers/shrubs and birds, as I enjoy both of the ladder. Nice and helpful employees in the two stores that we shopped in. Highly recommend. My one complaint and that's why I am giving it a four and not a five is that there was a board asking for those two provide advice to the LGBTQ plus community. Have no idea where this came from, or why it is here, and regardless of anyone's views, it is totally inappropriate to be here in the middle of the NPS park and tour. read more

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I was there on a Saturday afternoon. Boat ride was smooth. It was all well organized. I sat in the top deck to catch a good view of golden gate bridge and sky line. There is a lot of walking up steep incline in the island. Audio tour inside the prison was engaging. It was very windy up in the islands. Nesting birds is an interesting sight. There was only 2 restrooms in the island - one below the slope and one all the way up. When I returned to the bottom one, the restroom was broken. I had to climb up again. read more

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To start off, the boat ride to get to and from was pretty cool. It's about a 15 minute boat ride which offer drinks if you'd like. Once you get to the island, there is a tour person that you can stay with or you can wonder off by yourself. In addition, they give you free headphones with audio recording for the self tour which I recommend to get. There are several spots to take pictures. Now you can say you've been to prison read more

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Alcatraz Island tour is a great self guided experience w audio headphones that guide you through the inside of the prison. I really appreciated the Native American occupation exhibit, personally it was powerful and moving. From '69-'71, activists Native American 'Indians' from all Tribes occupied the island for about 19 months to protest broken treaties and federal policies affecting Native communities. They called for the island to be returned and wanted to turn it into a Native cultural and education center. As a visiting Native American from the TO Nation, it was hard not to feel deep emotions viewing this exhibit. A must visit in SF, very impactful and informative. "Welcome to Indian Land" read more

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This is a bucket list item for me, and it turned into a humbling, educational experience that has impacted me moving forward. What made the visit especially powerful was learning about the Occupation of Alcatraz, when Native American activists reclaimed the island in a peaceful protest that lasted nearly two years. This was never included in a single history book that I was taught from. Standing in that space, seeing the remnants of their presence, and understanding the intention behind it added an entirely different layer of meaning. It wasn't just history. It felt like a statement that still echoes today. At the same time, walking through Alcatraz Island forces you to confront the realities of incarceration in America. The experience doesn't shy away from the harshness of the system, and it becomes hard not to reflect on how many of those same issues like inequality, bias, and systemic challenges still exist today. It left me thinking deeply about who ends up in these spaces and why. What made the visit unforgettable was the unexpected opportunity to meet the oldest living former inmate. Meeting Bill Baker brought a human dimension that no exhibit or audio tour could replicate. It grounded everything: the history, the protest, the system, in real lived experience. I purchased his book and I'm eager to read his story. This isn't just a tourist attraction. It's a place that challenges you, educates you, and stays with you long after you leave. read more

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Alcatraz felt less like a prison tour and more like walking into a rare place that's honest enough to tell the full truth about itself. The boat ride already sets the tone, the city getting smaller behind you while this rocky island just sits there in the middle of the water looking unbothered. Everybody knows it for the inmates and escape stories, but once you step on the island you realize it had layers. Military fort first, prison later, then occupied by Native activists who literally changed history, and the city chose to keep the markings and graffiti instead of pretending it never happened. That alone made it feel more real than most historic sites. Inside the cellhouse you see how small the cells actually were. Not movie small, real small. The kind of small that makes you understand why the silence there feels heavy. Then you look outside the bars and can see San Francisco clear as day, which somehow makes it worse knowing freedom was right there but impossible to reach. The audio tour honestly feels like being inside a documentary while you're walking. Doors slamming, voices echoing, guards talking about daily routines, and you start realizing this place ran more like a strict system than a chaotic jail. Organized, controlled, and mentally exhausting. What stood out most was how the island owns both the ugly and the important parts of its past. The harsh conditions, segregation, and the Native occupation are all acknowledged instead of cleaned up for tourists. It doesn't feel glorified, it feels explained. By the time the ferry leaves and the island gets smaller behind you, it hits different. Not scary, not sad, just heavy in a way history usually isn't when it's honest. read more

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Alcatraz Island sits in San Francisco Bay, and the ferry ride out to it from Pier 33 is part of the experience before I even stepped onto the island. The crossing gave me a view of the city from the water that is hard to replicate from land, and as the island got closer and the cell house came into view above the hill, the setting started doing its work on me in a way that was difficult to articulate until I was in it. The walk up from the ferry dock to the cell house is steep and involves a sustained climb that catches some visitors off guard. I found it manageable, but it is worth knowing about if mobility is a consideration. Once inside the cell house, the audio tour took over, and it is genuinely one of the better produced audio guides I have encountered at any historic site. The narration is led in part by former inmates and guards, and hearing those voices describe the same corridors I was standing in gave the tour a texture that a conventional guide cannot replicate. The cell blocks, solitary confinement area, and dining hall were all accessible, and each had its own weight to it. The views from the island back toward San Francisco and across to the Marin headlands were exceptional on a clear day and worth taking time with rather than rushing back inside. The grounds and exterior architecture rewarded slower exploration as well. Tickets sell out well in advance, particularly during peak season, and booking online before my trip was effectively mandatory. The return ferry can back up toward the end of the day, and waiting times have stretched close to an hour during busy periods, so planning my departure from the island with some buffer was worth doing. A morning arrival keeps things more organized on both ends. For anyone visiting San Francisco for the first time, Alcatraz earns its place on the itinerary. read more

Alcatraz Island - Museums Near Me - San Francisco, California

I went on the all-access tour with friends visiting from out of town and it was my first time at Alcatraz. The all-access tour allows you to see some unique areas of the prison and outer grounds. We learned a ton from our guide about not only the federal prison area but also about its origin as a Civil War fortress and when it was a military prison. We continued onto the night audio tour which was worth the additional time spent on the island as you can walk through the cells and imagine life in the prison. It was a bleak and rainy day so we didn't spend much time outside walking around the grounds, but I can see how it could be a nice outdoor tour with good weather. read more

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One of my top places to visit in San Francisco. Been here three times, and I know there's more visits in my future. There is so much incredible and rich history to learn about Alcatraz Island and all that has happened here. You get a self-guided audio tour with admission, and it's so fascinating to walk around and learn about all the different parts of the prison and beyond. They are not afraid of discussing their history, and on this last visit alone, I learned so much more about this island. Once you finish the tour, keep exploring. There is so much more to see than what they discuss. Enjoy the views of San Francisco, the bay, and the bridge. Ticket prices aren't that bad considering all you get - the ferry ride to and from the island, a self-guided tour, and access to explore the island. Definitely book your tickets in advance. If you are visiting during a high-tourist season, these tickets will go fast. And you don't want to miss your chance to visit. A must-visit while on your trip to San Francisco. Highly recommend. read more

Alcatraz Island - Museums Near Me - San Francisco, California

I found Alcatraz to be quite fascinating and found myself reading up on its history after I got home from my trip to Alcatraz! I had been here many years ago but last time I don't think I did the audio tour (or I didn't pay attention). I highly recommend picking up a free headset and doing the audio tour because it adds a lot of color to what you are looking at in the prison. I thought they would go too fast but I actually felt like the audio was going at roughly the same pace as I was walking around, although you can always pause or rewind if you need to. The prison feels very somber. You should definitely step inside the open cells to get a sense of how awfully small the space was. The solitary confinement cells were bigger but you were in the dark for like 23 hours at a time which sounded horrible. The two primary events they cover here: the Battle of Alcatraz and the great 1962 Escape were really fascinating to learn about. I actually bought the book "Alcatraz from Inside" by Jim Quillen from the gift shop to learn more about the prison, and my reading experience was greatly enhanced because I had a better idea of what the layout of Alcatraz was after my tour. The outside of the prison is quite intriguing as well. There is a lot of wildlife around. There's also of course breathtaking views of San Francisco. It made you feel a bit somber if you think about this is what the prisoners would see from Alcatraz. The bathrooms were also pretty clean. They only have two sets of bathrooms on the island though, and no public bathrooms directly in the prison. There is no food or drink sold on the island so don't plan on sitting at a nice cafe here. I highly recommend going on this tour at least once! read more

On a recent trip back to the Bay Area our family toured Alcatraz which is something that we never did when we lived here. After getting off the boat you are given a quick orientation, a walking tour with a guide that shares some history about the island, then off on the self-guided audio tour. After you complete the audio tour you are free to roam the island. This is a great deal of history and the family and I learned a lot. There is a lot of walking so bring comfortable shoes. There are lots of steep inclines/declines so be prepared for that also. It's very chill and windy, so definitely bring a jacket. The views are amazing + there are a lot of unique plants on the island. Overall a great experience and I highly recommend it for residents and tourists alike. read more

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Alcatraz Island has got to be one of the coolest places to visit on the entire planet. A prison island visible from so many viewpoints and available to visit multiple times throughout your stay. There is so much to see and the ferry ride itself is so much fun. Once on the island, the audio tour is worth the listening to. You can hear the former inmates and guards narrate their experiences. Walking through the cells and imagining daily life there is fascinating. The views of San Francisco Bay must have been a small treat in their gloomy days for those past prisoners. It is a must-visit on your SF bucket list. read more

Alcatraz Island - Museums Near Me - San Francisco, California

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This is a must visit historical landmark. Known as the The Rock, this site was originally a military installation and then converted to a federal penitentiary. Alcatraz Island is also well-known for it's past resident, Al Capone. My friend and I decided on the morning tour and booked the first departure, which was at 8:40 AM. E-tickets can be purchased online. The ferry departs from Pier 33 and return sailing schedules are posted throughout the terminal. The early morning departure was perfect as it wasn't too crowded. First thing I will recommend is to dress in layers. The quick journey to Alcatraz Island was windy and cold. Next recommendation is comfortable walking shoes. The walking path to Alcatraz is full of uneven surfaces and the tour is all on foot. The total walking distance from the dock to the cell house is around a quarter mile with incline. The tour takes a little over 2 hours and includes the round trip ferry ride, inside tour of the prison, and cell house audio tour. This was self-guided tour and points of interests are clearly marked. This tour gave us a look into how the prisoners lived and their quarters. The views of the cells are quite interesting and haunting. We could even hear the wind through the window gaps and various creaks from the metal stairs and walkways. The location was isolating and we could feel the separation from the rest of the city. Overall, this was great experience and tour of this historical landmark. There's option for a night tour, however we were catching a flight in the afternoon and didn't have enough time. That'll be on my bucket list of this to do for Halloween. read more

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Don't visit in August! We found out that they have a fly problem every August! I hate flies and it was gross and annoying to have these pesky F'ers landing on you. If you can, plan ahead and buy your tix online. My SILpaid $140 months in advance for the three of us. My son and his gf paid $180 for the two of them, two days before, so plan and save some dough! The island still looked the same as when I first visited thirty years ago. There was some graffiti and that was sad to see. There's other ways to get your point across, taggers! Highly recommend you do the audio tour, it's included in the tour and comes in several different languages. Also, ride the tram that's offered because those hills are very strenuous. It'll take you to the top and bring you back to the ferry dock. Enjoy your visit! read more

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If you're visiting Alcatraz Island, it's definitely something you plan ahead for, you can only get there by ferry, and that boat ride across the bay already sets the tone. Watching the city skyline fade behind you and pulling up to the island feels surreal. Alcatraz used to be a high security federal prison that held some of the most infamous criminals in American history, and now it's preserved as a museum. Walking through the cellhouse, you really feel the history. The audio tour is detailed and immersive...hearing actual correctional officers and inmates tell their stories makes it come alive in a way that's hard to explain. There's something about the atmosphere that feels heavy, almost cold even on a sunny day. The walls, the narrow cells, the isolation...you can't help but imagine what it was like living there. It gives you a different perspective on freedom. Standing in a tiny cell and looking out at the beautiful San Francisco skyline across the water...so close, yet completely unreachable, just hits differently. It's interesting, educational, and honestly a little eerie. Definitely not a rushed experience...give yourself time to explore the grounds, read the exhibits, and just take it in. If you're in San Francisco, this is one of those bucket list stops that's worth it. Unique, historic, and something you'll remember long after you leave. read more

Alcatraz Island - Museums Near Me - San Francisco, California

Labor Day is almost here and we are about to the enter September and to what I refer to SF (Summer/ Fall ) which means we will have what is considered typical hot Summer weather in the beginning of the Fall Season in San Francisco . One atypical thing that this Native San Franciscan enjoys visiting is Alcatraz Island ( I know many Native San Franciscans who never visited). The boat ride to Alcatraz Island builds up the excitement. I usually have the nachos on the boat which are bit tourist trap cheesy. Expect to pay premium pricing just like any amusement or entertainment venue. Alcatraz name was given by Spanish explorer Juan Manuel de Ayala because alcatraces (Alcatraz) meaning pelican. Landing on Alcatraz Island you have views of the San Francisco skyline. Inside Alcatraz prison it seemed like it was nowhere you want to sleep in overnight. The jail cells were small and no way you could have a private bathroom break. The dining room seemed where real food fights went down. This prison was home of Al Capone and also a former surviving prisoner who I met at Alcatraz during a book signing named Williams Baker who was inmate# 1259 who now lives in Ohio. For now Alcatraz is a fun tourist trap attraction. For the future of Alcatraz it is still up in the air. First time going to Alcatraz was when I was in "elementary"always was interested about the history of Alcatraz federal "penitentiary " since learning about it as a kid and watching a "documentary " enjoyed visiting Alcatraz and trying the cheesy Tourist Trap Nachos during the trip and they come separately because they are not "complimentary " Once upon "entry "Alcatraz has jail cells and the hole conditions back then were "rudimentary" where solidarity confinement which prisoners were locked down alone depriving them of the "sensory" escaping the Island was not a option swimming from Alcatraz on the ocean back to land was "treachery" no one swam and made it and escape back to land while it was opened in the early and mid 20th "century" read more

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Beware...August is bird mating season and the docks smell like bird poop and you'll be dodging the poop squad. Birds aside, we did the night tour and it was really cool! We had an hour or two of light and the dark wasn't so scary since they had lights on the island. I highly recommend attending the free live talks led by volunteers. It's a fun way to learn more about Alcatraz and our favorite one was the escapes talk. read more

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I went to Alcatraz when I was a little kid, and the audio tour scared the life out of me. I did not like the low, scary voices of men saying the crimes they committed and all the crazy violence that happened on the island. However, now that I'm older, I had a much better experience on the island. First, we got off our ship to be greeted by a ranger who gave us a rundown of the island. She was very nice and friendly, and I appreciate all the information that she gave us. She also informed us of free guided tours up the hill to the prison, and my friend and I decided to join up with the ranger that was going to talk about some of the island's history as we walked up the hill. The tour was really fun and interactive, and I appreciated the insight into the other buildings on the island, the little photographs that the guide was showing, and the ability to listen to the stories of the other attendees was nice. Once we finally got up to the prison itself, we were given the audio guide and made our way inside. The audio tour gave good insight into how the prisoners lived, what the attitudes were like, and even went into the controversy of solitary confinement. In general, it was a lot easier to stomach all of this information as an adult, so I'm not sure if I'd recommend this experience for young children, but definitely for children over the age of 13 maybe. Once we finished the audio and read some stories of prisoners' lives after leaving Alcatraz, I was thoroughly satisfied with what I learned. I'd bring people back here. read more

Alcatraz Island - One of the pieces of history on the way up to the main building - Museums Near Me - San Francisco, California

As a local, I have never taken the time to tour Alcatraz, until now. Wow, a gem. We are so lucky to have this National Park in our backyard. We arrived at Embarcadero bart, took a 15 minute stroll, picked up our tickets from the booth and waited 20 minutes until we were boarded on the boat. The ride was smooth, had plenty of seats and there was even food and drinks for sale. While on the island, it was really interesting to learn the history of the prison, walk through the actual cells, learn about the Native American struggle, and my kid even did the junior ranger pamphlet and got a badge. A wonderful day trip and so educational. The only thing that was awful, was the fly infestation on the island. Be aware and maybe wear bug spray. read more

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This was a really fun experience. I definitely recommend doing the audio tour, they have different narrators and sound effects and there is great information. The part about the escape was the best. Inside the jail provides great photo opps. Outside there is building toward the back with "alcatraz" painted across the whole roof near the water tower. The views of the bridge and SF city skyline were also great. One disappointment was that the island in September had an unbearable fly infestation. While outside you had to keep moving, if you stopped you would get swarmed with flies. Check if this will be an issue when you visit. They said this was the time of year the flies are the worst. read more

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How would anyone "rate" a historic Island tour? My opinion is, you don't. You instead give a few tips, and share a handful of photos so others know what to expect, and how to prepare for their experience. Is this the "correct" approach? I don't know, but I do know that that's what this review aims to do. __________ SHOULD I GO? __________ -In short, yes. If you're curious in anyway, it's worth taking a few hours to immerse yourself in history through curated exploration. __________ HOW SHOULD I PREPARE? __________ -eat beforehand- unless you like little league game style concessions, eat beforehand.- -wear hill and stair ready shoes- __________ WHAT ABOUT ACCESSIBILITY? __________ -Although the island itself is a steep hill, they do have a selective cable cars for anyone requiring the accommodation. I also noticed most building have been equips with ramps. I'm not sure everything is ramp accessible but a good portion seems to be. __________ HOW MUCH TIME SHOULD I ALLOCATE? __________ -I prefer the think of this spot like a museum. Apart from an audio tour at the prison itself, your tour is unguided, Freeform, and available for you to dive as shallow or deep as you wish. That being said, I was advised to dedicate a full day to this experience but it took us only a few hours to complete our tour. Our tour boat departed around 11:15am and returned around 1 or 2pm (just in time for lunch.) Now go, enjoy, and don't expect to get an epic Golden Gate picture from the boat with your phone camera alone- I def made that mistake. read more

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I have visited San Francisco a number of times over the years, but I had never gone to Alcatraz Island. I went with my daughter during this visit because she wanted to go, and I am so glad she did. We both enjoyed it quite a bit. The audio tour lasts about 35 minutes and is very well done; I learned a lot more history about the island. I also have to admit that being a big fan of the movie *The Rock* was a factor in my interest as well. *Birdman of Alcatraz* and *Escape from Alcatraz* are also two fine movies. read more

Alcatraz Island - The jail you would never want to be in - Museums Near Me - San Francisco, California

This was way more interesting than I thought it would be. I thought it would be just another prison (there's prisons everywhere). But it is so much more. There is so much history here. I highly recommend doing the night tour. The boat ride to the island was lovely, with great views of the island and San Francisco. read more

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Our visit to Alcatraz was great. Definitely purchase tickets online at their official website - it makes it easier to check in at the dock. I saw some other groups who had purchased tickets through a third party and were having trouble checking in. Also, they don't allow any food or snacks on the island once you leave the boat, so make sure you fill up before the ride over. The boat ride was quicker than I imagined, with both indoor and outdoor seating options. I didn't realize that Alcatraz was part of a National Park, very cool. Once we arrived at the dock, we decided to walk up to the jail to do the audio tour before exploring the island. The self-paced audio tour was AWESOME. For one, you can follow along at your own pace, pausing and pressing play whenever you want to. It's easy to follow along throughout the tour. Second, even though the tour was crowded, I could hear the audio very well. The audio had interviews from previous inmates and guards, really bringing the prison to life. After that, we slowly walked around the island, checking out the views and the remains of crumbly old buildings. We also learned a ton about the Native American history of Alcatraz from their huge exhibit. I didn't know anything about the history or the exhibit, so it was neat to learn about that part of the island's history. Our favorite part was getting to meet Bill Baker, a former inmate at Alcatraz. We purchased his memoir and had him sign it. It was a nice souvenir to remember our time, and the book was incredible to read. 10/10 recommend. Overall, plan for a few hours on the island. No food allowed. Purchase your tickets on the official website. Check out the bookstore at the end. read more

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Alcatraz is a must see when in San Francisco. We enjoyed the audio tour through the cell blocks. Interesting history was narrated by former guards and inmates. I realized the current generation doesn't know a lot about Alcatraz since it closed so long ago. So this is a good way to learn. The ferry over is smooth and though crowded, everyone has enough personal space. read more

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Going to San Francisco, this is a must visit historical spot. It's a place you always hear about, read about and see in movies. The supposed prison no one could escape from. Having visited San Francisco a few times in my life, I'd never had a chance to visit the Rock. So when we planned our trip for the holidays, we decided to get tickets early, as to not miss out on another opportunity. When you arrive at Alcatraz Island, you get a brief welcome/intro from the park ranger, and then are allowed to roam the island on your own. The entire experience is a self guided tour, allowing you to visit at your own pace. Check out different buildings, read about the history of the spot and learn about those who once called it home. There was a big exhibit in one building about the Native American occupation of the island after it had closed, the nearly 2 year protest against the government was something I'd never heard about previously. There was also a lot of information about the different work programs the prisoners participated in, from laundry duty to kitchen duty, textiles and many other jobs which they could earn a very small wage, but also reductions in their sentences. They discussed the many attempts at escaping, and the lengths prisoners would go through to try and get out. When you arrive at the cellhouse , you are given an audio handset/headphones for this self guided portion. You learn about the history of the prison, hear stories of events that happened here, and what every day life was like for those who lived here. As I said, I've wanted to do this tour for many years, and this did not disappoint. This was a great experience, and something I'd recommend others check out when visiting the area. some parts were closed due to construction, but with a building this old, that should be expected. read more

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Our family really enjoyed this experience! Definitely buy your tickets well ahead of time as they were sold out the day of when we arrived. The whole process getting over to the island was super smooth and it's easy to find the return times through there website. The audio tour is a must. There was a long line to get your audio tour materials, but it moved quickly. read more

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Definitely worth a trip!! Just know there is no difference in the night your and the daytime your other than price!! Once on the island there is a 30 min audio tour which was very informative. After that you are free to walk about but a lot is closed due to the conditions. The boat ride is included in your ticket price. Book way in advance if you want the behind the scenes tour probably worth it!! Staff was friendly but the traffic sucks and street parking is cheap around the evening time 4.50 hr before 6 and .50 after six. read more

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Took me a whole month to finally write a review of this place. Its a good experience whatever you're a local or traveling to SF. Went during the offseason so there were plenty of tickets to go to this island. The boat ride was only 15 minutes for both ways. And it comes every 30 minutes. Got to meet William Baker when i visited, which he was one of the former prisoners of Alcatraz. It can take at least an hour or more to tour the island and Alcatraz depending on your pace or if you decided to take a break in between the tour. You can get the audio tape to listen to the story of the prison. There's multiple languages for the audio tape. I would recommend this place read more

I enjoyed my visit to Alcatraz. It was a fascinating step back in time. The self-guided audio tour was very well created and provided an excellent glimpse into the history of the prison. There were also special programs on during the day for a demo of the cell doors, as well as a talk about Al Capone. The ferry ride over was great too - on a clear day, I was able to see views of San Francisco, both bridges, and the island up close. I spent roughly 3.5 hours on the island and had to rush back to San Francisco, but I'd recommend budgeting 4.5 hours for those who want to get to know the place in detail. read more

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Alcatraz is NOT reopening. Place is falling apart, in a cool way. The island is not that big so it won't be too difficult to see everything in a couple hours. It IS on a hill so you'll be walking up a bit - it's not too bad. When you arrive there is some leftover Indian messaging from the occupation of the island decades ago. A quick intro tells you about different parts of the island and brief history. There are a few exhibits about the native takeover and there are different sections and buildings to explore. The buildings are either off limits, destroyed, being renovated, or falling apart, some have exhibits in them with more info on history and shows the remnants of the first supermax prison in the US. All the way to the top and you'll do a tour of the cell blocks. Lots of history and info in the self guided tour. It's cool seeing the place as it was when it closed. Things used to be different and you can get a glimpse into the past. Snap a few pics and enjoy a few hours. It was interesting. read more

The ticketing and boarding was smooth. They had a BOGO ticket deal for SF residents which I took advantage of so keep an eye out on their site if you're local. There was not much info on the most famous prisoner there and a legend in pop culture, Al Capone, aside from the audio tour which I didn't want to partake in. Super odd because we figured they'd have a replica of one of his former cells available to see but Cell 181 was weirdly on the 2nd floor, and inaccessible. Or at least more graphics/posters about him. They fcked w/ your notoriety, Al. smh. Also bummed that soo many areas were closed off. A past review mentioned how that's a Covid remnant and that there used to be more access. Still really enjoyed seeing all the buildings, the signage, the replications in the kitchen and various cell quarters though! ESPECIALLY the gardens. So cool how they have the greenhouses everywhere, tiny shacks, and little stairs/paths to and around the garden beds. I was obsessed. Grabbed the only hoodie they sell because I forgot to bring one -- pretty cute and very warm and only $45ish. They have a gift shop with basically anything you could imagine to take home (clothes, magnets, posters, keychains, dishes, dishes, etc). Lots of rules on what you can/can't drink on the ferry/the island (only water bottles allowed on the island technically) but I get it, a ton of people are inconsiderate and would leave trash everywhere. To note -- the island is pretty accessible, with vans that can drive you up to the prison. Guided group tours with a ranger are available, and there is plenty of signage regarding ferry departures and other important info/building factoids. Once you're on Alcatraz, if you bought a standard Day ticket, you can stay until the last regular ferry departs which I think is 6:30 P.M. No food or drink available for purchase there, but is available on the ride back to the pier. Bring a warm jacket and have fun exploring! read more

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I grew up in the Bay Area and it is crazy that for two decades, I have never visited one of the most famous attractions San Francisco is known for: Alcatraz Island. I have done both the day tour and the night tour and I would say both are worth doing! If you had to pick one, I would choose the day tour for your first time. There is a good frequency of ships that go to and from the island so it keeps your day flexible. The self guided audio tour is better than I expected, I felt I learned a lot of about what it was like to live on the island as a prisoner. I would say I had more of an appreciation of the island after reading and watching stories of prisoners such as the movie The Untouchables (1987). FYI, if you have a San Francisco public library card, you get free tickets once a year! read more

Alcatraz Island - view of the city - Museums Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Alcatraz is such a unique experience! I learned so much about the prison's history and the people who were imprisoned there. Definitely do the audio tour! There's even info on the Indigenous occupation that happened in the sixties. They still have the painted sign about Indian Land when you first come in too. The island is a lot bigger than I realized. You could pretty much spend the whole day there if you wanted to see everything. The main thing I wanted to see though was the prison itself and the recreation yard. The prison is definitely creepy. I went during the day but I can imagine the night tours are even creepier. It was cool to see a demonstration of the cell lock up mechanisms. There are even open cells you can go into. However, I would honestly advise not going in the solitary cells, especially if you are sensitive. (Those who are will know what I mean.) Both my husband and I had weird experiences while in, and after going into, one of those cells. It was like the floor was liquid and it was really disorienting. I also felt like someone had completely drained my emotional battery and was so shaky and fatigued after. I honestly didn't feel better until I left the building. Whether you believe in stuff like that or not, there was definitely a lot of pain and suffering and anger and grief there. And energy cannot be destroyed, so it seems like some of it stuck around... But there are a lot of cool areas to explore outside too. The rec yard is pretty massive. There are even bases for when they played baseball out there. And the building ruins are neat, as is the garden on the south side of the island. There are also tons of birds. I think it's a designated bird sanctuary actually. So yeah, Alcatraz is historical and creepy and probably haunted (although NPS will deny it), but is definitely worth a visit at least once. Really glad I went! read more

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I was in SF for a long weekend with my 9 year old doing all the touristy things. I wasn't quite sure if Alcatraz was good for his age so I held off on buying tickets ahead of time. He asked to go when we got to SF and when I checked online it was sold out. Our hotel concierge told me to keep checking the website and tickets would be released...and he was right. I visited Alcatraz once about 15 years ago and remembered finding it super interesting. I was excited to check it out in back and with my tow. We took the ferry over, which was also fun. It was a cool July day so was happy we were able to get a seat inside the ferry where it was nice and warm. Once we got there it was a lot of walking uphill, but nothing we couldn't handle. We also stopped at the ranger station to get a junior book because I read it's a fun way for the kids to engage...and get a badge after. My son took a look at the book and had no interest so I didn't push it. However, he was all about the audio tour. The audio tour took about an hour and did a great job of guiding us thru Alcatraz and sharing interesting stories. It definitely kept our attention for the entire time (maybe an hour?) that we were there. When we were done we spent a little time in the gift shop and then headed back to our hotel via the ferry. Both of us agreed that it was a really cool experience and I highly recommend for anyone visiting SF. Based on my own kids I think good for ages 7+. read more

Visiting Alcatraz has been on my bucket list for the longest time. I think it is a definite must-see if you are in the San Francisco area. I did the Alcatraz Behind the Scenes Tour, which was about $109 per person (including taxes and fees) and about 5 hours long (including personal time to roam around the island on your own). We met at Pier 33, Alcatraz Landing, in order to board the ferry to the island. There are no parking lots at Pier 33 and you can't do street parking because there is a 2 hour limit. There are, however, commercial lots nearby that you can park at for a fee. The ferry ride to the island was very short, perhaps only 10 minutes. I recommend an evening tour that way you can see the sunset over the Golden Gate Bridge. The Behind the Scenes tour included a tour of the solitary confinement dungeon where we had to wear a helmet and walk down a steep set of stairs under the prison. The tour also discussed the history of the island (before it was a prison and after), stories of the inmates, and the infamous escape attempts. There was so much rich history to learn about Alactraz asides from it being known as an infamous prison. Before it was a prison, Alcatraz served as a military fort. After the prison was shut down (due to high maintenance costs), the Native Americans occupied the island in 1969 in protest of the U.S. government. I would recommend watching the 1979 movie "Escape from Alcatraz" featuring Clint Eastwood if you have not already because they have props from the movie and the movie was filmed on the actual island. The tour does involve walking up some steep slopes so make sure you wear comfortable walking shoes. After the tour guide walked us around the premises, they gave us individual headsets for an audio tour inside the prison. We got to see the different prison blocks, the cafeteria, the medical ward, the watch tower, and the courtyard to name a few sites. read more

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