Alcatraz Island: reviews, price and practical tips

+16
recs
4.8/5 4 reviews
Alcatraz Island, CA 94133 San Francisco, United States
Alcatraz Island, CA 94133 San Francisco, United States
Entry ticket + Ferry from $95*
Booking recommended
Book now
Prison d'Alcatraz

Visiting Alcatraz Island, the most notorious prison off the coast of San Francisco

Sitting in the middle of the San Francisco Bay, Alcatraz Island commands attention. Known globally for its former federal penitentiary, it draws thousands of visitors each year who come to explore the remnants of this site with a complex history.

A prison in the middle of the bay

The main draw is the high security prison that operated from 1934 to 1963. It held some of the most feared criminals in the United States, including Al Capone and Robert Stroud, known as the Birdman of Alcatraz.

The audio tour is well produced and available in several languages. It guides you through the cell blocks, the mess hall, and the detention corridors, featuring personal accounts from former guards and inmates. The atmosphere remains heavy, with peeling paint, metallic echoes, and a clear view of the city just out of reach.

An island with many lives

Before it was a prison, Alcatraz Island served as a military fortress in the 19th century and later as a military penitentiary. It was also the site of a significant chapter in Native American civil rights history, when a group of activists occupied the island from 1969 to 1971 to claim their land rights. Remnants and graffiti from that era are still visible on the buildings. A visit allows you to explore these different historical layers, reaching far beyond the prison years.

Unexpected landscapes

You might not expect it, but the island is also a nature preserve. The decaying structures contrast with gardens maintained by volunteers and the seabirds nesting throughout the grounds. Walking the perimeter of the island offers sharp views of the bay, the Golden Gate Bridge, and the San Francisco skyline. Photographers will find plenty of opportunities to capture the scenery here.

Entry ticket + Ferry from $95*Booking recommended
Check availability

Opening hours

Open daily, except Thanksgiving, Christmas, and January 1.
Ferries generally run from 8:45 AM to 3:50 PM, with the last return trip before 6:30 PM (schedules vary by season).
Hours are indicative and subject to change

*Information subject to change

Reviews of Alcatraz Island

Summary of 4 reviews
4.8/5
Average rating
+16 recs +16 -0 Score weighted by contributor expertise level: a recommendation from a level 3 member counts as 3.
Total recommendations

Ratings by visit type

With family
4.3
As a couple
4.8
With friends
4

Avygeo ranking

#295
in the world
#28
in Americas
#12
in the United States
#4
in San Francisco

Very interesting

Very interesting and historically rich visit!

67
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An iconic sight from a cruise

I had limited time in San Francisco and chose not to lose half a day visiting Alcatraz. Even though I dreamed of seeing it after watching The Rock, I had pretty mixed feedback from friends about whether the tour was worth it. For the experience, I would have liked to go at night, but that is only possible from Tuesday to Saturday.

In the end, I opted for a cruise around the bay. It lets you see the monuments and the prison towers from very close up. Everything looks completely abandoned, and it gave me the chills to imagine the living conditions of the prisoners and the escape attempts from this tiny island surrounded by currents.

55
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The famous San Francisco prison

You can see the famous Alcatraz prison from afar, sitting on an island in the San Francisco Bay. It housed inmates like Al Capone before it closed in 1963. It is also frequently cited in movies like The Rock with Sean Connery.
During the tour, you learn that even though any escape seems impossible, several attempts were made. Be careful, because to visit it, you absolutely must book in advance, even in the off-season. The price of around $40 is also very high.

10
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Weird but interesting experience

Visited during a trip to California. We took a boat from San Francisco, which makes a quick crossing to get to Alcatraz Island.
Inside the prison, you could see the standard cells, with a bed, chairs, and a desk. The inmates were allowed to request books and go out into the yard.
What was surprising was the tour of the high security cells for the most dangerous criminals, all dark and smaller. The inmates were not allowed to go out into the yard. Oppressive.

You can also visit the dining hall, where it is explained that white and black communities ate their meals separately to avoid fights :(

The audio guide explains how 3 prisoners managed to escape. With the help of spoons taken from the dining hall, they were able to remove a grate from the air vent, then follow that duct to the outside, and finally leave the island by swimming.

8
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