See & do · Landmarks & architecture
Alcatraz Island
Images provided by Google Places
Notorious prison & once home to Al Capone, now a museum with an audio tour, accessible by ferry.via Google
The infamous former federal penitentiary that once held Al Capone, accessible only by ferry.
- Good to know
- High price band (ferry ticket); must book weeks in advance.
Reviews from Google
Great experience! We booked the tour 5 months in advance to make sure we secured a spot for our visit as we didn't want to miss out. The ferry ride was quick, but it was packed! There were a lot of people. Once on the island you could space out away from the crowds in parts. The view of the bay, the bridge and island were incredible. The history in this place is astonishing! We did the self guided audio tour which was great as we could take our time. If you're visiting San Francisco, Alcatraz Island is not to be missed! Worth every cent!
Our visit to Alcatraz was one of the highlights of our trip to San Francisco. We loved learning about the island’s fascinating history, and the included audio tour was excellent, providing engaging stories and insights throughout the visit. The trip was well organized from start to finish, making it easy and enjoyable for our family of five. Our three kids, ages 11, 15, and 16, were all interested in the exhibits and history, which made the experience even more memorable. Alcatraz is a must-do attraction at least once when visiting San Francisco. We’re very glad we went and would highly recommend it to families and anyone interested in history.
This was a favorite stop for my family! Make sure your camera/phone is fully charged if you take this tour! We did the nighttime tour and got some absolutely stunning shots but missed a bunch when we didn't have enough juice. Definitely bring a jacket because it gets windy and cold on the water. Alcatraz itself is beautiful with tons of gorgeous plant and wild life. The history was so interesting and the stories were well told.
Did the Behind the Scenes Tour at Alcatraz Island and it was incredible. Access to restricted areas made it feel exclusive and much more immersive than the regular visit. The history, the storytelling, and the views of SF are unforgettable. Highly recommend booking this version! Expensive but totally worth it.
The audio tour of the cell block was pretty sweet. Also, the views from the island are cool. One thing to be aware of if you are sensitive to it, is that the whole island smells like acrid bird poop. We went on a week day and it seemed like there was a lot of field trips going there. If you don't want to be surrounded by middle schoolers, you may want to consider taking the evening tour.