➡️How to Visit Alcatraz | Ultimate Guide

Q: What movies are about Alcatraz

Escape from Alcatraz Point Blank Birdman of Alcatraz The Rock

Alcatraz Island, popularly "The Rock", is known worldwide for having housed one of the most dangerous, isolated and cinematographic prisons in history. One of the best things to do in San Francisco is to get on a boat and make the same journey that the prisoners did in the past, in your case from a much more privileged position: to observe and imagine what the day-to-day life was like in this harsh and feared prison. Discover how to visit Alcatraz to make your experience perfect: how to get there, how to book the tours and tickets, prices, schedules and much more 😊

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Where is Alcatraz

Alcatraz prison is located on Alcatraz Island, a rocky islet within the San Francisco Bay. The distance between the island and the city is about 2 km (1.25 miles) and is a perfect visit whether you visit San Francisco in 3 days or San Francisco in 4 days.

💡Recommended: Where to stay in San Francisco (and where not to)

A brief history of Alcatraz

The history of Alcatraz dates back to 1775, when the Spaniard Juan Manuel de Ayala and his crew arrived in San Francisco Bay while his fleet was exploring the Pacific coast. He spotted an islet full of birds and named it "La isla de los Alcatraces" because of the large number of pelicans on it. Eventually, the island came to be called just Alcatraz.

Already in the 19th century and coinciding with the end of the war between USA and Mexico and the arrival of the gold rush to California, the United States decided to declare Alcatraz Island as a coastal defense site. It was used for 80 years by the army and a defensive fort was created to protect San Francisco Bay, with cannons and the famous lighthouse that still stands today.

During this time it was also a military prison, imprisoning citizens and soldiers considered to be against the government of the time, as well as indigenous explorers.

In 1933 Alcatraz was transferred from the Army to the U.S. Department of Justice, becoming in 1934 a federal prison that would house those prisoners who were constantly causing problems in other prisons in the country, as well as the most dangerous criminals who were unable to rehabilitate themselves.

Alcatraz took the title of the most dangerous and isolated prison in the world, popular because of the poor conditions in which prisoners lived here. During the 29 years it was in use some of the most famous criminals in history passed through here, among them Robert Stroud (known as "The Birdman of Alcatraz" and who spent 17 years here) and Al Capone (the notorious gangster who finally spent only 4 years here due to an illness).

It was finally decided to close the prison in 1963 because of the great economic expense it caused to the country: everything had to be transported by ship, tripling the cost per prisoner, and the buildings suffered the ravages of salt and humidity. After its closure, the island was occupied by native Americans for several months who claimed that piece of land for themselves, leaving visible several graffiti that can still be seen on the walls of the buildings.

Native occupation in Alcatraz — Native graffiti after the occupation of Alcatraz

What movies are about Alcatraz

🎥Are you a movie buff and like to set the mood before visiting a place? Then we recommend you to watch some of these movies based on Alcatraz:

Escape from Alcatraz: if you can only see one, it has to be this one! Based on true events, it explains the (unique) prison escape from Alcatraz prison, from its meticulous planning to its mysterious disappearance. If Clint Eastwood appears, it's a guaranteed hit 😉.
Point Blank: this thriller was the first film to be shot after the prison was closed. Although it doesn't take place entirely on Alcatraz, the island does appear on several occasions.
Birdman of Alcatraz: about prisoner Robert Stroud, known as "The Birdman of Alcatraz", who captured canaries and researched them during the period he was imprisoned before being transferred to Alcatraz.
The Rock: an action film shot on Alcatraz, which, although it is no marvel, is entertaining both for its plot and its cast.

How to get to Alcatraz and ticket reservations

The Alcatraz prison, being located on an islet in the middle of San Francisco Bay, is only accessible by ferry. There's only one official operator (authorized by the U.S. National Park Service) that provides transportation to Alcatraz Island and sells tickets: Alcatraz City Cruises, which is part of the company City Experiences.

⚠️If you're only interested in admission tickets to Alcatraz, book it with them as it's the cheapest option. On internet you'll find other companies that sell the same thing, but it'll be more expensive and the final operator is always the same. Don't get scammed!

➡️Remember that with this Golden Gate Bay Cruise you'll surroung Alcatraz Island, in addition to passing under the famous Golden Gate Bridge.

In case you want to combine the visit to Alcatraz with any other activity, then you can opt for one of these packs:

Full San Francisco Tour + Alcatraz: this is the most complete 1 day tour in San Francisco as you combine Alcatraz and Golden Gate Bridge. It lasts 8h and includes guided tour through downtown (Union Square, Civic Center, Nob Hill, Financial District, North Beach...), Twin Peaks lookout, Golden Gate Park, Golden Gate Bridge and Fisherman's Wharf. At the end of the guided tour you'll be dropped off at the ferry stop to visit Alcatraz (ferry and admission tickets are included). Book it here.
Tour Alcatraz + Sausalito + Muir Woods: this 9h tour combines the visit to Alcatraz (ferry and tickets included) with 2 stops in the surroundings of the city (the Muir Woods giant sequoia forest and the village of Sausalito with its houseboats). Book it here.
Alcatraz Tour + Big Bus 48h Pass: this option combines the visit to Alcatraz (ferry tickets and entrance fees included) with the Big Bus 48h Pass. This bus makes stops at the main tourist attractions in San Francisco (including the Golden Gate Bridge) and you can hop on and off as many times as you want during 48 hours. It includes a guided tour of Chinatown. Book it here.

Alcatraz tours options and cost

If you've decided that you aren't interested in any of the above tour packages, then you're going to book your Alcatraz tour through the official tour operator. With them you can choose between 3 different types of tours, but before we explain what each one consists of, here are a few things to keep in mind:

The ferry always departs from Pier 33, located in the Embarcadero area next to Fisherman's Wharf. To get here you can use the public transportation in San Francisco (the line F of the streetcar and several buses stop here) or a taxi/Uber.
Count about 3 hours for the standard tour (with round trip ferry ride).
The standard tour includes round-trip ferry ticket, admission tickets to the prison and an audio guide in 11 languages.
When you make your reservation you choose the ferry departure time, but you can make the return trip at any time you want. Each type of tour has different departure and return times.
There are no guided tours of the prison (except for the Behind the Scenes tour), but it's a self-guided tour with the help of the award-winning audio guide "Doing Time: The Alcatraz Cellhouse Tour". The truth is that it's very good and is narrated by the prison staff themselves and real ex-prisoners - no one knows better than they do what went on there!
You can make cancellations or schedule changes up to 72 hours before the date.

Alcatraz Day Tour

💸Price: $47.95 adults, $29.15 children 5-11, $45.15 seniors 62+, family pack (2 adults + 2 children 5-11) $139.60
⏱️Duration: about 3 hours

This is Alcatraz best tour if you want the cheapest of all the options. The ferry ride lasts about 15 minutes and once you disembark on the island you are given a short explanation and a map. Then you'll have to go up to the top of the island to get the audio guide and start the tour on your own.

You'll be able to discover in a self-guided way both the interior spaces of the prison (cell block, dining room, library, control room, laundry, showers, etc.) and the exterior (Rose Garden, recreation yard, Sallyport, Eagle Plaza, etc.).

As a curiosity, you can see from the outside the famous cell 14D, a cold isolation cell victim of paranormal events and unsolved murders inside.

Alcatraz Night Tour

💸Price: $59.65 adults, $58.35 children ages 12-17, $34.85 children ages 5-11, $55.25 seniors 62+.
⏱️Duration: about 3.5 hours

The Night Tour of Alcatraz begins in the afternoon (times and frequency vary depending on the time of year), visiting the prison during sunset and returning on the ferry at night with the San Francisco skyline illuminated.

In addition to this, during the ferry ride there is a live narration while going around the entire islet and inside the prison there're programs and exhibits that aren't there during the day (cell opening demonstrations, talks that change daily, etc.). It's, in general, a more complete experience than the previous one.

Alcatraz Behind The Scenes Tour

💸Price: $104.65 adults, $100.35 children 12-17, $97.25 seniors 62+.
⏱️Duration: about 4.5 hours

It's the longest and most expensive of all as it combines the night tour with a 90-minute guided tour (in English) through areas that are off-limits to the rest of the public.

In this case, groups are limited to a maximum of 30 people and it's more tiring as you have to climb multiple stairs and slopes. This tour isn't available for children under 12 years old.

What are Alcatraz opening times

Alcatraz is open every day of the year except December 25, January 1 and Thanksgiving Day (varies by year but is always in late November).

There are 2 seasons for tours on Alcatraz:

Winter (from November 2nd to March 7th approximately)
Summer (from March 8th to November 1st approximately)

Each season has different departure times, being more frequent in summer, but in general there're ferries every 30 minutes. It's best to consult their website for the schedules of each season.

Tips for visiting Alcatraz

Don't forget to follow these tips to make your visit perfect:

If you visit San Francisco in high season, book your Alcatraz tickets in advance. It's one of the most popular places to see in San Francisco and seats usually sell out fast. In the winter time (from early November to early March) it's possible to find places available on short notice, even the day before, but if you already know the dates better to take care of yourself.
Tickets can be purchased in person at Pier 33.
Bring your personal identification with you on the day of the tour as you'll be asked for it when boarding.
If you take the first tour of the day you'll be able to visit the prison in a more relaxed way since the rest of the tours haven't yet arrived. As the day progresses it gets more and more crowded as people from the other tours accumulate.
The weather on Alcatraz is very changeable, so we recommend wearing layered clothing regardless of whether it's sunny or not.
The paths on Alcatraz are steep, so wear comfortable shoes. The distance between the point where the ferry leaves you and the prison is 400 meters (1/4 miles) with 40 meters (130 feet) of elevation gain (equivalent to walking up a 13-story building) plus everything you walk around the complex.
Food and beverages are available on the ferries, you can even reserve some dishes in advance. Alcohol is prohibited on Alcatraz, so alcoholic beverages can only be purchased on the return trip. Some snacks and drinks are available on the island, although you can only eat on the dock side (beyond that only bottled water is allowed).

We hope all these tips for visiting Alcatraz will be useful and your experience in this scary prison will be perfect!

Update date: 8 February 2026

Irene García

Co-founder and writer

I’m a pharmacist, but I discovered that traveling is my true passion in life. I spent 6 months backpacking through Southeast Asia and Australia, and more than 2 years traveling across the American continent in my camper, driving from Ushuaia to Alaska. As you can see, adventure is my thing!

I’m also addicted to dark chocolate, hiking, watching TV series, and I love all the animals on the planet. I’m the kind of person who rescues spiders that get into home!

United States is one of my favorite destinations—it seems to me like one of the most complete and diverse countries in the world! I hope you enjoy my USA travel guides, and if you feel like writing to me once you’re back from your trip, I’d love to hear how it went.