Landmarks

Alcatraz Island Tickets with Ferry Ride and Self-Guided Tour App

4.5/5(114)

Jon A

Couple

Verified booking

Sep 2026

Excellent tour, from the smooth and organized start at the dock to the self-guided tour of the prison itself. The highlight was the tour of the actual prison. You're given a player with a narrated tour. The narrators were actual guards and prisoners recounting the day-to-day life at the prison and some of the memorable incidents.

Devrat S

Couple

Verified booking

Aug 2026

Great experience ! Loved the cellhouse tour! Thats a must do item for anybody visiting SF. The audio guide provided by Headout was a surprise for me and my wife. It was very informative and easy to use! The angle of a detective narrating the story of a prison was pretty neat! The entire ferry part was also well organized. Visit before 2pm to attend any special exhibitions on the island. Whole thing takes 2-3 hours and has some minor 3-5 minute inclines to climb by foot.

Brenda V

Couple

Verified booking

May 2026

It was easy to find the ticket booth to swap email ticket to collect real tickets,. Although first they said the Head out booking number did not match their ticket number but it was all good, they looked up our name, provided our id and it was done. Easy and quick. We were there early in plenty of time to swap tickets and were lucky enough to get on ferry early. The self guided tour was good as well. Very informative and seeing the cells and reading all stories were very good as well. Would recommend this

Peter C

Couple

Verified booking

Apr 2026

The guide for the guided portion of the tour was not only a Park Ranger, but someone who actually spent time on the island as the daughter of a corrections officer for the prison--an actual witness!

Set sail from San Francisco’s Pier 33 and enjoy a breezy ferry ride across the Bay, with sweeping views of the city skyline and the iconic Golden Gate Bridge.

Your experience will be enhanced from the very start by an all-in-one app featuring audio guides, immersive video tours, AI chat, and self-paced exploration that begins right on the ferry.

Alcatraz Island, once home to America's most notorious criminals such as Al Capone and "Machine Gun" Kelly, is open to touring, either during the day or at night.

On the day tour, explore the prison cell blocks, outdoor spaces such as the Recreation Yard & Eagle Plaza, the historic Gardens, and permanent exhibits.

On the night tour, listen to live narration on the ferry ride to the island, meet a ranger at the dock for a guided tour of the island, explore the prison cell blocks, and enjoy exclusive access to closed off areas like the hospital and kitchen.

On both tours, explore the prison areas on your own with the award-winning Doing Time: The Alcatraz Cellhouse Tour, available in 11 languages with narratives by former inmates and prison guards.

Day tours

Round-trip ferry to Alcatraz Island

App with audio-guide, video tours, AI chat, and self-paced exploration that starts from the ferry ride

Admission to Alcatraz ($45)

Downloadable award-winning audio tour, Doing Time: The Alcatraz Cellhouse Tour, available in Dutch, English, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Mandarin, Portuguese, Russian, and Spanish

Traditional audio device with headset

Access to permanent exhibits

Access to outdoor historic spaces such as Eagle Plaza, the Recreation Yard, the Sallyport, and the Rose Garden

Participation in Guided Interpretive Programs

Night tours

Round-trip ferry to Alcatraz Island

App with audio-guide, video tours, AI chat, and self-paced exploration that starts from the ferry ride

Admission to Alcatraz ($45)

Onboard narration by live guide

Around the island route to Alcatraz

Guided tour by Ranger/educator

Access to exclusive areas such as the kitchen, hospital, and church (closed off to the public during the day)

Downloadable award-winning audio tour, Doing Time: The Alcatraz Cellhouse Tour, available in Dutch, English, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Mandarin, Portuguese, Russian, and Spanish

Traditional audio device with headset

Day tours

Live guide

Food and beverages

Night tours

Food and beverages

Start point
Pier 33
Get direction
1. Alcatraz Island
Tickets included
Alcatraz Island is renowned for its history as a maximum-security prison, housing notorious criminals like Al Capone. It is also a former military base and lighthouse station.
2. Cell blocks
3. The Hole
4. Alcatraz lighthouse
End point
Pier 33
Get direction
Your ending point would be same as your start point

You can cancel these tickets up to 48 hours before the experience begins and get a full refund.

114 reviews
How do we collect reviews?
These ratings include verified reviews from both Headout guests and our trusted partners who operate this experience locally. All reviews come from real travelers who've taken this experience.
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Guests from Canada, United Kingdom, Australia and over 21 countries have loved this experience
What our guests say
Susan R
Couple
Verified booking
Today
The self-guided tour was excellent and I learned a lot and appreciated being able to go into Alcatraz and see what it was like for those who spent time there. I was also interested to see the cells where notorious convicts stayed and the ones who escaped.
Torfinn B
Group
Verified booking
4 days ago
The audio made it very good by using earlier inmates.
Melissa G
Group
Verified booking
3 weeks ago
Smooth every, friendly service and quick.
Jon A
Couple
Verified booking
Sep 2026
Excellent tour, from the smooth and organized start at the dock to the self-guided tour of the prison itself. The highlight was the tour of the actual prison. You're given a player with a narrated tour. The narrators were actual guards and prisoners recounting the day-to-day life at the prison and some of the memorable incidents.
Katarzyna S
Family
Verified booking
Sep 2026
Highlights were talks by the Rangers who clearly enjoy their jobs. Worth the money and effort to get there.

Getting started

Begin your journey at Pier 33, where you’ll exchange your mobile voucher for a paper ticket at the desk. Board the ferry to Alcatraz Island and prepare for a self-paced experience powered by an all-in-one app featuring audio guides, immersive video tours, AI chat, and real-time insights that begin right from your ferry ride.

What to expect

Alcatraz Island, once home to the notorious federal prison, stands as a symbol of American history in San Francisco Bay. Known for its dramatic escape stories and striking location just offshore, the island comes to life through rich storytelling both on-site and through the app’s interactive features.

Features

Ferry ride across San Francisco Bay: Enjoy a direct ferry transfer from Pier 33, with panoramic views of the skyline and landmarks like the Golden Gate Bridge, enhanced by app-based audio and video content during your journey.

Self-guided app tour: Use the all-in-one app for audio narration, video tours, and AI-powered chat to navigate the island and uncover stories of Alcatraz’s history, infamous inmates, and daily prison life.

Historic cellhouse: Walk through the preserved cellhouse, see original prison cells, and hear gripping accounts of legendary escape attempts, complemented by the award-winning Cellhouse Audio Tour.

Flexible visit duration: Stay on Alcatraz Island as long as you wish during operating hours, exploring entirely at your own pace with both on-ground exhibits and app-led guidance.

What to bring

A valid government-issued photo ID.

A jacket or warm layer — the island can be cool and windy, especially at night.

Comfortable walking shoes, as the route includes a steep uphill climb equivalent to about 13 stories.

What’s not allowed

Large bags, suitcases, or oversized luggage are not permitted on the ferry or island.

Pets are not allowed, except registered service animals.

Intoxicants, illegal substances, and similar banned items are strictly prohibited.

Smoking and vaping are allowed only in designated areas near the dock.

Drones or remote-controlled devices are not permitted anywhere on the island.

Accessibility

The island is wheelchair accessible, with accessible restrooms and a tram available for visitors with limited mobility.

Staff can assist guests with special accessibility needs.

Wheelchairs are not available for rent at either Pier 33 or Alcatraz Island.

Additional information

Arrive at Pier 33 at least 60 minutes before your scheduled ferry departure.

Allow about 15 minutes for the return ferry to Pier 33 after leaving Alcatraz Island.

Visitors may stay on Alcatraz Island for as long as they wish within operating hours (see schedule for day and night tours).

Children aged 4 and under can enter free of charge.

Tours run rain or shine — dress for the weather.

Meals and beverages are not provided; on-island options are minimal.

Guided commentary is not included — tours are self-guided via an audio guide app.

Certain exhibits and activities are exclusive to the night tour; check your ticket for details.

Alcatraz day tours ferry schedule

Available Daily

Departure ferries: 8:40am, 9:20am, 9:40am, 10:10am, 10:35am, 11:00am, 11:30am, 12:00pm, 12:30pm, 1:05pm, 1:35pm, 2:15pm, 2:45pm, 3:20pm, 3:50pm

Return ferries: 9:00am – 6:30pm (departing approximately every 30–40 minutes)

Alcatraz night tours ferry schedule

Available Tuesday to Saturday

Departure ferries: 5:55pm, 6:30pm, 7:05pm

Return ferries: 8:40pm, 9:25pm, 9:50pm

Your voucher will be emailed to you shortly.

Display the voucher on your mobile phone with a valid photo ID at the starting point.

Please check your final voucher for the starting point details & specific instructions.