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Alcatraz Island

Alcatraz Island

Historic and Protected Site, Island, and National Park
San Francisco
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9.3/10
3,056
ratings
  • Stars
  • Stars
    Has a stamp of approval from Travel + Leisure and SF Weekly
    • Travel + Leisure
    • SF Weekly
  • Tips
    Marcia B.
    "Kudos to audio tour too, very nicely produced and easy to follow."(115 Tips)
    Mei L.
    "The night tours are hauntingly creepy and the absolute best"(28 Tips)
    Lolo S.
    "The audio tour of the cell house is excellent."(21 Tips)
    Diana S.
    "Very good audio guide."(13 Tips)
Tips and Reviews icon420 Tips and reviews
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  • James G.heart icon on user image
    James GoochMarch 10, 2020
    Don’t rush the audio tour! Take some time to enjoy the gardens if it’s a sunny day.
  • Eleanor R.heart icon on user image
    Eleanor RigbyJuly 10, 2017
    One of the most typical places to visit. Hurry up to get your tickets, the tickets sold out faster!
  • Tiffany K.
    Tiffany KocielkoSeptember 1, 2015
    Amazing place! The audio tour ensures you get. To know all the best stories and history. Great day trip!
  • Tony M.
    Tony MichaelOctober 11, 2012
    Plan on staying as long as you can. I originally planned on being there 2 hours, I ended up staying for 6 hours and it flew by. There is so much to see.
  • Liz .heart icon on user image
    Liz 🦎September 9, 2015
    The audio tour is great. Voiced by officers and prisoners who were in Alcatraz. Super interesting.
  • Nadia S.heart icon on user image
    Nadia SilvaJanuary 14, 2014
    Audio tour is a must, and definitely go off season.
  • Thijs N.heart icon on user image
    Thijs NiksNovember 4, 2013
    Take the English language audio tour, it's awesome. Former inmates and guards explain the events and their routines.
  • Michelin Lifestyle
    Michelin LifestyleFebruary 24, 2011
    Lucky for you, unlike the former prisoners of Alcatraz, you can successfully escape! Make sure you have your comfy Michelin footwear with tire traction technology, to see all sites of the prison.
  • SF Weekly
    SF WeeklyMay 25, 2011
    SF Weekly’s Best Of 2011 Winner – Editorial Pick – BEST TRIATHALONSummer race: competitors jump boat (1.5-mile swim), 18-mi bike ride on the Great Highway, ending at Marina Green w/an 8-mile run.... Read more
  • C B.heart icon on user image
    C BaileyJune 30, 2015
    The audio tour is good, I learned a lot. Don't forget to check out the hospital
  • Lilian V.heart icon on user image
    Lilian VilchisAugust 1, 2019
    Everything is wonderful I. This place!! Magnificent structure according with the history path
  • Felicity D.
    Felicity DOctober 13, 2012
    Save yourself 20 mins and skip the ranger lecture when you get off the boat, you need all of the time you can get on the island!
  • Ronald V.heart icon on user image
    Ronald VeltenJuly 28, 2016
    Make sure you go early and book in advance! Also dont be late for boarding!!
  • Binky B.
    Binky BearMay 27, 2013
    Take you're time! The information on the audio tour is so interesting!
  • Mhmtali
    MhmtaliMay 31, 2013
    Robert Stroud, "The Birdman of Alcatraz" spent 17 years in cell #42. Segregated from the prisoners, he turned to birds for company. He was the inspiration for the 1962 movie starring Burt Lancaster.
  • Ayaz H.
    Ayaz HyderJanuary 2, 2017
    There is relatively cheap meter parking right in front of where you take the ferry for Alcatraz.
  • Sean M.heart icon on user image
    Sean MahoneyMay 2, 2017
    Fantastic experience! Nearly everything I hoped it would be. I want to go back as soon as the renovations are finished.
  • Brooke D.heart icon on user image
    Brooke DeBoerJuly 2, 2014
    Best money spent while in San Francisco! Make sure you do the audio tour! So awesome!
  • Ana M.
    Ana MontesMay 16, 2014
    So much more than a penitentiary. .it was home to workers and their kids and is now a bird sanctuary..worth thr trip !
  • Brittany S.
    Brittany SherrillMarch 18, 2013
    The night tours are the best part. Make sure you go into one of the isolation cells and close your eyes. The audio tour is better than usual.
  • Travel + Leisure
    Travel + LeisureSeptember 30, 2014
    Even if you have an annual national-parks pass, you’ll have to pay the entry fee here; the admission actually covers the ferry ride over. Read more
  • Sean M.heart icon on user image
    Sean MillerFebruary 6, 2018
    The audio tour of the compound was excellent!
  • The Criterion Collection
    When a highly-decorated squad of marines held San Francisco for ransom in Michael Bay's most morally complex film, THE ROCK, they chose this "escape-proof" prison as their impenetrable fortress. Read more
  • Marvinheart icon on user image
    MarvinOctober 6, 2015
    Mandatory Minimums must go. Everything always requires context before serving a sentence.
  • Veronica V.heart icon on user image
    Veronica VMay 3, 2013
    Absolutely amazing place! If you are in SF, you just have to go there! Its very windy, but wonderful.
  • Synergy B.heart icon on user image
    Synergy ByDesignJune 2, 2013
    Definitely take the audio tour and explore. It's amazing, the history and aura of the place.
  • Karina L.heart icon on user image
    Karina LopesAugust 3, 2015
    DO the guided tour. And it also has a really nice view of San Francisco skyline
  • Jc M.
    Jc MartinezApril 28, 2012
    Ve a la zona de las duchas, ahi te ofrecen una guia con audifonos muy util, en espanol es impresionante/go to showers area, they will offer a very useful guide with headphones,in Spanish is impressive
  • Allison K.heart icon on user image
    Allison KaminskiSeptember 5, 2015
    Go on the night tour & book months ahead. Sick views of the city. it's always freezing on the island.
  • Kay
    KayJanuary 9, 2013
    There's more to the island than the cell block! Make sure you leave yourself enough time to see everything.
  • Julia Z.
    Julia ZiobroJanuary 19, 2014
    Little kids might not like the audio tour but it is free and it's much better than some I've paid money for
  • Leisha M.heart icon on user image
    Leisha MagsisiSeptember 8, 2015
    Fun historical site to visit. Make sure you take the audio tour!
  • Ena T.heart icon on user image
    Ena T 🌸April 26, 2014
    Make sure to take the ranger tour, not just the audio tours.
  • Patricia L.heart icon on user image
    A must go in San Francisco. Take the audio tour and learn a little more about The Rock.
  • Maria
    MariaNovember 15, 2012
    When you disembark and don't want to wait for true false waste your time questions, head up the hill go underneath the tunnel and follow signs for the cell house audio tour.
  • Westfield S.
    Take a trip back in time and see San Francisco’s colorful history come to life. Visit Westfield San Francisco Centre on 865 Market Street to watch our free light spectacular under the dome!
  • Diana S.
    Diana StefanSeptember 23, 2018
    Very good audio guide. Really windy so be prepared
  • Niamh B.heart icon on user image
    Niamh BreslinNovember 20, 2015
    Great audio tour! Really impressive place and very captivating
  • William L.heart icon on user image
    William LindnerDecember 6, 2014
    Saw the Ai Weiwei exhibit here and really enjoyed it. Got pretty spooky when the fog rolled in.
  • USA TODAY
    USA TODAYJune 22, 2012
    A half-century ago, three men made history by escaping the island fortress. They bought time by creating fake heads to fool guards during the bed check. But did the men survive? Read more
  • Gayle B.heart icon on user image
    Gayle BurkholderOctober 17, 2014
    The tour is well done and it is very interesting. Worth the trip but wouldn't do it again.
  • Fi V.heart icon on user image
    Fi VeiNovember 15, 2015
    A place full of history, reserve with really enough time or you will not get in!
  • Vibeke P.heart icon on user image
    Vibeke PoulsenNovember 29, 2016
    Great idea with the audio tour! Remedier to book tickets months in advance
  • Nicholas H.
    Nicholas HermanMarch 19, 2016
    get the first boat, walk past the first guide on the island to stay ahead of the crowds, do the audio tour
  • mylifeisgorgeous
    mylifeisgorgeousOctober 23, 2011
    You need to make a reservation in advance, but a visit to this famous prison is a didactic experience.Take a ferry from Fisherman’s Wharf. Read more
  • Jose Lorenzo C.
    Jose Lorenzo CuencarNovember 6, 2023
    Get there at least 30 mins before and at last 10 mins. Trip there takes 15 mins
  • Lindsey S.
    Lindsey SmithJune 14, 2012
    Make sure to get the audio tour. So much information. Enjoyed hearing voices of those who were a part of this place.
  • Vicki K.heart icon on user image
    Vicki KolovouNovember 18, 2018
    Worth visiting once. Scarface rules!!
  • Cristinaheart icon on user image
    CristinaJune 29, 2016
    A MUST place to visit in SFO. Buy ur tickets on the internet about 1 month on advanced.
  • John P.
    John PryorOctober 31, 2011
    Do the self guided audio tour. Its free and very good. Also, wrap up cos it can be cold on 'The Rock'
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