Alcatraz in San Francisco Bay: tickets, hours and what to see
Alcatraz has stood in the middle of San Francisco Bay for more than two hundred years. At first it was a fort and the first lighthouse on the west coast of the US. Then a military prison, and from 1934 a federal prison for the country's most dangerous criminals. It closed in 1963. Since 1973 the island has operated as a museum.
Today it is part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area. The only way to get here is by ferry from Pier 33, and we recommend buying tickets in advance. In summer and on holidays everything sells out a month or more ahead (park service website). Below we'll cover what to see in the prison, how to get there, and whether the night tour is worth it.
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History of the prison: fort, lighthouse, and federal prison
💡 In short:
- Plan your visit a month ahead: the island is closed only on Christmas, Thanksgiving, and New Year's Day (NPS schedule).
- Allow 3-4 hours including the ferry and the audio tour of the cells.
- The night tour is longer than the day tour, has fewer tickets, and sells out first.
- Hours and seasonal schedules: 09/2026, verified on the official NPS website.
The island was discovered by Spanish explorer Juan Manuel de Ayala in 1775. In the mid-19th century a fort was built here, and in 1854 the first lighthouse on the entire US west coast was lit (Wikipedia: Alcatraz lighthouse). The military prison at the fort appeared in 1868 (Britannica: island history).
Initially it was a military prison for prisoners of war and deserters. Most inmates were men aged 20-28. Conditions remained lenient for a long time, and by the late 1920s the island even had its own baseball field.
© Frank Schulenburg · CC BY-SAPhoto: Frank Schulenburg, CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0), Wikimedia CommonsIn 1934 the building was converted into a federal prison. Electricity was installed in the cells, tunnels were walled up, and tear gas canisters were placed in high-traffic areas. Only the most dangerous criminals were sent directly to Alcatraz. Everyone else was transferred from other prisons for violations or escape attempts.
Harsh measures were applied to those who broke discipline. Inmates considered the silence policy the most agonizing punishment: a ban on talking and any sounds for extended periods. They also feared the isolation unit, a solitary cell without a proper toilet.
Escapes from Alcatraz
The futility of attempts did not stop inmates. Many tried to escape from Alcatraz. The cold waters of the bay brought almost everyone back, and some escapees drowned. Several people went missing.
© Daniel Ramirez from Honolulu, USA · CC BYPhoto: Daniel Ramirez from Honolulu, USA, CC BY (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0), Wikimedia CommonsThe most famous case happened in June 1962. Frank Morris and brothers John and Clarence Anglin broke out the ventilation grates. They left papier-mache heads in their place and set out into the water on a homemade raft (Wikipedia: Alcatraz escapes). The bodies were never found. The 1979 film "Escape from Alcatraz" was based on this story.
Famous inmates
The prison's loud fame came from its inmates. Al Capone, the Chicago gangster, served time here from 1934 to 1939, about four and a half years (Britannica: Alcatraz inmates). He was transferred from here to another prison, and he was already a seriously ill man when he was released.
© Dietmar Rabich · CC BY-SAPhoto: Dietmar Rabich, CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0), Wikimedia CommonsBesides Capone, George "Machine Gun" Kelly and Robert Stroud, known as the "Birdman of Alcatraz," also served time here (Britannica: famous inmates). The cellhouse has fewer than six hundred cells, and they were almost never fully occupied. Over 29 years, about 1,600 men served time here, but there were no women among them.
The prison closed in 1963: it was too expensive to maintain (NPS on the prison's history). At the time of closing, only 27 inmates remained.
Tickets and hours
Alcatraz is open year-round. There are only three exceptions: Christmas, Thanksgiving, and New Year's Day (park service). Ferries depart roughly every half hour, with the first trip around 8:45 a.m. (according to the US park service, 09/2026). Night trips run on a separate schedule.
What | When | Ticket |
|---|---|---|
Day tour | ferries roughly every 30 minutes from 8:45 (hours) | from the official carrier |
Night tour | in the evening, on schedule | separate ticket, limited availability |
Behind the Scenes | on schedule | separate ticket |
Closed | Christmas, Thanksgiving, New Year's Day | only these days |
The National Park Service does not charge for entry to the island. You only pay for the ferry (NPS fees). There is only one official carrier here: Alcatraz City Cruises. Buy tickets in advance; you won't have a chance to buy them at the pier on the day of your trip.
Tours and tickets in Alcatraz
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How to get to the island
Ferries depart from Pier 33 (Alcatraz Landing) at the intersection of Embarcadero and Bay Street. You can walk there from the waterfront, and the nearest transit stops are also on Embarcadero. The trip across the water takes about 15 minutes. The island sits roughly 2 km from shore (Wikipedia: Alcatraz Island).
The ticket includes an audio tour of the main cellhouse. You will see cells, the isolation unit, visitation rooms, the dining hall, and the showers. Take a separate walk down the main corridor, which inmates called Broadway. It has displays with real photos of prisoners and guards, and the windows look out onto the exercise yard.
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Legends and ghosts of "The Rock"
Americans nicknamed Alcatraz "The Rock." Many legends surround the island. Museum staff tell stories of paranormal activity within these walls. According to unconfirmed accounts, people on the shore have encountered the ghost of a mustached officer, and inside the cellhouse they hear Al Capone's banjo.
© Emily Mathews from Ann Arbor, MI · CC BYPhoto: Emily Mathews from Ann Arbor, MI, CC BY (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0), Wikimedia CommonsThe island's very location adds to the unease. A patch of land cut off from the mainland is surrounded on all sides by the bay's rough waters. The nearest shore is about 2 km away, and the island covers only about 9 hectares.
According to local stories, cell 14D in the disciplinary block is a favorite of the ghosts. Ringleaders of disturbances were sent there. It is a dark, damp room that gets under the skin of even skeptics.
Night tours
Today Alcatraz does not look gloomy. Landscape designers have turned the island into a place for strolling, tourists fill the corridors with noise, and staff are friendly. To preserve the image of a mysterious place, night tours were created for the brave.
© Stan Fong · CC BY-SAPhoto: Stan Fong, CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0), Wikimedia CommonsThe night tour runs longer than the daytime one and includes stories about escapes and legends. Fewer tickets are available for it, so book them in advance. If you are going on a weekend or in summer, plan your trip a month ahead. Alcatraz remains one of the most visited attractions in San Francisco.
⁉️🤔 Frequently asked questions
How much time do you need for Alcatraz?
Allow 3-4 hours including the ferry and the audio tour. The trip across the water takes about 15 minutes each way. People usually spend 2-3 hours on the island itself. If you take the night tour, it will take longer.
How much does a ticket to Alcatraz cost?
Entry to the island is free; you only pay for the ferry (NPS fees page). The price is set by the sole official operator, Alcatraz City Cruises, and rates vary by season. Check current prices with the operator or on a verified platform in advance.
Is Alcatraz open every day?
The island is open year-round except Christmas, Thanksgiving, and New Year's Day (hours of operation page). In summer, tickets sell out a month or more ahead. Plan your visit in advance if you want to go at a convenient time.
Who was imprisoned at Alcatraz?
Al Capone (1934-1939), George "Machine Gun" Kelly, and Robert Stroud, nicknamed the "Birdman," were held here. Over 29 years, the prison held about 1,600 men. No women were held here.
Can you see ghosts at Alcatraz?
There is no official confirmation; these are legends and staff stories. Visitors look for cell 14D in the disciplinary block. Treat the stories as part of the atmosphere, not as fact.
In short: what is worth booking
Alcatraz is worth visiting at least once. It is a rare case where a prison became a museum and one of the key points of the San Francisco skyline. In high season, buy tickets in advance, and set aside half a day for the island itself.
- If you are in the city for the first time: a daytime tour with an audio guide and a view of the bay.
- If you like mystique: a night tour of the cells and corridors.
- If you want fewer lines: choose an early departure, around 8:45.
You can book the trip in advance: Alcatraz tickets on Tiqets.
A small editorial team writing guides for independent travel. We travel ourselves, but we haven’t been everywhere, so we check prices, opening hours and how to get there against official sources.