Alcatraz Inside Access Ferry and Audio Tour with Night Option
San Francisco, USA
- 2 to 4 hours (approx.)
- Offered in: English
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Overview
What's Included
- Round-trip ferry tickets to Alcatraz Island
- Official Alcatraz admission
- Immersive audio tour from start to finish
- Official Alcatraz Cellhouse audio tour
- Food & Drink
- Live Tour Guide
Meeting and Pickup
Meeting point
- Pier 33San Francisco, CA 94133, USA
Please go to Pier 33 (Alcatraz Landing) approximately 30 minutes before your departure time. Boarding will begin 15 minutes prior. Make sure you have the QR codes that will be sent the day before and go directly to the boarding line (not the ticket line).
End point
This activity ends back at the meeting point.Itinerary
1
Alcatraz Island
Admission Ticket Included
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Wheelchair accessible
- Stroller accessible
- Service animals allowed
- Near public transportation
- Transportation is wheelchair accessible
- Most travelers can participate
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 100 travelers
Supplied by
Cancellation Policy
This experience is non-refundable and cannot be changed for any reason. If you cancel or ask for an amendment, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
Traveler Photos
Reviews
3.9
based on 401 reviews
Sort by: Most insightful
Dont bother Alcatraz.is closed due to works being done. Turned up for the trip to be told. No answer from the company, no email to say it was cancelled. And as of yet no refund as they do not respond to any email.or message on the app. DO NOT BOOK. Check to see if Alcatraz is open.
That it an amazing experience and very interesting one and that I recommend it to everyone who wants to learn about it
Response from Host, Oct 2026
Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We’re glad you found the experience amazing, interesting, and informative. We truly appreciate your recommendation and hope to see you again in the future!
Get to the ferry early!
Not to be missed, amazing experience, so interesting and a must see in San Francisco
Response from Host, Oct 2026
Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We’re glad you had such an amazing and interesting experience, and we appreciate your helpful tip about arriving early for the ferry. Thank you for recommending us, and we hope to see you again in the future!
If your first time to San Francisco you must take this tour. Be prepared for walking up and down hills. It was quite interesting and informative. You won’t be disappointed!
Response from Host, Oct 2026
Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We’re glad you found the tour interesting and informative, and we appreciate your helpful tip for first-time visitors about the hills. Thank you for recommending us, and we hope to see you again in the future!
This trip is not worth the $100+ for the trip. The prison has really crumbled in the last few years and it appears there is no money going into the prison to keep it up. Save your money and watch a video about.
Response from Host, Oct 2026
Thank you for sharing your feedback. We’re sorry the experience did not meet your expectations. Alcatraz is an aging historic site, and extensive restoration and preservation work is ongoing to protect the structures and keep the island accessible for future generations. We understand that the current condition and temporary closures can affect the experience, and we appreciate your comments. We hope you’ll give us another chance in the future.
We took the night tour, I certainly wouldn't recommend it. You can't see much outside. There was a large portion of the facility closed off, maybe they were working on it but it only took about 25 minutes to walk through. The only people that were friendly were in the gift shop but 25 cents for a thin paper bag (really? it's not the quarter but just more rude)
Response from Host, Oct 2026
Thank you for sharing your feedback. We’re sorry the night tour did not meet your expectations. Some guests enjoy the evening atmosphere, while others prefer the daytime visit for better visibility around the island. Several areas of Alcatraz are currently closed for ongoing restoration and preservation work, which is outside our control. We appreciate your comments and hope you’ll give us another chance in the future.
Excellent tour. Chaotic at pier to get onto the ferry, just be there before your time. Great self paced tour. Audio tour of the prison was excellent, well worth. Very pleasant ferry ride.
Response from Host, Oct 2026
Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We’re glad you enjoyed the pleasant ferry ride, the excellent audio tour, and the freedom to explore Alcatraz at your own pace. We also appreciate your helpful tip about arriving early for boarding. Thank you for choosing us, and we hope to see you again in the future!
A short boat trip then as much free time on the island as you wish to spend, which sounds great. The problem is, once you’ve done the audio cell block tour, which is very informative and eye opening, there is very little else to see or do. Most of the other buildings are derelict or closed, pretty much every path and stair way is closed ( for your safety) It really is in a terrible and depressing state, and considering the number of daily visitors and it being a national landmark it could be so much better. Not sure where all the income is going, but it’s not being spent on improving the tourist experience, very disappointing!!
Response from Host, Oct 2026
Thank you for sharing your detailed feedback. We’re glad you found the audio cell block tour informative and appreciated being able to explore the island at your own pace. We understand your disappointment with the number of areas currently closed. Alcatraz requires extensive ongoing restoration and preservation work to protect the historic structures, maintain visitor safety, and ensure the island can continue to be experienced by future generations. These projects can unfortunately limit access to certain buildings, paths, and stairways. We appreciate your comments and hope you’ll give us another chance in the future for a more complete experience.
Elightening but sad. Unexpectantly full of information sbout the harsh treatment of Native Americans, which I appreciated.
Response from Host, Oct 2026
Thank you for sharing your experience! We’re glad you found the visit enlightening and appreciated learning more about the difficult history and treatment of Native Americans. Thank you for choosing us, and we hope to see you again in the future!
Audio was excellent. Was great that it could be paused at will. Indian museum was very informative. Would recommend.
Response from Host, Oct 2026
Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We’re glad you enjoyed the excellent audio tour, the flexibility to pause and explore at your own pace, and the informative Native American exhibit. We truly appreciate your recommendation and hope to see you again in the future!
The staff was very friendly and the experience was amazing!! Everything went smoothly and the price was fair.
Response from Host, Oct 2026
Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We’re delighted to hear that our staff was friendly, everything went smoothly, and you found the experience amazing and fairly priced. Thank you for choosing us, and we hope to see you again in the future!
So much history love the audio. You could go at your own pace. The view is beautiful. Went around 5pm so when leaving Alcatraz got the beautiful lights to the city.
Response from Host, Oct 2026
Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We’re glad you enjoyed the history, the informative audio tour, the freedom to explore at your own pace, and the beautiful views of San Francisco as the city lights came on. Thank you for choosing us, and we hope to see you again in the future!
Enjoyed the activity but getting tickets to get on the cruise was a hassle. The link to get the tickets gave us a bar code & not the QR code req by the company. Order through the app was not worth it. Next time will not use the app
Response from Host, Oct 2026
Thank you for sharing your feedback. We’re glad you enjoyed the activity, but we’re sorry the ticketing process caused frustration. We understand how inconvenient it is when the barcode provided does not match the QR code required for boarding. We appreciate you bringing this to our attention and will take your comments into consideration as we continue improving the booking experience. We hope you’ll give us another chance in the future for a smoother and more enjoyable experience!
Very good tour and informational but be ready to walk up steep hills. LOTS of walking. Glad we had the time to go through at our leisure. Nice variety of souvenirs and gifts in gift shop.
Response from Host, Oct 2026
Thank you so much for your review! We’re glad you found the tour informative and enjoyed exploring at your own pace, as well as the variety in the gift shop. You’re absolutely right that there is quite a bit of walking and some steep hills, so comfortable shoes are always recommended. Thank you for choosing us, and we hope to see you again in the future!
If boat breaks down your trip is cut short
Our time was cut short and we didn't get full tour or audio
Response from Host, Oct 2026
Thank you for sharing your feedback. We’re sorry that the unexpected boat issue shortened your visit and prevented you from enjoying the full tour and audio experience. Unfortunately, mechanical issues can occasionally occur and are outside of our control, but we completely understand how disappointing this was. We hope you’ll give us another chance in the future for the complete experience you expected.
You should know that if you book a trip with Viator you might save a few dollars, but you will get absolutely no help with issues. I understand the no refund policy, but you should be aware it means even things out of your control such as delayed flights mother nature, etc.....
Viator will tell you to contact the place of your booking to see if they will help you. I now know saving a couple of dollars is not worth that poor service!
Response from Host, Oct 2026
Thank you for sharing your feedback. We understand how frustrating unexpected travel disruptions such as flight delays or weather can be. Our no-refund policy is applied consistently to all reservations, including situations that may be outside a guest’s control, unless otherwise specifically stated in the booking terms. This policy is necessary because tickets, transportation, staffing, and other tour arrangements are often secured in advance and cannot always be recovered once reserved. We appreciate your understanding and your feedback, and we hope you’ll give us another chance in the future for a smoother experience.
How easy and efficient it was to book and the Tex reminders were helpful
NEEDED TO SAY WE REQUIRED ID IN PASSPORT!!!!!!
Response from Host, Oct 2026
Thank you for your feedback! We’re glad you found the booking process easy and efficient and that the text reminders were helpful. Thank you for choosing us, and we hope you’ll give us another chance in the future!
Very informative! Glad we added to our experiences. Quick, clean ferry to the island. Very organized.
Response from Host, Sep 2026
Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We’re glad you found the experience informative, well organized, and enjoyed the quick and clean ferry ride to the island. Thank you for choosing us, and we hope to see you again in the future!
Great tour - very informative - Part Service staff very knowledgeable, helpful and friendly - don't miss the gift shop!
Response from Host, Sep 2026
Thank you so much for your great review! We’re glad you found the tour informative and our staff knowledgeable, helpful, and friendly. We’re also happy you enjoyed the gift shop!
Thank you for choosing us, and we hope to see you again in the future!
It was a great experience. We enjoyed the excursion and would highly recommend it. Get there early s you can explore the wharf.
Response from Host, Sep 2026
Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We’re glad you had a great experience and enjoyed the excursion. We also appreciate your helpful tip about arriving early to explore the wharf. Thank you for recommending us, and we hope to see you again in the future for another memorable experience!
Alcatraz was an interesting experience. Learned quite a bit. It was great that we got extra live talks for the night experience
However, there were portions of the exhibit that are under maintenance so we're closed to view until at least late 2027/2028. Because of that, you do get a bit let down with the price you pay. I wish somewhere this was mentioned so I would've saved my money and waited a year to go. Anyone reading this, wait until the end of 2027 or 2028 to be safe if you want the full experience. Don't go now.
Response from Host, Sep 2026
Thank you for sharing your feedback. We’re glad you found Alcatraz interesting and enjoyed the additional live talks offered during the night experience. We completely understand your disappointment regarding the areas currently closed for maintenance. This work is necessary to preserve and protect Alcatraz so future generations can continue to experience this important historic site. Unfortunately, these restoration projects and temporary closures are managed by the official site operators and are outside of our control. We appreciate your comments and hope you’ll give us another chance in the future. We hope to see you again for an even more complete and memorable experience!
Experience was great. I enjoyed all the amazing history. More information on the Indian cultural side would be helpful.
Response from Host, Sep 2026
Thank you so much for your feedback! We’re glad to hear that you had a great experience and enjoyed learning about the incredible history throughout the tour. We also truly appreciate your suggestion. Feedback like this helps us continue improving the experience and providing even more meaningful historical context for our guests. Thank you again for joining us, and we hope we see you again in the future!
This was an awesome tour. We learned learned a lot of interesting facts. Was not aware that indians originally occupied the island.
Response from Host, Sep 2026
Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We’re very happy to hear that you had an awesome experience and enjoyed learning so many interesting facts about the island and its history. One of the special parts of the tour is discovering stories and historical details that many guests may not have known before. We’re glad the experience gave you a deeper appreciation of the island’s past. Thank you again for joining us, and we hope we see you again in the future!
Viator don't sell tickets for Alcatraz, they sell vouchers for tickets. We had to spend 20 minutes in a queue to exchange our vouchers for tickets with people a head of us buying and returning tickets. Those who bought real tickets elsewhere skipped our line and boarded the boat that we missed.
Response from Host, Sep 2026
Thank you for sharing your feedback. We’re sorry to hear that the ticket redemption process caused delays and resulted in you missing your intended ferry. When booking through third-party platforms such as Viator, certain reservations may require a ticket or voucher redemption step before boarding. We always encourage guests to carefully follow the instructions provided with their booking and to arrive early enough to allow time for check-in and any required ticket processing. We understand how frustrating it can be to see other passengers board while waiting in line, and we appreciate you bringing your experience to our attention. Your feedback helps us continue improving the clarity of our instructions and the overall guest experience. We hope we see you again in the future.
Great way to spend half a day from San Francisco. Short sail, great views, and informative tour of the facility
Response from Host, Sep 2026
Thank you for your great review! We’re glad you enjoyed the short ferry ride, beautiful views, and informative tour. We hope we see you again in the future!
Easy to find the pier, quick check in process, ferry’s coming every 10-15 minutes with plenty of space/food/restroom. Alcatraz was clean, organized and the audio is included you don’t need a tour guide for this. Recommend!
Response from Host, Sep 2026
Thank you so much for your great review! We’re glad everything from finding the pier and check-in to the ferry ride and audio tour was smooth and enjoyable. We truly appreciate your recommendation and hope we see you again in the future!
I don’t normally post reviews but I felt compelled to with this activity. I paid $363 for four tickets for my family. It was an enormous amount of money but something that I have always wanted to do so we did it and we were all excited. However, upon arriving for our time slot, I saw that exact same tickets could be purchased for $45 each. Come on guys! This is just so greedy and I hate that. That is an ENORMOUS mark up and it’s totally unfair. I shall not be using Viator again. Greed, I cannot abide.
Response from Host, Sep 2026
Thank you for sharing your feedback. We understand your concern regarding the price difference. Our pricing is carefully studied to remain fair while reflecting the full experience we provide, including organization, convenience, customer support, and the overall service designed to help our guests enjoy a smooth and memorable adventure. We always strive to provide value that goes beyond the cost of the admission ticket itself, and we’re sorry the experience did not meet your expectations in this regard. We appreciate your feedback and hope we see you again in the future.
Everything is great beside the pooopooo smells I almost threw up. Wear a mask or something would help a lot!
Response from Host, Sep 2026
Thank you for your feedback! We’re glad you enjoyed the experience overall. We’re sorry the unpleasant odors affected part of your visit, and we appreciate you sharing this with us. We hope we see you again in the future!
Do not book through Viator!!
First of all I made a mistake and looked it a day early, I got in touch with viator to see if i could change it and tge reply was simply no we are fully booked for the next day, enjoy your trip, which was as sarcastic as can be!! So we tried our best to get there for 6.30 which was the time we booked it for (does say get there 30mins before) but cause it was the wrong day we were pushed for time and arrived at 6.25 thinking we would still be okay, to be told sorry you will have to get in touch with your tour operator, you've missed the boat. So tried reaching out to viator no response. So we just thought, we are here now we will just book it through the trip organiser themselves, cost us around £35 per ticket.. When we booked through Viator it was around £80 per ticket for the same exact ticket, more than double, come on Viator that's pure and simple ripping people off, with dam right rude and unhelpful customer service.
The trip itself was amazing but got down to pier 33 and book it yourself you'll save alot.
Good day and seemless logistics getting over and back. The audio tour was awesome and the Park Service nailed the experience.
Response from Host, Sep 2026
Thank you so much for your review! We’re glad you enjoyed the smooth logistics, ferry ride, and especially the excellent audio tour experience. We truly appreciate your feedback and hope we see you again in the future!
Member Pricing
From
$90.24
per personWas $94.99(-5%)
-You will not receive a refund if you cancel.
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Alcatraz Inside Access Ferry and Audio Tour with Night Option
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