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 175 reviews
Jay_L, Apr 2026
It was a super kool aide quest especially at night. Just be aware there is a lot of walking and to wear comfortable shoes. Remember to look at the weather too.
Christy_J, Apr 2026
Could be very windy and cold.
Please have time to listen to the entire recording. This is very educational.
Leslie_L, Apr 2026
Booked for 2pm. When i went to check in my ticket was invalid because the operator booked for 1:35pm instead of 2pm. I had to buy another ticket to not lose the only time i had left for this tour. No response from operator about a refund.
eileen_p, Apr 2026
The Native American history!! An understanding of the importance to the native people as they took a protest stand and shone an important light on their issues…..in order to make changes and educate others
Heather_D, Apr 2026
The audio tour was great. Hearing from people, both guards and inmates, that actually spent time there was really great
Raymond_V, Mar 2026
Interesting history of the prison, the island and its previous occupants. Would love to know the exact route on the island the 3 escapees used to leave the cell to off the island
Vanessa_C, Mar 2026
Stress-free on the actual day. I got a bit worried before the tour because I hadn’t received the Alcatraz ticket yet, but they replied quickly and said it would be sent one day before. They did send it, so just be patient 😅 Would definitely recommend!
Richard_D, Mar 2026
Going to Alcaraz is a great experience it is amazing to see all that history. would book early as it gets very busy and the island has a very steep climb to get to ware the tour starts but it is a great half day
Cinthya_C, Mar 2026
Great experience, loved the area. Alcatraz is something you should do at least once. It’s an location full of history for those who find it interesting. Easy access to information and allowed for us to move at our own pace. Just know you need good comfortable shoes, maybe a hat, and earphones in case you don’t want to use the ones they provide on site. There were flies but not too bad. Ferry ride was a bit choppy but I imagine that’s the waters fault. Overall, I recommend.
Response from Host, Mar 2026
Thank you for your thoughtful review, we appreciate it!
Stacie_C, Mar 2026
It took some time to board the boat we left 40 minutes past our due time,with no explanation by the staff there, after getting there a half hour before as the tour stated so we had to cut our time on Alcatraz to make it to a reservation. Otherwise ok
Lia_D, Mar 2026
This excursion is a scam. Book directly with Alcatraz City Tours and save half. This tour is double in price with the only addition being an app that provides optional audio guide. It’s pretty disappointing that Viator allows this on their platform.
Karen_H, Mar 2026
A must adventure that everyone needs to experience at some point in their life. Maybe if some people saw this type of jail, we would have less crime in the world .
Sue_S, Mar 2026
Overall, a good thing to do one time. The audio is a must and adds so much to the experience. However, the boats providing transport are TOO crowded, and the prison itself is awesome on the outside and has killer views, but it’s dilapidated, cringy, and haunted as hell! Really gets across the message that incarceration IS NOT the answer!
Nathan_P, Mar 2026
It is a climb up to the top for the audio tour. Worth it for sure! The audio part is a must for the tour
Veronica_R, Feb 2026
Well organized...gives freedom of time and very interesting.
There was an Alcatraz legend giving his story. William "Bill" Baker. That was awesome!!!
Nicholas_D, Feb 2026
Nice tour with a lot of history- the extra programs with the "after Hours" / night tour were a nice touch. Love that we could get tickets through Viator when the official concessionaire was sold out!
Margaret_T, Feb 2026
Great tour very informative. Loved the headsets for the guided tour. Staff was very helpful with directions
Erick_G, Jan 2026
Bring comfortable shoes and if you’re going to visit during lower temperatures bring some jackets. I would visit again!
Response from Host, Jan 2026
Thanks Erick! We're glad to hear you enjoyed your day.
Sydney_L, Jan 2026
Many sections were closed off and the audio tour was somewhat underwhelming. There was pretty scenery along the way but not something I would do again.
Farshad_S, Jan 2026
I got 4 tickets and 2 of the tickets didn’t work and O had to buy new ones a d go with another ferry
Response from Host, Jan 2026
Hi there, we can see that only 2 tickets of your 4 tickets were scanned. We're following up with Alcatraz on why they only scanned 2 of your tickets instead of the 4 that were issued.
Pam_H, Jan 2026
3 days after booking experience and after landing in SFO, I get a text that they had oversold the night experience and could not accommodate us but was able to get us on a day tour the next day. We already have our 4 days planned pretty tightly. The company did get us in a day tour for the last day we were there, which cost almost double had I booked directly through the Alcatraz site. Overselling is not ideal but taking 3 days to communicate the issue was unacceptable.
Response from Host, Jan 2026
Hi Pam, it looks like your booking was impacted by our technical issues during our holiday storm. It's never our intent to oversell and we're sorry about that. Our priority was to make sure you were still able to get to Alcatraz and hope you were still able to enjoy it despite the challenges of the week. Thanks for reaching out.
Alfonso_G, Jan 2026
My visit to Alcatraz Island was far more than a tour — it was a powerful, emotional journey through history, memory, and silence.
From the very beginning, everything was impeccably organized. The transportation, the timing, and especially the audio guide were outstanding. The narration was immersive, respectful, and incredibly well-crafted, allowing the voices of the past to speak for themselves. Walking through the cells, corridors, and open spaces while listening to those stories was profoundly moving.
What truly sets this experience apart is how it makes you feel. Alcatraz is not just a historic site; it is a place that invites reflection — about freedom, resilience, isolation, and humanity. I visited at a very personal moment in my life, and this tour offered me something unexpected: quiet, perspective, and a sense of connection with stories much larger than my own.
Thank you for preserving this place with such care and dignity, and for creating an experience that goes beyond facts and dates. This is not just a tour I will remember — it is one I will carry with me.
Highly recommended to anyone visiting San Francisco. Truly unforgettable.
Gita_S, Dec 2025
The tour itself was good. The Viator fee is too expensive, though, since you can get a ticket that includes the ferry and audio guide for much cheaper if you plan ahead.
Chad_P, Dec 2025
My family and I flew into San Francisco the day of the activity. Unfortunately our plane ran late and we were unable to make it on time. Upon this relization, we called and asked to reschedule and were told that we can only reschedule up until the day before. It was extremely frustrating and disappointing given how much money we spent.
Response from Host, Jan 2026
Hi Chad, due to Alcatraz's policies (which are security measures) tickets are unable to be changed within the 24 hour window. If guests run the risk of arriving late into SF, it's probably good advice to book Alcatraz for the next day. I'm really sorry you experienced flight delays on your vacation.
Susie_P, Dec 2025
Double check your tickets when buying through Viator. We bought “1:00 PM”tickets and got to the boat early. Got in line for the 1:05 sailing, only to find out our ticket was for 1:35. I guess they were technically within the 1 PM hour - but it would have been nice to know when we really needed to be at the dock.
Anisa_B, Dec 2025
Really neat experience. Highly recommend! Book ahead of your trip because it is very popular and sells out.
Self guided audio tour around and inside Alcatraz. Definitely recommend if you’re in the area. Easy pick-up at one of the piers at fisherman’s wharf area. Took the 4:45pm tour. The time of day and the fact that it was dark outside totally added to the spooky feel of this experience. Eerie and pretty spooky there, but really cool to see!! Had the option to stay on Alcatraz island till 6:25pm or 7:25pm.
Julie_C, Dec 2025
The night tour was not worth the extra money. Some of the areas were closed, and we feel like we missed part of the experience. Also, for a national park we were surprised with the smoking and the heavy use of marijuana in the on the tour.
Candace_L, Dec 2025
I was a amazing experience that I don't think I'll ever get the chance to do again. I 100% recommend this on anyone's bucket list! Definitely make sure you have good shoes. There's a lot to explore.
Udayraj_N, Dec 2025
Very friendly crew, clean boat, overall a great experience. Timely departure, great weather, excellent views
Nicholas_T, Dec 2025
The tour itself was wonderful. Very interesting and fun, and super cool to walk through the old prison. The booking experience, however, was not great. After booking, I got a "voucher" emailed to me. The voucher clearly stated, "This is not your entry ticket. Your ticket and link to the audio tour will be emailed to you 24 hours before the tour." Hmm, that's kind of cutting it close. Well, 24 hours before the tour, I had received nothing. 20 hours, nothing. 15 hours, nothing. 5 hours, nothing. I was waking up in the middle of the night to check my email. Finally, 2.5 hours before the tour, I called Viator customer support, and they told me that I should have received an email. I didn't. I checked the spam. Nothing. They kept forwarding me an email with the voucher, but telling me it was the tickets. Keep in mind the voucher clearly states, "THIS IS NOT YOUR ENTRY TICKET." So, I'm freaking out. My family and I drove 90 minutes to SF and just hoped for the best, having crazy anxiety the whole time that our day could be a total bust. Thankfully, there was a person at the ticket desk at the dock, and they were able to look up my booking, and they let us on the boat. Then I had anxiety that we wouldn't have access to the audio tour because I never got the link for the audio via email. Luckily, they handed us the audio tour devices and headphones when we got there. Overall, the biggest issue was the phrasing of the confirmation and voucher. Had it said, "present voucher to the ticket booth for entry." I wouldn't have worried. But I was terrified we were going to be turned away. This will likely be my last time using Viator for booking. But for those wondering about Alcatraz? Fantastic tour. Have fun.
Response from Host, Dec 2025
Hi Nicolas, thank you for raising the ticket receipt issue you had. We reviewed and indeed there was an error on your email in our system that prevented your tickets from going through. We should have seen that and we didn't. I'm very sorry for the stress this caused. I would have been super stressed too if this was my family going. Please accept our sincere apologies for this guest service failure. I am glad you were taken care of at the pier and still enjoyed your Alcatraz experience.
From $90.99
per person-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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