Visitors guide to Alcatraz

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A national park like no other sits 1.25 miles offshore from San Francisco. From the middle of the San Francisco Bay, legendary (and a bit creepy) Alcatraz Island offers some of the best views of The City and surrounding cities. 

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The worst of the worst convicts were sent to Alcatraz, the island prison known as The Rock. Many tried to escape, none ever made it, or so they say. A few were listed as missing and “presumed” drowned.

 

Now a National Historic Landmark, the famous former home of Al “Scarface” Capone and "Machine Gun" Kelly, is high on most visitors' to-do lists. TripAdvisor reviews rated it the No. 1 landmark in the country.

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There are numerous landmarks on the 22-acre island but the big draw is the main cell house, which is maintained to look as it did when the federal prison was closed in 1963. The 9-foot-by-5-foot cells give you a good idea of what it was like to do “hard” time in those days. There are “dark holes” where the baddest of the bad boys went. They don’t make 'em like that anymore. The dungeons; not the criminals, criminals are still the same.

 

Prior to becoming a federal prison, Alcatraz was a military prison and a military fort dating back to the Civil War. It had 85 cannons mounted, just in case some Confederates showed up.

 

The first tour boat leaves Pier 33 at 8:45 a.m. and they run basically every 30 minutes until around 4 p.m., with a couple of night tours later, around 6 to 7 p.m. 

 

Park rangers give tours with interesting anecdotes. A 45-minute audio tour guides you step by step through the dismal cell block. Set aside at least three hours, which would mean around two hours on the island.

 

When you get to Alcatraz, you are given audio headsets. You can walk around at your own pace (don’t miss the gardens). If you’re with a group, make sure all of your headsets are at the same point in the recording, which will guide you to where to go and what to see.

 

Beware: The National Park Service won’t let you on the island with anything bigger than a standard-sized backpack.

 

Oddly: Alcatraz was taken over and occupied by Native Americans in 1969. They staged a public protest for almost two years and left behind graffiti that remains today.

 

Hot tip: Photography on the island is best done early in the day, on the first tour of the day, or one of the tours that put you on the island after dark. The night tour is a bit creepy.

 

Good eats: Not good, but OK. On the ferry ride you can purchase hot dogs and other snacks from their snack bar. Otherwise, eat along The Embarcadero before or after you visit Alcatraz. You can take a picnic lunch onto Alcatraz, but alcohol is prohibited.

 

Getting there: The ferry ride takes about 15 minutes and departs from Pier 33, a short walk from Fisherman’s Wharf. To get to Alcatraz Landing, the departure spot on The Embarcadero, you can walk from Fisherman’s Wharf or take a bus or an F Line street car along The Embarcadero.

 

Photo op: The lighthouse on Alcatraz was the first one built on the West Coast.

 

Cost: Adult tickets including the ferry ride normally are $38; it goes up to $45 for a night tour and as high as $90 for a special behind-the-scenes tour. You can couple Alcatraz with a trip to nearby Angel Island for $70. You can buy tickets 90 days in advance, and that is recommended, especially if you’re going in the summer months. Both the self-guided audio tour, and tours done by park rangers, are free.

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Getting tickets: Companies re-sell tickets for profit but the best place is through the only official retailer, Alcatraz Cruises, at cityexperiences.com or call them at 415-981-7625. Or buy in person at Pier 33. They go on sale 90 days in advance and sometimes sell out.