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Fisherman's Wharf of San Francisco

Alcatraz Tours & Parking: Alcatraz Island and Alcatraz Prison

No trip to San Francisco’s Fisherman’s Wharf is complete without a trip to Alcatraz Island. From the many vantage points along the piers at The Wharf, you’ll be able to see some remarkable views of this 22 acre island. So get your camera and be prepared to shoot some great photos.

General Information and directions on How to Purchase Tickets are below. For a summary of the island's lively and unique history, please visit the Alcatraz History page.

 

ALCATRAZ GENERAL INFORMATION


To catch the ferry to Alcatraz, take a short walk to Pier 33 (Alcatraz Landing). Alcatraz Island is one of San Francisco's most popular attractions and tours frequently sell out a week or more in advance. Tickets are rarely available for same-day sailings, so plan ahead! (See information below on how to order tickets.)

You can stay on Alcatraz as long as you like before it closes for the evening, but allow at least 2 ½ hours for sailing to the island, taking the cell house audio tour, exploring the rest of the island and its historic exhibits, and returning to the mainland.

The weather on Alcatraz is unpredictable and liable to change unexpectedly,so be prepared by bringing along a light jacket or sweater no matter how nice the day starts out. The best advice is always to dress in layers. Be sure to wear rain gear during wet winter months. Much of Alcatraz is steep and hilly. Wear comfortable shoes and be prepared for walking long distances uphill.

ALCATRAZ TICKETS: HOW CAN I PURCHASE TICKETS TO VISIT?


You can purchase tickets to visit Alcatraz Island online, in-person or by telephone. It is best to purchase tickets in advance in order to avoid disappointment.

Online: Please visit the Alcatraz Cruises website to purchase and print your tickets online.

In-Person: You can purchase tickets in person by visiting the Alcatraz Landing Ticket Office at Pier 33, The Embarcadero.

Telephone: Phone reservations can be made by calling the Alcatraz ticketing center at 415-981-ROCK (415-981-7625).

For information on ferry schedules, ticket prices, reservations and sales, please visit the Alcatraz Cruises website.

A list of Alcatraz related tours follows below.
 

Blue & Gold Fleet
Address: PIER 39
Cross Street(s): At Beach Street and The Embarcadero
Phone: 415-705-8200
E-Mail: info@blueandgoldfleet.com
Web: www.blueandgoldfleet.com
Escape From the Rock--Murder, Mayhem and Mobsters. Come join the fun! Experience Escape from the Rock Cruise! It's an hour and a half bay cruise journey that sails under the Golden Gate Bridge and then circles Alcatraz, allowing you to see every angle of this mysterious island. You'll hear chilling accounts of harrowing escape attempts by Alcatraz's notorious criminals, as well as their descriptions of brutality of life on the island. This special San Francisco bay tour--"fully loaded" with sound effects and intriguing stories about Capone, Billy Cook the Killer, Clyde Johnson's escape attempt, and many more--will take you back to the days when this maximum-security prison was the most feared institution in the American penal system. SPECIAL BONUS: Every child ticket purchased (ages 5-11) will receive on complimentary pair of 5x magnification Blue & Gold Fleet souvenir binoculars to make this extraordinary tour even more memorable.
Days / Hours of Operation: For tour and ferry schedules, please visit www.blueandgoldfleet.com.
Directions: Parking is available in the PIER 39 Garage located across the street from the Blue and Gold ticket booth.  The garage is open 24-hours a day, seven days a week.

Red and White Fleet
Address: Pier 43 1/2
Cross Street(s): At Taylor Street
Phone: 415-673-2900
Web: www.redandwhite.com
Founded in 1892, the family-owned Red and White Fleet is legendary for its exciting San Francisco Cruises™. The company is committed to environmental sustainability, supporting community education, the preservation of San Francisco’s unique history– and offering a fun and spectacular experience to visitors from around the world. Sail aboard the 1-hour Golden Gate Bay Cruise under the Golden Gate and around Alcatraz – San Francisco’s only cruise in 12 languages. Discover San Francisco’s unique Natural History, Architecture, and Native American Culture aboard the 90-minute SF Explorer Cruise. Or, enjoy spectacular sunset views and a hearty appetizer buffet by Boudin in a relaxed twilight atmosphere on the 2-hour California Sunset Cruise.
Days / Hours of Operation: Golden Gate Bay Cruise®: 8-14 daily departures starting at 10:00 AM

San Francisco Explorer Cruise: May 26 - September 6, departs daily at 3:30 p.m.

California Sunset Cruise: April 1 - May 25 and September 7 - October 24 departs Thursday - Saturday at 6:00 p.m.    
May 26 - September 6 departs daily at 7:00 p.m.

For more information please visit www.redandwhite.com
Directions: 

The Red and White Fleet is located at Pier 43 ½ on Fisherman’s Wharf, adjacent to Boudin and the Franciscan Restaurant. Parking is available within one block, at the end of Taylor Street. The Red and White Fleet does not validate parking. MUNI’s F-Line streetcar stops at Jefferson & Taylor. The Taylor Street Cable Car Terminus is only blocks away.
Pier 43 1/2  is convenient to Fisherman's Wharf parking lots and public transit. Formore information, please visit the Parking or Public Transit pages.



 

Wear comfortable walking shoes and dress in layers, as weather can be unpredictable.

Park hours vary by season. Check ferry schedules in advance and be in line at the dock on time.

Avoid areas partitioned by fences or barricades. These areas are closed to the public and are unsafe.

Do not feed the birds, pick plants, or remove anything of any kind. Alcatraz plant and animal life are protected by law.
 
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