Visiting Alcatraz is a five-step process, and only the first one is hard: getting a ferry reservation on the date you want.
1. Reserve a timed ferry departure
Tickets include the round-trip ferry and island admission and sell out well ahead in summer. Booking windows are on Alcatraz tickets.
2. Get to Pier 33 Alcatraz Landing
Every sailing leaves from Pier 33 on The Embarcadero — not Pier 39, not the Ferry Building. Arrive 30 minutes early. Directions: how to get to Alcatraz.
3. Cross the Bay
The ferry takes about 15 minutes. Head to the outer deck for the approach. See Alcatraz boat tour.
4. Take the cellhouse audio tour
After a short ranger orientation at the dock, walk or shuttle up to the cellhouse and start Doing Time, a 45-minute program narrated by former inmates and officers.
5. Return whenever you like
Returns are open until the last boat. Most visitors are ashore 90 minutes to three hours — see Alcatraz tour duration.
Quick checklist
- Ticket on your phone plus a screenshot
- Photo ID
- Windproof layer
- Comfortable closed shoes
- Water; there is no restaurant on the island
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a guide to visit Alcatraz?
No. The included audio tour is self-guided, and free ranger programs run through the day.
Can you visit Alcatraz on your own?
Yes, but only on the scheduled ferry. Private boats cannot dock at the island.