Alcatraz Island Tickets — Ferry, Audio Tour & Combo Options Compared
Alcatraz sells timed ferry departures from Pier 33; the real choice is the standard audio-guided island tour or a combo that pairs it with a bus tour or Fisherman's Wharf walk.
Available
5 options
Avg. rating
4.6 - 4,079 reviews
From
$48 USD
Cancellation
Free up to 24h before
Alcatraz Island: what to know before booking
Alcatraz sells timed ferry departures from Pier 33; the real choice is the standard audio-guided island tour or a combo that pairs it with a bus tour or Fisherman's Wharf walk.
- Availability
- 5 ticket options compared
- Starting price
- Tickets currently start around $48 USD before checkout fees.
- Rating signal
- Compared options average 4.6 stars across 4,079 traveler reviews.
- Location
- Ferry departs Pier 33, Alcatraz Landing, The Embarcadero
- Best time
- Earliest morning ferry for the calmest crossing and the emptiest cellhouse
- Ticket note
- Date- and ferry-time stamped; you must catch your assigned departure from Pier 33
Alcatraz Island in San Francisco
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Everything you should know before you book
Alcatraz is San Francisco's must-book attraction — the former maximum-security federal prison that held Al Capone, set on an island in the middle of the Bay. The award-winning cellhouse audio tour, narrated by former guards and inmates, is included with every island ticket, and the round-trip ferry from Pier 33 is the only way out there.
Book Alcatraz as far ahead as you can. Official island tickets routinely sell out a week or more in advance, especially in summer and on weekends. If island tickets are gone, combos that pair Alcatraz with a bus tour or a Fisherman's Wharf walk are often still available — and they bundle the ferry into one booking.
Frequently asked questions
How far in advance should I book Alcatraz?
As early as possible — official island tickets often sell out a week or more ahead in peak season. Bus and Fisherman's Wharf combos can be a backup when island-only tickets are gone.
Is the ferry included in the Alcatraz ticket?
Yes — every Alcatraz ticket includes the round-trip ferry from Pier 33 and the cellhouse audio tour. There is no other way to reach the island.
How long does an Alcatraz visit take?
Plan about 2.5–3 hours door to door, including the ferry both ways and roughly 1.5 hours on the island for the audio tour.