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The Official Tour of Alcatraz Island and Prison

Step back in time and experience the legendary island that has been a Civil War fort, a military prison and one of the most notorious federal penitentiaries in US history. This memorable tour includes: 45 minute audio presentation “Doing Time: The Alcatraz Cellhouse Tour,” featuring actual correctional officers and prisoners who lived and worked on the Island; orientation video by Discovery Channel; ranger and docent tours; historic gardens and abundant wildlife.

CELLHOUSE AUDIO TOUR

No one can tell the Alcatraz tale like the men who actually lived it. The captivating Alcatraz Cellhouse Audio Tour brings history alive through the actual voices of the correctional officers and inmates who lived on the island during the infamous Federal Penitentiary era.

Hear both sides of life in the island prison including such famous events as escape attempts, “The Battle of ’46”, food riots, and surviving solitary confinement.

The Cellhouse Audio Tour is available in Dutch, English, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Mandarin, Portuguese, Russian and Spanish.

GARDENS OF ALCATRAZ

From the military to the penitentiary era, plants softened the Rock for those who called Alcatraz home. Through gardening, island residents created beauty in a place focused on defense, punishment, and confinement. The families of the guards enjoyed tea parties in the gardens, and gardening became a welcome pastime. For trusted inmates, the gardens were an escape from daily prison life. Even today, the thriving gardens are a stark contrast to the somber prison.

After closure of the prison in 1963, many plants survived decades without care. These survivors are excellent choices for gardeners in the Bay Area or other Mediterranean climates. Since 2003, The Garden Conservancy has been working in partnership with the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy and the National Park Service to restore these wonderful gardens and to share the stories with visitors.

Join a garden docent for an up-close look at the restored historic gardens of Alcatraz. Learn about the softer side of the Rock and how gardens made life tolerable for residents of the barren island. Tours leave the Alcatraz dock at 9:30 am every Friday and Sunday.

GUIDED TOURS

Join the island staff for a guided walking tour of Alcatraz Island. Programs are offered throughout the day and generally start either at the dock or lighthouse. Topics may include Famous Inmates, Escapes, Hollywood’s Rock, 200 Years of Alcatraz History, and Fortress Alcatraz. Some programs even take visitors into restricted areas of the island.

Guided tours generally last 45 minutes to an hour, and may involve walking moderate distances.

Tours and times vary daily, so check the Program Board when you arrive on the island dock. No reservations are required, and all programs are free.

ALCATRAZ: STORIES FROM THE ROCK

Alcatraz: Stories From the Rock takes viewers on a journey through the Island’s many chapters: its early role as a military fortress, the famous federal penitentiary years, the Indian occupation that altered the course of history, and finally the popular National Park and wildlife refuge it is today.

Alcatraz stands as a powerful symbol of protection and change. The film explores Alcatraz as it began, as it evolved, and as it stands today and allows viewers to discover the many layers that make it an incredible time capsule of history and human drama.

VIDEO: WE HOLD THE ROCK

The occupation of Alcatraz Island from 1969 to 1971 by “Indians of All Tribes” changed the course of U.S. and American Indian history, and brought world-wide attention to the plight of American Indians. The award winning video/exhibit, “WE HOLD THE ROCK,” produced by the National Park Service and the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy, is shown continually in the China Alley exhibit behind the main theater area near the dock.

ALCATRAZ AND THE AMERICAN PRISON EXPERIENCE

“Alcatraz and the American Prison Experience,” a major interpretive exhibit, explains the place of Alcatraz in the evolution of prisons in America from Colonial days to the present. Produced in partnership with the federal Bureau of Prisons, the exhibit also looks at family life on Alcatraz and trends in American penology. The exhibit is housed in two historic fortress storerooms in the China Alley display area near the dock.

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Alcatraz Time 09:41 AM (PST)

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Early Bird Tour

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Tour Options

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Ticket Quantity

As the official concessioner to the National Park Service, Alcatraz Cruises offers several Alcatraz Island tour options, from in-depth, behind-the-scenes experiences to daily visits to Alcatraz Island. Your visit to Alcatraz Island includes round-trip transportation and the award-winning “Doing Time: The Alcatraz Cellhouse Audio Tour”.

Tour Options Overview

Compare what’s included per tour.

2.5 / hours

Round Trip Ferry to Alcatraz

Famly Packs are available **

Adult $37.25

Special Tour Activities

On-Board Narration

Guided Tour

Adult $44.25

4.5 / hours

No Children Allowed

Adult $89.25

5.5 / hours

Angel Island Tram Tour

Adult $71.50

Pertinent Information

Language translations.

The awared-winning Cellhouse audio tour is available in Dutch, English, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Mandarin, Portugues, Russian, and Spanish

When to Buy Tickets

Tickets are available for purchase 90 days in advance. Advance purchase is highly recommended due to seasonal sellouts.

Tour Duration

Duration of tour is approximate based on duration data averages.

Family Packs

Family Packs are available for the Early Bird and Day Tours only. The family Pack includes 2 Audlt and 2 Child (ages 5-11) tour ticets. Family Pack Alcatraz tour tickets can only be purchased by phone at 415.981.ROCK (7625) , or in person at the ticket booth located at Pier 33 Alcactraz Landing.

Group Tours

If booking a tour for a group of 15 people or more, please contact Alcatraz Cruises Group Services Department at 415.438.8361 ; or e-mail [email protected]

First Visit, Least Crowded

Departing Pier 33 at 8:45AM; this is the first Alcatraz Island tour of the day. The Early Bird Tour is the same as the Day Tour, so get a head start on your Alcatraz Island adventure and avoid the crowds arriving later in the day.

Available Daily (except when closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years Day).

Tickets Include

• Round-trip Ferry Ride to Alcatraz Island
• Award-winning Cellhouse Audio Tour
• Daily Optional Programs and Exhibits

Learn more about the Early Bird Tour

*Prices subject to change without notice

** Family pack tickets can only be purhcased by calling 411.5981.ROCK (7625) or in person at the ticket booth, located at Pier 33 Alcatraz Landing.

Experience the Cellhouse. Explore the Island.

Step back in time and experience the legendary Island that has been a Civil War fort, a military prison and one of the most notorious federal penitentiaries in US history.  Tour the Cellhouse at your own pace with the award-winning audio presentation “Doing Time: The Alcatraz Cellhouse Tour”.  Stop to picture yourself in a dark solitary confinement cell, hear the stories of life inside from real prisoners, and feel the intensity of a prison breakout from correctional officers who lived and worked on the Island.  

In addition, this memorable tour includes multiple   Park Programs : an orientation video by Discovery Channel; ranger and docent tours; historic gardens and abundant wildlife.

Learn more about the Day Tour

Only Visitors, Night Views

Your tour begins as you leave the Landing and enjoy a guided tour around Alcatraz Island by ferry, pointing out the hidden spots used for attempted escapes, and prison structures unreachable by foot.  Once docked, a ranger-led walk up the hill to the Cellhouse stops to highlight the layers of history from pre-Civil War to military cannon, and family life on the Island.

Tour the Cellhouse at your own pace with the award winning audio presentation “Doing Time: The Alcatraz Cellhouse Tour”.  Stop to picture yourself in a dark solitary confinement cell, hear the stories of life inside from real prisoners, and feel the intensity of a prison breakout as told by correctional officers who lived and worked on the Island.

You are the only visitors on the Island, so take advantage of special   Park Programs   during the course of the evening and enjoy breathtaking views of San Francisco as night falls.

Available Monday through Thursday

• On-board Narration During Round-trip Ferry Ride
• Docent Guided Tours and Talks

Learn more about the Night Tour

Behind the Scenes Tour

Limited group size, in-depth exploration.

Discover areas previously not available to the public!  Join a group of 30 people or fewer on a Ranger-guided adventure to explore clues to the Island’s fascinating past…a tunnel here, an underground jail there, and special gardens with stunning views.  Stories, artifacts, and hidden doorways will satisfy your passion for Alcatraz secrets!

Continue your comprehensive Alcatraz Island experience by taking the Cellhouse audio tour at your own pace, with the award winning audio presentation “Doing Time: The Alcatraz Cellhouse Tour”.  Stop to picture yourself in a dark solitary confinement cell, hear the stories of life inside from real prisoners, and feel the intensity of a prison breakout from correctional officers who lived and worked on the Island.

For more insights, take advantage of special Park Programs   during the course of the evening tour and enjoy breathtaking sunset and city lights of San Francisco as night falls.

Available Thursday through Monday

• Exclusive Behind the Scenes Ranger Guided Tour

Learn more about the Behind the Scenes Tour

PLEASE NOTE: This is a physically strenuous tour that lasts 5 hours. All participants must be 12 years of age or older due to the lengthy duration of the Behind the Scenes Tour. FAQ’s for Behind the Scenes Tour

Alcatraz and Angel Island Tour

Two islands, full day experience.

The combination of two of San Francisco Bay’s most famous islands, Alcatraz and Angel Island, make for a great day on the bay. This seasonal tour includes ferry rides to and from Alcatraz and Angel Island, a one-hour narrated tram tour of Angel Island, and the Alcatraz Cellhouse audio tour. Details about your time on Alcatraz and ferry schedule are below; click here for details about your time on Angel Island.

Your one-hour Angel Island Tram Tour is a short walk from the Angel Island dock. The second hour of your tour is spent as you choose: taking a walking tour, enjoying the cafe, chatting with a ranger at the Visitor Center. Please note: All other tours or activities, such as segways or bicycle rentals, on Angel Island are not included in the Alcatraz & Angel Island Combination Tour ticket.

On Alcatraz Island, walk the Cellhouse at your own pace with the award winning audio presentation “Doing Time: The Alcatraz Cellhouse Tour”. Stop to picture yourself in a dark solitary confinement cell, hear the stories of life inside from real prisoners, and feel the intensity of a prison breakout from correctional officers who lived and worked on the Island.

Available weekend service March – October 2017. Additional daily service June 3 – October 1, 2017.

• Round-trip Ferry Ride from Alcatraz Island to Angel Island
• One-hour Narrated Tram Tour of Angel Island

Learn more about the Alcatraz and Angel Island Tour

Alcatraz Island Named #1 Landmark in the U.S.

In 2015 by tripadvisor reviews.

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Alcatraz Tour Options

As the official concessioner to the National Park Service, Alcatraz City Cruises offers in-depth visits to Alcatraz. Your visit includes round-trip transportation to the Island and outdoor National Park access.

Alcatraz Tour Options Overview

Pertinent information.

At Alcatraz City Cruises, our guests’ well-being is our number one priority. We have proudly implemented new COVID-19 procedures to keep everyone safe & healthy.

Age Policy Adult- 18-61 / Junior- 12-17 / Senior- 62+ / Child- 5-11 / Toddler 4 and under are Free

Minors under the age of 18 are not allowed to tour Alcatraz Island without the accompaniment of an adult.

Group Tours If booking a group of 20 or more people, please contact the Alcatraz City Cruises Group Services Department at 415.438.8361; or e-mail  [email protected]

Ticket Price

Please refer to our  Fee Breakout FAQ  for complete overview of Alcatraz Island ticket prices.

Alcatraz Island Named #1 Landmark in the U.S.

Alcatraz City Cruises is a Proud Partner and Authorized Concessioner of the National Park Service

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Escape to Alcatraz

Visiting alcatraz, alcatraz gardens, art on alcatraz.

Here's your chance to experience the hidden wonders of Alcatraz Island. On this page, you can learn more about how to safely visit Alcatraz, the fascinating history of the island, and more about the island's wildlife and culture. We'll see you on Alcatraz! 

New on Alcatraz

Here's why now is the best time to escape to Alcatraz—there's lots to check out and some if it is only for a limited time! Check out our insider tips.

Story behind the gardens

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A special pair of falcons

Robert Lipscomb's struggle

Your Alcatraz ticket gets you access to the Parks Conservancy's award-winning audio tour, "Doing Time: The Alcatraz Cellhouse Tour. Check out our unique Alcatraz Night Tours  and Behind the Scenes Tours . You’ll see hidden areas of the island on small tours led by NPS rangers and historical experts from the Parks Conservancy. The only source of Alcatraz tickets is Alcatraz City Cruises .

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Moscow Metro

The Moscow Metro Tour is included in most guided tours’ itineraries. Opened in 1935, under Stalin’s regime, the metro was not only meant to solve transport problems, but also was hailed as “a people’s palace”. Every station you will see during your Moscow metro tour looks like a palace room. There are bright paintings, mosaics, stained glass, bronze statues… Our Moscow metro tour includes the most impressive stations best architects and designers worked at - Ploshchad Revolutsii, Mayakovskaya, Komsomolskaya, Kievskaya, Novoslobodskaya and some others.

What is the kremlin in russia?

The guide will not only help you navigate the metro, but will also provide you with fascinating background tales for the images you see and a history of each station.

And there some stories to be told during the Moscow metro tour! The deepest station - Park Pobedy - is 84 metres under the ground with the world longest escalator of 140 meters. Parts of the so-called Metro-2, a secret strategic system of underground tunnels, was used for its construction.

During the Second World War the metro itself became a strategic asset: it was turned into the city's biggest bomb-shelter and one of the stations even became a library. 217 children were born here in 1941-1942! The metro is the most effective means of transport in the capital.

There are almost 200 stations 196 at the moment and trains run every 90 seconds! The guide of your Moscow metro tour can explain to you how to buy tickets and find your way if you plan to get around by yourself.

Moscow Sky Lights Up With Strange Glow After Explosion at Electrical Substation: Reports

N ew footage has emerged showing bright flashes lighting up the night sky in southern Moscow during the early morning hours of November 22.

Knewz.com has learned that there was an explosion at an electrical substation on the outskirts of Russia's capital city followed by an alleged power outage in "several" homes.

Video snippets, shared on Russian news channels like ASTRA , captured a series of flashes that caused the sky to change color. Smoke could also be seen rising from a building.

Corroborating the video, several Russian Telegram accounts reported an explosion near the south of Moscow and a subsequent fire at the Lyublino electrical substation, southeast of central Moscow, per Newsweek .

The local authorities from the area have since confirmed that an explosion occurred in the village of Molokovo, but they reassured the public that all vital facilities were operating as normal.

Russian outlet MSK1.ru reported the blaze at the substation and noted “several” power outages.

The town of Lytkarino, located to the southeast of Moscow, was one of the affected areas, as reported by the independent outlet, Meduza .

Additional power failures were reported in the southern Domodedovo section of the city. However, electricity was later restored to these areas.

One local resident speculated that a drone may have been responsible for the explosion, but additional sources are yet to support this theory.

Newsweek reported that messages on the ASTRA Telegram account run by independent Russian journalists showed residents near the substation panicking. One concerned Russian called it a "nightmare."

The incident follows an attack by Russia on a power station in southwestern Ukraine that left 2,000 people without electricity .

Knewz.com reported previously:

“ Russian forces launched a total of 38 Iranian-made Shahed-136/131 drones during the later hours of November 17 and 18.

The Ukrainian Air Force Command reported that 29 of these drones were shot down [...].

One civilian was injured as a result of the attack that targeted energy infrastructure in the southwestern Odesa Oblast.”

The assault came after repeated warnings by Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky that Russia would try to cripple its power grid as winter approaches.

Ukraine's leader warned that if Russia resorted to attacking its power utilities, it would respond in kind.

Ukraine has conducted numerous long-range aerial drone strikes on Moscow since May 2023.

Most recently on November 20, it was reported that one such incursion was intercepted close to the city, per Kyiv Post .

Moscow’s Mayor Sergei Sobyanin confirmed this and elaborated that the region's air defense systems intercepted the unmanned craft over the city of Elektrostal to the east of Moscow, as well as another over the Bogorodsky district, northeast of central Moscow.

The details of the recently surfaced video footage have yet to be independently verified.