San Francisco

Travelers' Takes

Rates and Deals

Alcatraz

More Photos
stranger
First Reviewer
4 out of 5
Avg. Member Rating
51
Reviews
137
Photos
Sort by: Most Recent|Positive|Negative|Most Useful
11-15 of 51

Alcatraz

  • December 18, 2006
  • Rated 5 of 5 by Sask99 from Melville, Saskatchewan
Alcatraz

Alcatraz is a National Park located in San Francisco bay and is most famous for being a prison. It is a very fascinating place that you will easily spend several hours touring.

First things first, how to get there. You have to take Alcatraz Cruises from pier 33. In the fall of 2006 the ferry service changed to Alcatraz Cruises from the Blue and Gold Fleet so make sure if you are getting directions that they are current (although the Blue and Gold ferry location is not too far away). If you know what day/time you want to leave, it may be a good idea to purchase your tickets ahead of time. Since we are not used to all the traffic we were not sure so we just walked up to purchase tickets - and the next few ferries were sold out! We had to wait an hour and a half for an available ferry - although we used the time to check out Fisherman's Wharf which is within walking distance. If you have less time than that you can still check out some nearby shops or the sea lions.

The ferry is a short ride but gives an excellent opportunity to take pictures of both San Francisco and Alcatraz. You can purchase beverages on the ferry, or there is just water at the dock on Alcatraz.

Make sure you dress for the weather and wear comfortable shoes. There are quite a few areas that are wheel chair accessible. I was surprised that they have left some of the buildings in ruins and there are piles of rubble that are even marked on the map. The audio tour of the Cellhouse was most interesting and will likely take you longer than the 45 minutes mentioned, as we paused the tour several times to take pictures or to let crowds of people go by.

It was a very interesting place to visit, even for my husband the sports fanatic. I highly recommend it. Try to go on a nice day, as you spend a fair amount of time outside.

From journal A week of Sports and Sightseeing in San Francisco

Editor Pick

Alcatraz

  • August 15, 2006
  • Rated 5 of 5 by gatorgirl1977 from Ocala, Florida
Alcatraz

If you go to San Francisco, you have got to go to Alcatraz. If you are there in the summer, get your tickets early and go to Alcatraz After Dark. For about $25 per person, you can get a truly unique experience.

During the summer months, the Blue and Gold Fleet offer evening tours of Alcatraz. You can buy both day tour and evening tour tickets at www.blueandgoldfleet.com.

My group went out on the first evening tour and returned on the last boat of the evening. If you choose to do this activity I would suggest that you do the same. By going on the early evening tour you can listen to your audio tour and then have time to participate in some of the specially scheduled evening activities. These activities are really neat because they are not offered during the day visits and involve small groups. My group and I got to go on the hospital tour. This part of the prison is usually closed during the day hours and only 20 people per evening get to take this tour.

The hospital tour was really interesting. You get to see the Birdman of Alcatraz's cell, the operating room, and the hydrotherapy room. You even get to see where some of the movie, The Rock, was filmed. It was also really cool to get to participate in going on such a small, intimate tour.

All the guides at Alcatraz were phenomenal. They each were interesting and told us about the history of the island. The audio tour was exceptional as well. It is composed of voices of former prisoners and prison guards. They discuss the escape that occurred along with highlighting locations like "Broadway" and "Time Square" within the prison. On the tour you get to see Al Capone's cell as well as Machinegun Kelly's cell. As you listen to the audio you can't help but imagine what it was like on the island. The other thought you are struck with is how hard it must have been to be behind bars and look out on such beautiful sights. The views from Alcatraz are truly unbelievable, especially around sundown and after dark.

If you get the chance to do the Alcatraz After Dark tour, don’t turn it down. It was something that I booked almost a month ahead and I am really glad that I did. The extra cost is nothing compared to what you gain by the experience.

From journal Fun in the sun in San Francisco

Editor Pick

Alcatraz Island

  • May 18, 2006
  • Rated 5 of 5 by miadelie from Minneapolis, Minnesota
Alcatraz Island

I have gone on the Alcatraz Tour twice now, both times utilizing Pier 39's Blue and Gold Fleet. Both times I was very impressed with the boat quality, and enjoyed the quick ride out to the rocky and dangerous island. Once you arrive on the island, you are greeted by a cheery and informative ranger, who speaks to the group for a few moments. You are then guided up the large hill (take a big breath everyone!) and to the beginnings of the building structures.

You are able to view previous quarters of the guards, along with the rubble of some quarters that had caught fire. You eventually reach the actual prison, which is in quite nice condition on the inside. You are given headsets to wear and guide you through the prison house. This is very nice and convenient. It allows you to take as much time as you'd like in the prison. There are boats that head back to the city every 30 minutes or so, so you may take as much time as you'd like on the island. It is a great photo opportunity of the city!

Also, if you go during the winter months, you are allowed on the fenced path around the edge of the island (during other months, there is bird migration in those areas, so they prohibit it). I have also heard that their evening tour is superb. Apparently, they take you into other areas of the prison, that the day tours do not go into. I will be doing that tour on my next stop!

From journal Fresh & Fishy San Francisco!

Alcatraz Island

  • May 16, 2006
  • Rated 5 of 5 by kustom57 from Turlock, California
Alcatraz Island, also known affectionately as "The Rock" is one of the best known federal penitentiaries of all time. Luminaries that once called this place home include, Alphonse Capone, George "Machine Gun" Kelly, Robert "the Birdman" Stroud and others. Facts show that the "Birdman" was never allowed to have birds in Alcatraz. The name stemmed from his habits at the prison that he had occupied previous to his stay at The Rock.

Alcatraz started off as a Spanish fort and to this day still retains the medieval styled dungeon beneath the prison. Look for the bullet hole in the guard tower glass. I know a former prison guard from Alcatraz that tells me that it was a result of one of the break out attempts that resulted in the riot inside the prison. One of the convicts obtained a firearm and shot at the guard in the tower. The glass was never repaired on purpose. It was meant to remind the guards that it could and did happen, so stay alert.

To get to Alcatraz Island, go to the Fishermans Wharf and look for the Blue and Gold Fleet building. Admission is $16 a person and boats leave every 30 minutes.

This is NOT TO BE MISSED!

From journal San Francisco on a Budget

Editor Pick

Alcatraz Island

  • April 22, 2006
  • Rated 3 of 5 by JesusW from Mexico city, Mexico
Alcatraz Island

A park with a prison on it doesn't sound like a good idea unless the prison is a famous one.Everybody wants to go to Alcatraz to view with their own eyes the place where the bad guys made their fake heads and feel the emotions of the movies. Once you get inside you will feel more oppressed of the truth, this is no movie, this is where people got punished and where there were violent episodes.But besides the prison, the place is a National Park and so kept in shape by guards, and you are free to roam at your will.There are nice views from the island if there is no fog on the bay.The ferry ride from Pier 41 is a non-event one and is really short, you don´t have much time to spend between boarding and snapping some pictures, they offer a bar service but time is so short you won´t be able to finish your first drink. They warn about not being able to buy water on the Island, it's true, so buy it before boarding the boat. One thing that is completely true and not a marketing trick, buy your tickets in advance, they are the most seeked tourist attraction on the bay area, I saw a bunch of people on the waiting area trying to buy last minute tickets and they had to wait a long time indeed.

From journal The Golden Gate and Alcatraz

Sort by: Most Recent|Positive|Negative|Most Useful
11-15 of 51

Compare San Francisco Rates

1. Enter travel information

City

2. Select websites to compare rates

Each selected website will open a new window.

San Francisco Travel Deals