What It's Like To Visit Alcatraz for the First Time
Everyone should visit Alcatraz at least once. Known as an inescapable fortress, the island served as a federal penitentiary from 1934-1963 and housed some of the country’s most notorious criminals. Today, it’s a National Historic Landmark operated by the National Park Service.
As a San Francisco local, it took me years to make it to The Rock, but since that first visit I’ve been fascinated by its history and have made the trip over and over again.
What is it like exploring the island? How should you plan for your trip and what should you see? I'll cover all that and more so your first visit can be just as memorable as — or maybe even better than — mine was.
My first visit to Alcatraz
The first time I visited Alcatraz I had already been a San Francisco resident for close to a decade. A friend was visiting the city from North Carolina and arrived on my doorstep armed with tickets for both of us to make the trip.
After a morning at Fisherman’s Wharf and Pier 39 and a particularly hilarious encounter with a seagull near the sea lions (which led to the unexpected loss of an ice cream cone), we boarded the ferry and headed to The Rock for the afternoon.
Hop aboard the ferry
If you haven’t been to San Francisco, and you get lucky enough to take the ferry on a clear day like we did, the views of the city you can catch from the deck are unmatched.
Out on the water, you can get a good look at both the Golden Gate Bridge and Bay Bridge as well as beautiful city skyline views that include iconic spots like Coit Tower and the Transamerica Building during the slow 15-minute ride over to the island.
If the weather is nice, you’ll want to snag a seat outside on the deck if you can so you can see everything as you travel and snap a few shots along the way. Even if you can’t score a seat, you’re often able to move around once your journey is underway so you’ll be able to venture out and grab a few shots.
Step inside history
Admittedly, when I went to Alcatraz, I wasn’t exactly sure what to expect. Once you disembark from the ferry and make it inside, the park — Alcatraz is part of the National Parks Service — offers an audio tour option that’s honestly pretty fantastic.
The recording lasts about 30 minutes and goes a bit further than just telling you what you’re looking at and has some more theatrical components with tales from former prisoners and guards that bring the empty jail to life. I’m not typically an audio tour gal, but I’m glad my friend talked me into grabbing a set of headphones for this one.
Walking around there are plenty of photo ops and some unintentionally comedic mannequin recreations of a few prisoners that are worth a few pics on their own. The jail housed some pretty epic criminals including Al “Scarface” Capone, Robert “The Birdman” Stroud, and George “Machine Gun” Kelly, and it’s more interesting than you might think to see where they lived during their stay on the island — and think about how some others managed to escape.
How to visit Alcatraz Island
Given where Alcatraz is, the only way to visit is by taking one of the organized ferry rides over from Fisherman’s Wharf, many of which book up far in advance.
Our tour can be a great way to get one of the often hard-to-get tickets on the ferry over to the island. Even better, you’ll head to Alcatraz after exploring sights like Pier 39 and Ghirardelli Square, so you’ll have a better perspective of what you’re looking back at when you do get out on the ocean.
Your tour guide can also offer a glimpse into SF history before you head over, giving you a leg up on other guests who might not know as much about the area before they arrive and helping you get the most out of your visit.
Once you’re there, you can stay on the island as long as you’d like, provided you make it to the last ferry, so take your time and really enjoy looking around. There’s tons to see.
Tips for first-time visitors to Alcatraz
If you’ve never been to Alacatraz before, there are a few things you can do to ensure your trip is a good one. Here are my top tips for visiting The Rock.
-
Plan ahead. Alcatraz is a popular place to visit, and there are only so many ferry trips to the island each day. If you know you want to make the trip to the island, then you’ll want to purchase your ticket as soon as you can to make sure you secure a spot. If you book one of our tours, it's included.
-
Dress in layers. Weather in San Francisco, in general, can be a bit unpredictable and vary even from neighborhood to neighborhood. Your ferry ride is likely to be a bit windy, so you’ll want to at least have a jacket on hand. Weather on Alcatraz can fluctuate throughout the day, with colder foggy mornings and afternoons and warmer temperatures in clear weather. Dressing in layers can ensure you’re ready no matter what the day brings.
-
Be prepared to walk. The island offers an accessibility tram for those who need it, but most Alcatraz guests will be hiking up an incline to the cellhouse from the ferry dock, a journey that’s roughly a quarter of a mile. You’ll want to wear shows you’re comfortable making that trek in that will also be comfortable while you’re exploring the jail.
-
Pack light. You’re going to walk around a ton while you’re on the island, and there’s no place to store extra stuff. Take the time to drop your shopping bags and other large items off at the hotel before you take the tour — you’ll thank yourself later.
-
Eat before you go. You can purchase water in the bookstore at Alcatraz, but your options on what to eat and where to eat it are very limited. Eating is prohibited everywhere on the island with the exception of the dock, and only bottled water is allowed while you’re touring the jail, so make sure you grab a meal before you embark from Fisherman’s Wharf.
-
Visit the gardens. Don’t miss out on seeing Alcatraz’s historic gardens when you visit. The gardens were planted near the turn of the century when the island was being used as a military fort and can make for a nice addition to your tour of the island, a cheerful contrast to the dark and muted interior of the jail.
-
Download the National Parks App. Download the National Park Service Mobile App before your trip for additional insights beyond what you’ll hear on the audio tour through the cellhouse.
An unforgettable experience
Whether it’s your first time experiencing The Rock, or you’ve been a dozen times, there’s always something new to check out at Alcatraz.
While it took me 10 years to make my first trip, I’ve found myself wanting to go back and explore anytime a friend comes to town to visit and having a blast every time I do.
