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Pier and boats seen on SF walking tour of Fisherman's Wharf

Alcatraz Night Tour With North Beach

Discover North Beach with a local guide before cruising to Alcatraz Island at sunset, where fewer crowds and after-hours access create the most atmospheric way to experience the Rock.

When

4 PM Friday to Monday

Duration

4 hours (90 min. guided)

Meeting Point

Washington Square

Beside the Volunteer Firemen Memorial located at 600 Columbus Ave

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Alcatraz Tour With North Beach

Highlights
Itinerary
FAQs

Highlights

Discover the secrets of Alcatraz Island as dusk begins to fall.

Step off the ferry and be met by a ranger, who guides you up the hill, sharing stories along the way.

Explore areas of the island closed to daytime visitors, including the hospital and solitary confinement.

Tour the prison with your audio guide to learn how the inmates once lived and, sometimes, nearly escaped.

Get to know the charming North Beach neighborhood, SF's "Little Italy," before your Alcatraz adventure.

Visit Saints Peter and Paul Church to hear about its celebrity connections.

Meet the sea lions basking in the sun on docks at Pier 39.

Enjoy scenic views of the San Francisco skyline from the ferry.

Capture photos of Coit Tower, the Golden Gate Bridge, and more.

What you'll do

Alcatraz is different in the evening. Crowds thin as the daytime visitors depart, and the island feels more like it was nearly a century ago — quieter, isolated, almost eerie. Your evening ticket brings you to the island as dusk draws on, with a ranger waiting at the ferry to walk

But the experience doesn’t begin at the dock. It starts in North Beach, the Italian-American neighborhood at the foot of Telegraph Hill, where your local guide walks you through some of the most historic streets in SF.

We’ll start at Washington Square Park, North Beach’s beloved public green, where you’ll learn the surprising role it played in the aftermath of the 1906 earthquake and fire. Admire the vintage lampposts and Coit Tower in the distance before stepping inside Saints Peter and Paul Church to see its stunning Italian marble altar and hear about its famous connection to Joe DiMaggio.

Your guide will show you an unexpected viewpoint of Lombard Street, sharing how the famous winding road solved a steep engineering challenge in the 1920s. You’ll also catch a framed shot of the Golden Gate Bridge before making your way to Pier 39, where the sea lions bask on their floating docks.

From there, your guide leads you to your Alcatraz ferry. With North Beach and Fisherman’s Wharf behind you, the ferry ride across the bay is a transition of its own, the San Francisco skyline at your back as the Rock comes into view.

On the island, a ranger meets you at the ferry and leads you up to the cellhouse, setting the scene for everything you’re about to explore. Your Alcatraz night tour includes exclusive evening ranger programs and access to areas closed during the day, like the prison hospital and solitary confinement cells.

Go at your own pace, and don’t miss the award-winning audio guide inside the cellhouse, hearing from former inmates and guards in their own words. Without the daytime crowds, the island is more atmospheric, an appropriate setting for a place where America’s most notorious criminals live and, in some cases, plotted daring escapes across the freezing waters. You can stay as long as you’d like before the last ferry — sunset comes late in summer, but those who linger are rewarded with glowing skyline views across the bay.

Fisherman's Wharf Tour With Alcatraz Island 303

Pier 39 sea lions on Fisherman's Wharf Wallking Tour

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Fisherman's Wharf Tour With Alcatraz Island 325

A panoramic view of neighborhoods of Telegraph Hill, Coit Tower and San Francisco Bay, looking from top of Russian Hill, San Francisco

Itinerary

Washington Square Park

San Francisco’s first public park, which played a pivotal role following the 1906 earthquake and fire
Saints Peter and Paul Church

A Roman Catholic church with a celebrity connection
Liguria Bakery

A North Beach institution baking up exceptional focaccia bread since 1911
Lombard Street

An unexpected view of the famous Crooked Street, an engineering marvel when built in 1922
Golden Gate Bridge viewpoint

A scenic view to capture a photo of the iconic bridge, framed by bay and skyline
Pier 39

Where sea lions bask in the sun on floating docks
Alcatraz

Alcatraz night tour including special evening ranger programs, access to areas not open during the day, and roundtrip ferry tickets

FAQs

How much walking is there?

Is the night tour of Alcatraz guided?

What is the cancellation policy?

Is this tour accessible?

What do I need?

What if it rains?

Are gratuities included?

Do you have gift certificates?

$129 per adult

€112 per adult

£97 per adult

C$178 per adult

A$182 per adult