• Round-trip ferry ride to Alcatraz Island
• Intimate two (2) hour guided Behind The Scenes tour with 30 or fewer guests
• After guided tour, join other visitors on the Alcatraz Night Tour program:
  • Award-winning Cellhouse audio tour
  • Optional programs and exhibits
  • Docent guided tours and talks

The Behind the Scenes Tour is a unique program limited to just 30 or fewer guests per departure. It includes special programs, tours and activities not offered during the day. Be sure to check out the visiting and permanent exhibits during your visit to Alcatraz 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 former inmates, and feel the intensity of a prison breakout from correctional officers who lived and worked on the Island.

No one can tell the Alcatraz tale quite like the men who lived it. 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”.

Schedule

Available Tuesday – Saturday
A very helpful FAQ page is found here to help!

The tour departures from Pier 33 Alcatraz Landing will be the last two departure times of the day and visitors can return on either of the scheduled night boats found here: Departure and Return schedules.

It is recommended that you arrive at least one half hour prior to your departure time.

Please note: The two (2) hour guided portion of your tour is available only in English. Once you reach the Cellhouse portion of the tour, you may choose the audio tour in one of the 11 offered languages.

Please note: The roads and walkways on Alcatraz are steep. The distance from the dock to the Cellhouse is approximately 1/4 mile (.4km) and the elevation change is 130 feet (40 meters), the equivalent of walking up a 13-story building. The roads and walkways are wide with several places to stop along the way to rest and take in the breathtaking views. Comfortable athletic or walking shoes are strongly recommended.

If you have mobility concerns, please see our Sustainable Easy Access Transport (S.E.A.T.) Tram information.

Please note: Children under the age of 12 are not allowed on the Alcatraz Behind The Scenes Tour. Please do not purchase tickets for children under the age of 12 for this tour as they will not be able to board the vessels for the tour and refunds will not be available.

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

Please note: Audio tour refunds are available for Alcatraz Day Tours only. There are no audio tour refunds available for Alcatraz Behind The Scenes or Alcatraz Night Tours.

Where to Meet

Pier 33 Alcatraz Landing

The Alcatraz Landing area at Pier 33 includes the Ticketbooth, waiting and boarding areas, all of which are accessible.

Pier 33 Alcatraz Landing is home to a tactile model of Alcatraz Island, a tactile model of Pier 33, as well as outdoor exhibits depicting historical moments on the Island.

Assisted Listening Devices (ALD’s) are available for these tactile models and interpretive exhibits and can be requested at the Pier 33 Ticketbooth. ALD’s for the Alcatraz Island Cellhouse Tour can also be picked up at the Pier 33 Ticketbooth. You will be asked for your credit card in case the ALD’s are not returned at the end of your visit. There is no charge for Assisted Listening Devices, unless they are lost or damaged. Each of the tactile models, as well as the other exhibits at Pier 33, include a Braille description.

Accessible bathrooms are found at Pier 33 Alcatraz Landing and on all Alcatraz Cruises vessels.

Copies of the safety messages shown onboard all Alcatraz Cruises vessels are also available in Braille. Please ask for a copy at the Pier 33 Ticketbooth or request one from a uniformed Alcatraz Cruises crew member on any of our vessels. The safety announcement and introduction video shown on all Alcatraz Cruises vessels are closed captioned.

Please note: There are no wheelchairs available for loan either at Pier 33 Alcatraz Landing or on Alcatraz Island. The California Welcome Center at Pier 39 offers this service.

RELATED TOURS

ALCATRAZ DAY TOUR

Enjoy outdoor-only access to several areas on Alcatraz Island, including the Alcatraz Gardens, and iconic San Francisco Bay vistas.

$25 – $41