Alcatraz Cruises
Plan Your Trip
The what, where, and how of your Alcatraz visit.
Make your visit to Alcatraz an enjoyable and comfortable experience by planning ahead.
Plan for 2–2.5 hours for your visit to Alcatraz. If you are taking the Island Hop Tour, plan on using 5.5 hours.
Discover the variety of activities to see and do once you reach Alcatraz, including suggestions on what to wear during your visit and information about accessibility on the island.
Have a great trip!
Weather
The climate on Alcatraz is unpredictable and can change suddenly. Cold, foggy mornings may give way to sunny afternoons, which in turn can shift quickly back to more fog and blustery winds.
The most pleasant weather usually occurs during April, May and June, and then again during September and October. Summer brings some of the coolest weather and heaviest fog to the island, which surprises many out-of-town visitors to San Francisco.
Parking
On-Street Parking
On-street parking in the Fisherman's Wharf area can be difficult to find, especially during peak summer visitation season, and nearly every street space has a parking meter. Visitors should also be aware that meters are restricted to two hours maximum parking. (A visit to Alcatraz and back takes approximately 2.5 hours.)
Commercial Parking Lots
There are fifteen commercial lots with a five-block radius of the Hornblower Alcatraz Landing at Pier 33, with a total of more than 3,000 parking spaces. The closest and most convenient lot is at 80 Francisco at Kearny, just one block away, across the Embarcadero from Alcatraz Landing.
Walking Tips
Below you will find the approximate times it will take to walk to Pier 33 from some of the favorite destinations in San Francisco.
- Union Square: 30-45 minutes
- Maritime Historic Park /Hyde Street Pier: 15-25 minutes
- Pier 41: 5-10 minutes
- Ferry Building: 20-30 minutes
Transportation
Transportation to the Hornblower Alcatraz Landing at Pier 33 is available from a variety of public and private transportation services. Parking is limited in the Fisherman’s Wharf area, especially during peak visitation months, so we recommend you enhance your Alcatraz experience by taking one of the many public transit services that reach the Pier 33 area. As a bonus, public transit is also the least expensive way to reach the Hornblower Alcatraz Landing.
- Buses
- Cable Cars
- Streetcars
- Trains
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- Ferry Service
- Driving
- Other
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HINT: A handy way to organize your trip to Hornblower Alcatraz Landing is to visit the 511 TakeTransit Trip Planner. This site contains a wealth of links to local transit agencies, their services, fares, schedules, maps and related information. Type in your starting point, destination, and date you want to travel, and the Trip Planner will provide step-by-step directions on how to reach Hornblower Alcatraz Landing via public transportation. (Note: All websites, addresses, phone numbers, schedules and other transit information contained in the links above are subject to change without notice.)
What To Wear
The weather on Alcatraz is unpredictable and subject to change unexpectedly, so be sure to bring along a light jacket or sweater no matter how nice the day starts out. The best advice is always to dress in layers.
Sunglasses and sun block are recommended, since sunlight reflecting off the bay’s surface can be dangerously bright even on a cold, windy day.
Rain is common during the winter months. Since much of the Alcatraz tour route follows outside roads without overhead cover, be sure to bring rain gear. (Rain wear is available for sale at Hornblower Alcatraz Landing and in the bookstores on the island.)
Food & Beverage
There is no food service available on Alcatraz, but snacks and beverages are available on all boats headed to and from the island.
Food, drinks and smoking are only allowed on the island dock. An exception is bottled water, which can be carried on all parts of Alcatraz. Bottled water can be purchased on the Alcatraz Cruises(TM) boats and in any of the island bookstores.
Alcatraz Cruises prides itself on offering a wide selection of food and drink on our boats, including many organically grown snacks.
*Alcoholic beverages are not allowed on Alcatraz. Beer and wine are available on boats returning from Alcatraz only. Intoxicated visitors are not allowed on the island.
After Your Trip
After visiting Alcatraz, be sure to plan a visit to the other historic, cultural and edible attractions in the Bay Area. |
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