Visit Alcatraz

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When on Alcatraz Island, choose your own adventure. Whether immersing yourself in history, experiencing arts and culture, spotting wildlife, exploring the historic gardens, or soaking in the awe-inspiring views, we'll help you make the most of your visit to the famous island in the middle of the San Francisco Bay. 

A group of Alcatraz visitors admire a family of geese walking through the historic landmark
Alcatraz City Cruises

Get Alcatraz tickets here!

There's no time like now to escape to Alcatraz—there's lots to check out and some if it is only for a limited time! See tour options.

A park visitor looks toward Alcatraz Island from the ferry. An American flag waves in the breeze as they cruise over bay waters.
Share the toolkit

Protect Alcatraz toolkit
Smelling the flowers on Alcatraz
Visit the Alcatraz Historic Gardens

Visit the Alcatraz Historic Gardens
Framed Schwab graphic of Alcatraz
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Shop Alcatraz merch
A formerly incarcerated speaker lectures in the Alcatraz Dining Hall
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What's new on Alcatraz

Tour Alcatraz

Your Alcatraz ticket gets you access to the Parks Conservancy's award-winning audio tour, "Doing Time: The Alcatraz Cellhouse Tour". Check out our unique Alcatraz Night Tours and Behind the Scenes Tours. You’ll see hidden areas of the island on small tours led by NPS rangers and historical experts from the Parks Conservancy. The only source of Alcatraz tickets is Alcatraz City Cruises.

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Alcatraz at night
San Francisco
Alcatraz
Alcatraz Tours
Tour
Alcatraz Tours

Learn About History

More about Alcatraz history
Inside the New Industries Building on Alcatraz Island.
Park E-Ventures Article
Inside the penitentiary: A civil rights struggle on Alcatraz
Alcatraz Citadel Flyby
Parks
Experience the Alcatraz Citadel Virtually
Buffalo Soldiers
Article
Sites of Conscience: What we can learn from the GGNRA’s history of resistance
Tipi on Alcatraz with Golden Gate Bridge in background
Park E-Ventures Article
In their own words: History comes alive at Alcatraz Occupation Anniversary
A historical photo of an incarcerated gardener watering plants in the gardens of Alcatraz.
Parks
Alcatraz Incarcerated Gardeners

Explore Alcatraz Gardens

More about the gardens
Plants in the sunshine on Alcatraz Island.
Our Work
Plants of Alcatraz Historic Gardens
An Alcatraz incarcerated gardener stands in Officers' Row
Our Work
History of Gardening on Alcatraz Island
The Alcatraz Historic Gardens with the Rock's famed water tower in the background.
Gateways Article
'Historic' water once meant for laundry now helps Alcatraz Gardens thrive
Alcatraz Historic Gardens
Park E-Ventures Article
Unearthed: Secrets of Alcatraz Gardens’ Ribbon-Winning Compost
A group of colorful wildflowers in front of a disused federal penitentiary building on Alcatraz Island.
Article
Just the essentials: How the Alcatraz gardens grow

See Wildlife

More about Alcatraz birds
Lidia D'Amico opens a window to the ocean on Alcatraz.
Gateways Article
Ask a park scientist: Lidia D'Amico, the bird biologist of Alcatraz
A peregrine falcon with its chicks in a rocky nest on Alcatraz Island in spring 2024.
Parks
Watch the Peregrine Falcon nest webcam on Alcatraz Island
Black and yellow peregrine falcon with white fluffy chicks in rocky nest
Article
Fledge spotting: Peregrine falcon pair nesting on Alcatraz island
Cormorants nest in a large colony on Alcatraz
Park E-Ventures Article
A Bird’s Eye View of Alcatraz
A sea lion at The Marine Mammal Center in the Marin Headlands.
Article
Rescue on Alcatraz Island
Peregrine Falcon with chicks
Parks
Expert Peregrine Falcon viewing tips from Alcatraz Biologist Lidia D’amico
A staircase leads downward amid spiky agave plants at Alcatraz Island.
Agave Trail

Experience Art on Alcatraz

Art in the Parks
Ai Weiwei Art Installation at Alcatraz
Parks
@Large: Ai Weiwei on Alcatraz in a Virtual 3D Space
Woman takes photo of Future IDs display in the New Industries Building on Alcatraz.
Park E-Ventures Article
The transformative stories of 'Future IDs at Alcatraz'
Connection Lost: Families Unraveled by Prison
Our Work
Connection Lost: Families Unraveled by Prison

Shop Alcatraz

Unframed print of the Michael Schwab logo of Alcatraz.
Shop and support Alcatraz

View our extensive collection of Alcatraz gifts and products ranging from books to apparel.

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More about Alcatraz

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The view from the Alcatraz Cruises boat to Alcatraz Island.
Our Work
Protect Alcatraz Toolkit
Alcatraz Island is pictured in the distance with dramatic gray clouds overhead.
Parks
Alcatraz Fact Sheet
Two people speaking at the Formerly Incarcerated Speaker Series Event on Alcatraz
Article
Unlocking truth: How Alcatraz is changing the conversation on incarceration
Alcatraz staff member Edwin Sera stands in the Alcatraz Cellhouse.
Article
A 'special' spot: Here's what it's like to work on Alcatraz
Former Alcatraz guard Jim Albright speaks at the final Alcatraz reunion on August 12, 2018.
Park E-Ventures Article
Final Alcatraz reunion: A historic day on the Rock
A park ranger smiling during a program on Alcatraz Island.
Gateways Article
Meet the Alcatraz park ranger sparking new conversations on the island
Formerly Incarcerated Speaker Series on Alcatraz Island
Events
Formerly Incarcerated Speaker Series
Sunbeam through the redwoods at Muir Woods National Monument in Marin County.
Parks
Iconic Destinations in the Golden Gate National Recreation Area

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