Alcatraz Island: A San Francisco Tourist Adventure That Even Locals Should Not Miss

Arriving to the island

Alcatraz Cruises offers the best Alcatraz island experience. It is located on San Francisco’s famous Embarcadero and is accessible by bus, train, or taxi from all parts of the city. The loading dock is at Pier 33, 1 mile south of the famous Fisherman’s Wharf. Guests can purchase tickets in advance and meet at AC’s loading dock during their designated time for departure.

After arriving at the island, you will be allowed to freely hike around the property. The views are spectacular. On a clear day, you can see across the Bay toward Sausalito, Oakland, and can even gain a glimpse of the Golden Gate Bridge! The island also offers one of the best views of the San Francisco city skyline. There are also historical buildings and native plants throughout, a photographer’s dream!

Touring one of the world’s “most inescapable prisons”

Alcatraz is most recognized as the site of Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary. The prison is most revered for its mystery and complicated (sometimes true) urban legends. It was once home to some of America’s most infamous convicts, including Al Capone, the American gangster who ran operations in New York and Chicago during the prohibition era. He and his comrades are most remembered as a dangerous crew that illegally networked with government officials to sell alcohol and is assumed to be the culprits of the Saint Valentine’s Day Massacre.

Once reaching the prison, you can join a free walking audio tour. The walking tour is self-guided and can be listened to in dozens of languages. The tour guides you through the cell house, and around the penitentiary. It includes history about the island and tells of several escapes (or attempted escapes), all told by the prisoners themselves. Some of the prisoner’s stories seem too complicated and unreal to believe until you walk past cellblocks as described in the prisoner’s stories. Artifacts are left in the cells as proof that these transgressions indeed happened.

Once the tour is over, you will join hundreds of people at the bottom of the hill to catch the boat back to the mainland. Waiting in line affords you the chance to meet people from all over the world!

Recharge at the Ferry Building with coffee and cheese

When you arrive at the Pier, I highly suggest that you hail a pedicab (a bike taxi) and head over to the Ferry Building that is located at Pier 1. Inside the marketplace, you can grab a sweet cup of coffee from San Francisco’s own Blue Bottle Coffee. Don’t miss the New Orleans iced coffee made with local organic milk, iced coffee, organic cane sugar, and organic chicory. The NOLA is a refreshing, slightly sweet iced coffee drink that is the perfect recipe for a recharge after a small hike.

If you are ready for a snack, check out some of the world’s best artisanal cheese at Cowgirl Creamery that is located just a few doors down. There, I recommend a creamy scoop of Mt Tam or their extra rich Crème Fraiche. The staff members are all knowledgeable about their cheese and the cheese making process. Be ready to learn a thing or two as you wait for your sample. If you are at the Ferry building on a particular day, you can also shop at a local farmer’s market with the hours as followed: