Alcatraz Tours in San Francisco

Alcatraz isn't just one of the world's most notorious former prisons, it's also one of San Francisco's top tourist destinations, with up to 1.4 million visitors per year, according to the National Park Service. Tours of "the rock" can sell out up to three weeks in advance, so it's best to book early. Companies offer different tours at different times of the day, and some combine Alcatraz with other tourist spots. Here are some companies that ship people out daily to one of the world's most infamous sites. But don't worry, it's not a one-way trip.

Alcatraz Cruises

Take a trip to Alcatraz in the world's first hybrid ferry. Alcatraz Cruises guarantees the lowest price for Alcatraz tickets, with adult tickets going for around $26 each. Alcatraz Cruises offers early bird, daytime and evening tours. On its website, it allows you to compare what's special about each time period. For instance, the early bird has the smallest crowd, but the night tour has the most information.

Alcatraz Cruises
(415) 981-7625
alcatrazcruises.com

Brighter Images

Over 75,000 Alcatraz and San Francisco city tours each year are booked by Brighter Images. The company offers daytime and evening tours, but on the daytime tour, you can stay for as long as you like. It sends ferries every half-hour to pick people up. So you can see everything you want at your own pace. As far as a guide, everyone receives an award-winning self-guided audio tour. You can also combine your Alcatraz tour with a tour of the city, the Bay Area or Muir Woods. Daytime tours for adults begin at $36 each, as of 2009.

Brighter Images
(925) 253-1900
alcatraztrips.com

Alcatraz Tickets

Alcatraz Tickets offers day and night tours to Alcatraz with a guided audio tour, a brief welcome and orientation from a national park ranger and a theater with a short video explaining an overview of the island. But if you really want to get more bang for your buck, try taking the Alcatraz and San Francisco City Tour. This package offers hotel pick-up, a tour of the city, a ferry ride to Alcatraz, an audio-guided tour of Alcatraz and a free Fisherman's Wharf Pier 39 Fun Pack valued at over $400. As of 2009, tickets for adults are $75 each, but if you want to do the Alcatraz Tour only, it costs $41.

Alcatraz Tickets
(888) 814-2305
www.alcatraztickets.com

Article Written By Thomas McNish

Thomas McNish has been writing since 2005, contributing to Salon.com and other online publications. He is working toward his Associate of Science in computer information technology from Hillsborough Community College in Tampa, Fla.

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