Alcatraz Island

"Well worth the visit out. Fast loading onto and off ferry. A good start explanation of what too expect. Audio tour was good. And good to see what it was like in the size etc in the prison. A few exhibits or areas off limits and would be nice to get into in the future. Tried to do the backstage guided tour, be great to do that bit if you want too book at least a month in advance as we found out when we arrived. Good to see the rooms and the locations that the escape happened from. Good job too he staff for keeping it running and making it accessible."

"Self guided audio tour was great, got to go at our own pace without being rushed through. Plenty to see and experience. Would recommend coming during the off season, as it gets busy quickly even during February when we went. Late February to early march is also nesting season for the birds on the island so a lot was blocked off."

"We had a nice trip to the island. The fog was heavy on the bay which added an eerie atmosphere to the visit. It was interesting to see how the inmates lived-the housing is quite simple to say the least. Walking the grounds outside the cell block was peaceful with some nice gardens and nesting birds all around. The mix of beauty and sinister are inspiring. There are a few gift shops and restrooms located throughout the tour. It’s a powerful and beautiful way to explore a national historic site."

"My husband and I really enjoyed the tour. It was self guided, and you get audio to go over the prison cells. You could easily be done in an hour, depending on how fast you go. There are some experiences you can do aside from the main audio tour. The night tour does give you some beautiful sunset pictures over the Golden Gate Bridge."

"This is something I've always wanted to do. Just the ferry ride alone was worth the price of the admission ticket, because the views are spectacular! There's so much beauty in the place that had so much ugliness. The audio tour was very well done. You really do get a sense of what it was like as a prisoner there. Plus it is an excellent History lesson. The gardens around the penitentiary are beautiful and the vies of SF and the bridges are amazing. Also, this is a fantastic place for anyone who loves birds, as it is also a bird sanctuary. It was a very interesting trip. I highly recommend. Wear comfortable shoes, as you will walk a few miles in total if you walk the entire island tour."