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Alcatraz Island Night Tour
Category: Hotels & Travel Tours Tours [Edit]
Pier 33 at Bay StSan Francisco, CA
Neighborhood: Embarcadero
(415) 981-7625
Sedan 4 Passengers $50/hour; Extended SUV 6 Passengers $70/hour; Limousine8 Passengers $75/hour; Corporate VAN 13 Passengers $75/hour.
61 reviews for Alcatraz Island Night Tour
61 reviews in English
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Review from Biqi C.
4/9/2012 1 Check-in Here
Booked the night tour for a Saturday evening, and being my careless and idiotic self thought that it started at 4:30 instead of 4:20. So I park in the garage right next to the Pier around 4:15 just in time to wave goodbye to the responsible people who got on.
My boyfriend was about to lose his head when I approached the ticket counter and they were nice enough to give us a standby ticket to any of the tours within 48 hours. We came back the next evening, which was not as nice of a day before (SF weather, be damned!) without any problems. There were about 6 of us on standby, and we all got on, and some people even had extra tickets they couldn't sell.
Anyway, the beginning of the tour still had good day light, so you get a nice contrast from when you get to the island from the time you leave. At first, my boyfriend and I thought there may not be that much of a difference than the day tour, and for the most part, there isn't. But it is pretty cool once the tour starts to end, and everything gets a bit quiet. The prison starts feeling like it's alive. And they only open the hospital for the night tour. They did a good job with the eerie fluroescent lighting and the large prison stalls with singular was tubs/lab benches. And when we left the island it was pitch black, and you got a beautiful lit scene of SF. It also started raining, so that added to the experience.
I'd recommend doing the night tour, but it sells out farther in advance than the day tours (there is only 1 night tour per day), so going to the day tour would not be a negative alternative. -
Review from Kevin J.
5/1/2012 1 Check-in Here
With an Island so mysterious and filled with local history it's hard ot believe I've only been here twice. Once during the day and once at night. This island is truly a beautiful spot.
You begin your tour by ferry to the island at which you're lead up hill by a lovely tour guide. Once you enter the jail doors you grab your audio headphones and begin the tour. it's about an hour and a half in length but you wouldn't know it. There are so many twists and turns all filled with true tales of the island and it's inmates.
TIP: Take some extra time once you're outside in the courtyard and walk around the island. Otherwise you'll find yourself back where you started and cruising the gift shop before your ultimate return back to SF. -
Review from Nancy K.
4/16/2012 1 Check-in Here
I really want to say this was as mind-blowing as I'd built it up to be in my head but it simply didn't do as much for me as I would have liked. I'd give it four stars but took away one for what what the biggest travesty of all: it could be better. They know it could be better. The flaws are clearly something they accept rather than fix,and that annoys me when there is an expectation on the part of the consumer, who is spending quite a bit of money, of an experience learned from the literature despite the provider knowing that it's just not an accurate depiction of the pending experience.
The Alcatraz Night Tour is supposed to be a boat ride to the island, circling of the island, viewing of the sunset, the audio tour all visitors gets, and a selection of programs.
When picking up tickets at will call ticketholders are given a small pamphlet on Alcatraz which contains great information both on the logistics of the visit and some frequently asked questions about the island. On line while waiting for the boat to board all parties on line get a photograph taken in front of a back drop of the island. This photo is available for purchase at the end of the night when arriving back at the dock. Why anyone would need a picture in front of fake Alcatraz when they are going to real Alcatraz is beyond me.
The boat ride is excellent and provides a substantial amount of information about the island, its history and relationship with San Francisco, the different forms it's taken, etc. Upon reaching the island the guide is more specific not just about the prison but also the birds who live on it, the buildings and some more recent history that has shaped the island.
Because we were traveling with my 73-year-old mother who is in excellent shape but was exhausted after a day of walking crazy hills, we opted for the electric tram rather than walking the .25 mile equivalent of 13 flights of stairs. Our driver gave us helpful information not shared by any other guide (like that the hospital is open only from 8-8:30 so you really have to plan it if you want to see it). The tram is part of the third of three groups that go up. The guides stop at a few points on the trek and share info. All groups do this and the tram sticks right with the third group and gets the same experience.
Being me, I read the pamphlet that came with my ticket and the larger one received when getting off the boat. Much of the information in the print and oral information is that Alcatraz takes its mission seriously and a large part of that mission is dispelling myths about The Rock. I was blown away when our guide said, "Check out cell 118 - Al Capone's cell," The literature clearly states two things about Capone's stay: that he moved around and that it is not known today which was his cell. I asked the driver why it said that if it was known that it was 118 (I wasn't even being facetious, I wanted to know the correct info) and my answer was a dirty look and silence.
Upon arriving at the cell house, all tourists receive an audio tour set and are off to explore and listen. This is the best part, along with the boat ride. There's commentary from corrections officers and former inmates that give a great perspective to the island. While waiting for the audio set there is a room that looked like a shower room but no description was given. This is surprising because most of the prison has great wall placards with ephemera, pictures and descriptions. Maybe I just missed it.
The audio tour constantly tells you what to look for and where to walk and uses both the wall placards mentioned in the paragraph above, well labeled areas of the prison and cell numbers to guide visitors. Definitely one of the best audio tours I've done. This tour is part of all Alcatraz experiences and, on its own, would get five stars.
After the audio tour things went downhill quickly. People in the third group, if they follow the audio tour, finish after most of the night programs begin. I knew that as soon as we got to the island and did the math and this was upsetting because I paid extra to do a night tour and take part in these extra things. Following the audio tour and being in a later group also means you can't see the hospital. How many nights a week does this program go on? They didn't seem surprised at how many people didn't get to do certain things which begs the question: is it about getting money or giving an experience? Sadly, I think it's the former.
As much as I looked forward this particular experience on my vacation I would have preferred to have done this during the day (I should have listened to Frommer's and done it as part of day 1) and had the five star version saving myself a few bucks and having an earlier end to a busy day in San Francisco. -
Review from Claire B.
4/8/2012
Why do I like to get creeped out?! That's right, curiosity killed the cat! One word for this "Chilling" because the thought of all the infamous murders who were housed there and it's cold there :D brrrrrr chilly!
The ferry ride there is creepy too. It gets utterly silent walking the tour to the entrance of Alcatraz. Maybe everyone wanted to go back to the mainland, I sure did! We were a pretty large group (in the dark, dimly lit) with individual audio headsets. You listen to the audio while walking the dark prison sections. Now don't straggle behind the group or we're bound to find you crying in the corner an hour later. Why is the voice on the audio sound so freaky? I mean, listening to Elmo or Cookie Monsters voice would probably set the ease a tiny bit, ya? Anyways, while you're listening to the audio, you can't help but think if something is watching you or feel a cold chill.
Ultimately, you come out fine, enjoying your cute picture ops behind prison bars, and souvenir photos with white orbs beside you, but really it's just dust particles LOL! No worries, you'll survive the tour, actually they have those shirts "You survived the tour" at the gift shop too! -
Review from Rachel P.
Tupelo, MS
4/1/2012
If you're going to San Francisco . . . do not miss the Alcatraz night tour! It was one of the best parts of our stay in San Fran. Be warned that the night tour sells out rapidly, and for good reason! Be sure to book your tickets well in advance.
The tour itself is great, though you should be careful to start the audio at the same time as other members of your group, if you plan to stay together on the tour.
Don't fail to take your camera, as there are grand opportunities for photos.
The staff was kind and knowledgeable, and the audio tour was informative.
Be warned that the ferry ride over to the island is chilly, so take a jacket and maybe even gloves. Plus, the temps drop as night falls, making the ride back even colder, though there is an indoor option on the ferry.
This tour is a "can't miss!" -
Review from Kendrick P.
Nashville, TN
4/3/2012
I took a trip to California some years back but will never forget the tour to Alcatraz Island!
The Good: You have to take a boat from the pier to the island so enjoy the ride! Along the way the tour guide tells you the history of of Alcatraz. Once there you get to step inside the cells where some of the most notorious gangsters and criminals were housed...(sound like I'm advertising huh!..lol) but that was really kool and they even have the dummies that the prisoners used to escape still in the cell...how kool!
The Bad: Only one thing bad if any and that was really my fault,...so FYI no matter how hot it is that day if your planning on doing the tour please take a jacket of something to keep you warm while traveling in the boat to Alcatraz! its surrounded by water and the air is gonna be cool especially when the sun starts to go down! -
Review from Chanele B.
Redmond, WA
2/22/2012
Having taken the day and night tours of Alcatraz, I strongly recommend the night tour. One of the biggest perks is the smaller crowds. Since there is only one boat for this tour, there is not a constant flux of people on and off the island. This means the boatload you arrive with is all that you explore the island with. This is nice, especially if you are touring on a weekend or during peak travel season.
Another great perk is the extra exhibits/presentations that are open for the night tour. While you get all of the stuff from the day tour (the audio tour is phenomenal), there are presentations on different issues (we listened to one on rehabilitation and another on the prisoners' code of conduct), as well as normally off-limit areas, like the hospital, open to guests.
Finally, you can't beat the view. If the fog has cleared, the view is really spectacular anyway, but seeing the city and bridges glimmering at night is truly special. -
Review from Kevin L.
3/25/2012
Thanks to our friends who booked this fantastic experience with us! The evening view of San Francisco is amazing. The tour itself is partially guided and mostly audio, but very, very interesting. The night makes it just creepy and mysterious enough to make the history of the Rock, and it's infamous inmates, all the more tangible. There is no more hopeless feeling than to stand in a solitary cell at night. And the cold night makes what is a 12 minute boat ride to the city seem light years away.
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Review from Jordan M.
Canton, IL
4/6/2012 1 Check-in Here
Great tour... Must take it
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Review from Marisa D.
San Francisco, CA
2/29/2012
Really. Do the "night" tour... so worth it. Starts when it is still light out, but by the time your finish the tour and come back outside to bard to the boat, it is dark. Looking over to San Francisco is like a freaking dream - so picturesque and such a great view you normally do not see. I can imagine being "so close yet so far" was a agonizing issue for prisoners.
The thing I like about Alcatraz is not only the location, but the fact you get to get "hands on" with a part of history. Since it is the last tour, less crowded (always a good thing).
It is good to do some research before hitting The Rock - so you can separate out Hollywood hype or what you think you know about the place to the reality of what it was.
All in all, a great adventure.
(PS: The night tours tend to sell out, so once you know your date, you really should purchase your tickets in advance.) -
Review from Lauren J.
San Francisco, CA
3/28/2012
Great fun! Bring your camera and a good coat. The headphones tour is great and the side tours are, too. Poke around and see where you can walk and what you can see. The mess hall and hospital areas are really spooky at night.
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Review from Laurie W.
San Francisco, CA
12/26/2011 1 Check-in Here
First time here and I'm from San Francisco...wow!
Thought it was cool to do a night tour at one of the most "haunted" places in the US.
Very cold! Please please please DRESS for the weather and wear walkable shoes...no heels ladies!
Tour starts off in groups where one of the guides will walk you and give you some info and then once u get inside the prison, you'll get individual audio tour tapes...except about 2 hours there...and bring food! or you can buy on the boat
Its pretty cool to experience it but its not that scary since there's HELLA people...but its a one time thing! -
Review from Lois M.
10/12/2011
It's cold. I mean REALLY cold. We decided on the night tour thinking it would be less crowded. Wrong! Did I mention it is cold? We read the Yelp reviews and made sure to eat and pack a few snacks with us (thanks, Yelpers!). The staff at Alcatraz are courteous and willing to answer the numerous questions posed by the tourists, i.e. "Yes, there are haunted places, No, I haven't personally seen any ghosts, No one has escaped, etc. etc." What one is really struck by when visiting this facility is how stark it is. Couldn't begin to imagine what it must have ben like to be incarcered here. That said, for the more 'mature' Yelpers, some words of advice:
1. Dress warm. Be sure to take some lip balm with you as it gets windy outside (and some parts inside) and your lips get chapped.
2. Eat before you board the boat. It's a good 3-hours before you get back to San Francisco, and the quality and prices of food at the snack bar is typical tourist stuff.
3. Wear comfortable walking shoes. Lots of walking.
4. Make sure you "straggle" on your tour and spend a little extra time checking out the hospital ward. Facinating to see the old instruments.
5. Do some research before you go - it makes seeing some of the more historical parts of Alcatraz more interesting.
Finally, no matter what, avoid the temptation to lock your spouse and leave him behind when he keeps asking where Burt Lancaster is, or where did Sean Connery set off the nerve gas bombs, etc. -
Review from Lisa S.
11/22/2011
For whatever reason, I thought the night tour was going to be less crowded, more in-depth, and a bit creepy. I feel like it was none of these things.
There were maybe two hundred people on our tour, split into two groups. They moved along really quickly, and if you stopped to investigate an area or take a picture, they were already moving on and you miss part of the background information. I didn't like this at all. It was so dark that it was difficult to take pictures anyway. I wish the walking part of the tour was more leisurely so that I could explore the area.
I didn't realize that so many of the sections would be closed down at night. Now I feel like I have to return in the daylight hours to see what I missed.
There were a multitude of presentations after the audio tour, but we only had time to go to one. The rangers were really informative and helpful.
The view of the city is gorgeous, so I can't complain about that at all. -
Review from Yoni D.
San Francisco, CA
11/22/2011 1 photo
I found out about the Alcatraz Night Tour when I wrote my 5 star review for the normal Alcatraz Tour a while ago. I just had to check the Night Tour out. The tour did not disappoint although it wasn't as creepy as I would have wanted it to be.
The place is very well lit inside and the only real difference with the Day Tour is the night view of San Francisco. You have to order your ticket about two weeks in advance.
The reason I'm giving this Tour just 4 stars is because the Tour wasn't done by a Park Ranger. I like the Park Rangers Tours a lot more then the Cruise Tour Guide Tours. -
Review from Julia W.
12/10/2011 1 Check-in Here
I had always wanted to do a Alcatraz Tour so when I saw that they offered a night version; I knew I had to go.
Some reviewers had comments about it being too crowded and it not being 'that' creepy. I guess what makes it 'fun' at night is that it is what you make of it.
We went in December which probably isn't the 'tourist' peak time. We did have maybe 100+ people on our tour but nothing that stopped me from enjoying myself.
Our walking guide up to the actual jail entry was great and giving us background stories on previous inmates.
We were handed our audio guides and sent on our way.
I've never been a 'huge' history buff but it was great to get some first-hand descriptions of what life was like as well as seeing the living conditions that the men had.
After the initial audio tour was over, we were able to go to the hospital ward which was opened at night. There were some rooms which were only lit by a lantern and looked a bit too creepy for me.
We did do a few of the 'tours' after where escapes were talked about and famous prior inmates.
Overall, it is a great way to see a major part of history of San Francisco. -
Review from Robin K.
Davis, CA
11/1/2011
My only complaint about the night tour is that they don't give you long enough! There were multiple special programs going on, and we could only make one. And we did not have time to finish the whole audio tour or see the store. Those were things that we wanted to do, so we were bummed that we did not have time.
The boat trip was awesome, especially because the October weather was perfect. October and November are definitely the best times to do this tour, as the rest of the year the weather is way too unpredictable. I wish the trip was a littlelonger, as the bay was lovely both ways. Do take a sweater no matter what the time of year! A jacket on some nights.
The little boat tour around the island was cool, as they talked about some of the buildings you don't get to see the insides of when you are on the island.
The audio tour of the cellblocks is awesome! There are some of the creepiest noises and voices used, and it's perfect for Halloween! And the history is fascinating! Make sure to read all the signs and talk to the rangers. There's so much to learn!
The views off the island are spectacular on a clear day and night. You can see how that would have built into the torture of being in the prison. Make sure to bring a camera!
We saw the myths debunked ranger program, which was pretty hilarious. I loved the ranger who gave the talk, especially how vehemently he dismissed the Ghost Hunters episode on Alcatraz. His debunking of some of the crazy things people believe based on movies was also awesome.
Overall, this is a cool way to experience Alcatraz. My advice, if you have time, do both tours! :) -
Review from Tracie F.
1/12/2012 1 Check-in Here
YOU NEED TO TAKE THE NIGHT TOUR!
This was an incredible tour worth every single penny we spent! We went on the second evening cruise and it was perfectly aligned with the setting sun. We had such a phenomenal view of the sunset and the Golden Gate bridge! If you are a photographer this aspect alone is worth the price. We got to the island at dusk and was treated to a quick intro by the island guide. She led us up to the prison where we got our headsets for the guided tour. This was included in the price. I can't imagine why someone would choose to go through this tour without this? It was great!!! One mistake we made...we lollygagged. We were the last group that started the tour and we paused the tour for a bathroom break. Why is this not a good idea? A couple of reasons...first of all the gift shop is not open until the end of the evening. You would think they would keep it open until all of the guests leave. That isn't the case. If you want to do some browsing make sure you take the first evening tour or no bathroom breaks!! The second reason I wish we would not have stalled? We missed some of the group tours. They have a number of more intimate group tours/lectures arranged so you can take the time to learn more about what particularly interests you. We learned about an inmate that escaped back IN to Alcatraz as well as a talk and demonstration on the opening and closing of the cells. I wished we had made the "day in the life..." tour. I guess it gives us another reason to go back...and honestly we would. I think this is a place that you could realize new beauty and learn something different each and every time you go.
Couple of hints...
Book EARLY! We booked online 3 weeks in advance. We got there on a Thursday and the next available tour they had was the following Tuesday (had we not booked in advance).
Dress warm!!! It was freezing!!! Inside the actual prison is not bad but the boat ride and the time you spend outside is frigid. -
Review from Jeff M.
8/22/2011 12 photos
Great tour. The audio tour section was accurate with everything. They even have a recording of the original guards & prisoners.
A + to the staff "jay" and the others who helped me when audio battery died. Well organized staff!! Had a great time.
Love the Night Tour because they open the hospital/Psych ward at night time for half an hour. Freaky place, Cold and Dark, but Awesome. They had the operating room and x-ray room in there as well.
The Ferry ride there and back wasnt too bad. You get fresh air if you go up the deck but it can get really cold. Unless you have a nice jacket, then It would try to attempt to go upstairs.
They have a small cafeteria inside the Ferry. For snacks and drinks. Go ahead and eat. I enjoyed their nachos and cheese! -
Review from Dan B.
Pasadena, CA
9/17/2011 11 photos
The night tour is a must for those wanting to visit Alcatraz. I have done the day tour also, but the night tour has a totally different atmosphere and the character of the island seems to change. You will sail around the whole of the island before docking, seeing the 'The Rock' from all possible angles which is not the case during the day tours, before ascending to the prison where the audio tour begins.
The audio tour is very informative and on the night tour they have a schedule of events you can attened, but as they overlap you only really have time to take in two so you'll have to choose wisely. The night tour doesn't seem to spread out as much as the day tours so it can get congested at certain exhibits, and eveyone seems to choose to attend the 'Sound of the slammer' demonstration towards the end of the evening which as a result gets very crowded.
The rangers do a great job and are very approachable so a big thanks to them for adding to the experience and be sure to take in the views of San Fran from the recreational yard.
For $20 odd dollars this is well worth the money, but wrap up warm as it does get cold as the evening progresses and consider taking a snack to keep your energy levels up as you will cover alot of ground walking. -
Review from Jess C.
Kailua, HI
2/14/2012
Just do it! Don't be a wimp, wear your coat and bring some gloves! We got let into the hospital and got some orbs on our DSLR, scary! It was really interesting, next time I go I would like to go early on a Summer day to walk around the grounds, but I'm glad we did the night tour first.
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Review from Kim L.
Medford, MA
10/23/2011 1 Check-in Here
First of all, October in San Francisco. is. gorgeous. Sunny, clear, 70-ish temps during the day. Perfect. Evenings are a little chilly, though, so bring a jacket for the boat.
This was a terrific, well run tour. The guide was entertaining & very on top of getting us where we needed to be on time, yet still learning/laughing our way there. The entrance to the prison is at the end of a pretty steep climb, so be prepared... there is a tram for mobility-impared folks.
The audio tour takes you through the highlights of the prison. I usually don't like such things, but I have to say, the voices of actual prisoners and guards narrating me through the facility really brought it to life.
The views of the city and sunset over the Golden Gate were spectacular. I highly recommend this as a great use of a couple of hours of your vacation. -
Review from Nick L.
8/29/2011
1st time visit - well worth it.
Dress warm as it can get chilly and windy on the boat ride.
The audio tour was really good, informative and correctly paced. Only had to pause a few times to explore in greater detail.
The only thing to me is that the night time tour is supposed to be less busy but it seemed very busy to me and it took away some dramatic effect. -
Review from X O.
Riverside, CA
5/8/2011
DO THIS TOUR! It was really interesting. My 13 and 9 year olds can't stop talking about it!
Also, the view of the city and the GG bridge from the boat was amazing.
I know it is expensive. The parking alone was $37 and a long walk to Pier 33. BUT JUST DO IT!!!!! -
Review from Emmalouise B.
San Mateo, CA
2/15/2011 4 photos
My husband and I have been wanting to do this tour since visiting the area in March so as soon as we moved here I suggested we book. As the night tour has a lot less spaces they do get booked up fairly quickly so we booked 6 weeks in advance for the evening of Halloween.
We arrived at the departure point - Pier 33, about 40 minutes before the boat was due to leave to pick up our tickets which we were expecting a long que for but pleasantly surprised that we were the only ones.
While we were waiting to get onto the boat itself they were taking pictures of each group / couple. The picture itself was pretty poor though - a big backdrop of the rock which was very bad quality and if I can remember correctly were charging $12 per print! Bit pricey and you could quite easily get one yourself.
The boat itself was pretty big with an upper and lower deck, they also had a little food and drinks counter where you could buy some snacks before the tour (although no food is allowed on the island itself). The ride was also fairly quick - about 20 minutes. The boat went around the Island before docking so you can get good photo ops from multiple angles.
The tour was really enjoyable. As we first set off it felt very much like cattle being herded due to the amount of people all in one place but slowly people began to dissipate leaving more space to roam and view what you want.
I was expecting a tour guide to be taking people around but found it was audio which is quite handy as you can pause it to take pictures if you want and the audio even had ex inmates themselves reliving their experiences on the island. It was very informative and as the sun went down it had a real creepy feeling about the place.
They also had a couple of tour guides at points around the island going into more details of the attempted escapes and some of the more notorious inmates. We went along to 2 of these but left the second one half way through in order to get more pictures inside the building but no sooner had we got there we were ushered out being told they were 'locking up' yet the boat wasn't due to leave for at least another 30 minutes which was kind of annoying - you go expecting a certain amount of time then don't get it.
We then sat on the boat for 40 minutes waiting for it to leave taking picture's of the City - the view at night was pretty amazing.
There is also a gift shop on the Island that sells the usual caps, coffee mugs, fridge magnets ect.
Overall, we had a good time but did feel we got a little ripped off with being ushered out slightly early but it would be nice to go back at some point just to walk around and do out own thing without the audio tour.
TIPS:
*Book a couple of weeks in advance.
*Plan for parking. There's quite a few parking lot's close by and around $10-$15.
*Take a jumper as it can get quite cold. In the winter make that a coat or jacket. Brrr.
*Wear comfortable walking shoes or Trainers. It isn't that much of a walk but it is on quite a steep incline.
*Don't forget a camera. Extra batteries would be handy too.
*Eat beforehand. Like I said, they don't allow food on the island.
*Take a bottle of water with you. This is the only drink they allow on the Island.
* I wouldn't recommend for children.Listed in: Activities
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Review from Mariena F.
Union City, CA
7/26/2011
Local Bay Area Native; never been UNTIL this past weekend.
We took 15 family members, ranging in age from 2-62. Everyone had fun, loved the ferry ride (15 mins, no sea sickness) and enjoyed the baby seagulls (July) and scenery. Audio tour was well done. Boat was clean. Alcatraz was clean; Flora was beautiful.
I was kinda surprised that you couldn't really roam around the island on your own tour; you were strongly encouraged to stay with the group. This was difficult for me because I had my 6yo who needed frequent bathroom breaks (2). So we fell behind the group. Wasn't really a problem, though.
Overall, will return with out-of-towners next chance I get. Be sure to:
1. Dress in layers.
2. Buy tickets in advance. They tend to sell out. -
Review from theresa B.
Orange Park, FL
7/26/2011 1 photo
I was so excited to go on the night tour and it was going to be the high light of my trip. I must say that I loved the Island. The tour was mostly Audio recorded and very detailed which I liked best. The upkeep of the Island is very clean and I enjoyed learning the history behind the bars.
The negatives.... Make sure you eat before the tour. You are looking at being on the Island for 3 hours including the Ferry Ride. My boyfriend got a Peanut Butter and Jelly which was basically 2 slices of bread and a little tub of jelly and a little tub of peanut butter for FIVE BUCKS! I guess when you are hungry and in a tourist spot you have no choice but to purchase a sandwhich you make yourself for that amount. So make sure you pack your own food especially if you have kids!!!! The tour guides at beginning and end ( not during the audio) were not very enthusiastic and not the best story tellers either.
Either way I don't regret doing the tour but when there are 4 ferrys dropping estimated 300 people off total you lose the personal learning experience and it seemed too crowded at times. It's nice to be on the Island and I learned a lot I didn't know before and for the price and something to do it can be worth it. I say go for it if you have never been but if you have done the day tour the night probably won't be much different.
PS DRESS WARM...ITS SO COLD!!! BBBBRRRRRRRR!!! -
Review from Noah V.
Camarillo, CA
4/6/2011
There is absolutely NO way you can come to the bay area and not go to Alcatraz!
This Tour despite the cost and the limited time u get as opposed to the day tour leaves little to be desired. Sure, some parts aren't accessible to the public and there's not a great deal of time for personal exploration with the programs going on but the cap for the night tour is set at 400 people as opposed to 2000 for the day tour. Plus, being at Alcatraz at night is an intimate, and at times chilling, experience unlike any other.
First, the docents are extremely friendly and knowledgeable. These are people who seem to really like AND know their job.
Central to the whole experience though is the audio tour that's told by four actual inmates at Alcatraz and four of the guards that served there. The narration is immersive: you can really get a sense of how it must've been to be a "tenant" of the infamous Alcatraz.
The night we were there they had a "Sounds of Alcatraz" program that incorporated the story of an inmate with the bone chilling sound of the gates opening and shutting close in the backdrop. Memorable stuff.
Some pointers:
- Get our tickets EARLY....No, I don't mean get there a few hours early to buy em...not even maybe get em a day before. Scoop them up at least a week in advance. There's only two departures for the night tour and these tickets sell out fast. I got mine a little over a week in advance and we had to settle for the later departure time since the 6:10 one was already sold out.
- Wear comfortable shoes. You gotta hump a good ways to get up from the dock to the actual prison. The docent will stop periodically to wait for the stragglers but I could see the average Joe huffin and puffin up the hill.
- On the audio tour, don't follow the mob. Time when you press play on the tour when there's not that many people at the starting point. This isn't one of those where there's a number at each point and you press play to hear what it's all about. Instead, once you press play, it will continuously play and walks you through the whole thing and direct you where to go, and tell you what to look at. You CAN pause it though if need be.
- Dress warm! The night we were there, the weather was oddly warm (for SF) but it can get very cold being out to sea with the spray and wind.
- DO NOT mistake the various tours they offer at the wharf for this one (such as the blue and gold tours). Those don't get you access ONTO island. They just put-put you up and down the bay and around Alcatraz while aboard the boat.
In the end, you could say, "Yeah, this is a once in a lifetime experience, as in, once you've seen it, there's not that many reasons to ever really go back." You might be right but Alcatraz is definitely worth seeing at least once! -
Review from Angela M.
Chico, CA
2/26/2011
This (along with Pier 39 and the cable cars) is the epitome of the SF tourist experience, but the family loved, loved, loved it, so who am I to be all judgmental? Extremely touristy, but definitely worth doing once. Alcatraz is pretty unique, and hey, the ferry ride is fun, albeit tightly packed. Time it right, on the night tour, and you also get some nice views of the Golden Gate at sunset.
The audio tour was pretty interesting, and it is nice that they include a lot of narratives from people who were actually there - it gives you a good sense of the experience.
Dress warmly, even in the summer - it can get very chilly in the bay in the evenings. -
Review from Garnette M.
Burbank, CA
10/24/2011
Me and my family did the night tour this past wknd. It was pretty cool. It was cold on our way to the island because we sat on the top deck, jus so we can see the nice view. The weather was decent tho, at least there was no fog. There's alot of walking so make sure to wear tennis shoes... i dont know what i was thinkn of wearing flat boots... i wanted to keep my legs warm so i wore the boots but it wasnt comfy since we did the most walking. It was kinda freaky goin in the isolation cell kuz it was soooo dark. Overall it was cool... good to try at least once, jus so u can say been there done that. Btw, the view of frisco was sooo purrty!
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Review from Cody K.
Suisun City, CA
2/15/2011 1 photo
I loved the tour! If you go it has to be the night tour. First of all there's only 400 people on the island as apposed to 2000, which is how many there are throughout the day (and there's still the same amount of staff their). You also get to see the hospital wing and attend a couple small talks with an easy chance to ask questions.
And you don't have to worry about rushing to make the last ferry, the night tour gives you PLENTY of time to see what you want. We even paused our tour for 20 minutes to watch the sunset under the Golden Gate Bridge.
Do you want to get "locked up" in one of the isolation cells in D block? Go during the night and talk to a member of the staff and they'll hook you up.
The audio tour is great and each group that goes in doesn't walk the exact route so there's not people always walking in the same direction and they do a great job of keeping people out of each others way.
The only downfall is the price, but then again my time here in California has shown me that everything is expensive. -
Review from Lynn C.
7/20/2011
Who comes to SF and doesn't do Alcatraz? It's hard not to see The Rock sitting there in the bay! This tour was awesome! It was about 2.5 hours, start to finish (including getting to and from) and you get a self guided audio tour. The night tour was especially cool because it adds that extra eerie/creepy factor in. Plus, they have more bonus talks and additional things at night. Views of the city are amazing and there are tons of photo opportunities. We alone took over 100 pics during our visit. Cool stuff at the gift shop too.
Listed in: Eat, Drink, and be Married!
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Review from Rae'esah N.
Antioch, CA
10/26/2009
It was a spur of the moment trip for me as my daughter mentions to me "momma, I bought two tix online for the Alcatraz Tour. Wanna go?"
Hell yes, I wanted to go! I've been wanting to go for a while now but its like one of those things you keep intending do but don't really get around to it....
We BART it out to the city and then from Embarcadero Station we walk to Pier 33.
After a bit of a wait in the line for the 645 evening tour we board and head over to "the rock".
It was a beautiful evening, absolutely beautiful - nice weather and clear skies - aboard the ferry and the emcee narrated our trip beautifully and called out interesting facts about Alcatraz.
The views..the views are breathtaking. I've been in the Bay Area all of my 41 years of life and the beautiful sights around me that I so often take for granted were summed up in beautiful clicks of my daughter's camera. I was like a child telling her "tasia, take a picture of that! and that. and that!"
We get to the island and head out to our tour guide. He gets you started with some interesting history and lore - then inside you go for a 45 minute self guided tour.
It was very interesting meandering thru the cell blocks, the times square, the officers quarters, the control area....I thouroughly enjoyed every minute of it.
It's a steep hike UP to the prison buildings so come prepared in terms of appropriate shoes - the walk is steep and uneven - it's quite a work out.
I was hoping to channel some of the spirits that I am convinced still lurk in the shadows of the penitentiary and was disappointed that I could not feel their presence.
Maybe they are saving the good stuff for Halloween evening?
It's a nice evening out, full of history and fun and the neatest part about it was my 21 year old daughter wanting to share that evening with me! -
Review from Hellen D.
Santa Clara, CA
5/14/2010
The island itself is worth 4 stars, but I wouldn't come back. Once is enough to experience. I did the tour during the day but it was the same thing as the night tour. The guides who randomly walked around were very nice and knowledgeable.
What I like about the tour was that you could go at your own pace. They give you your own audio to walk around with.
What I didn't like was its not good if your in a group because all of you have to press play at the same time or press pause at the same time. If you catch a late ferry there you have to rush your tour and make sure you get on the last ferry back to sf.
It's worth going once and learning about everything, but make sure you give your self enough time to tour the place. -
Review from Black K.
Oakland, CA
6/14/2009 1 photo
The Alcatraz Night Tour is an entertaining way for friends and family to spend an evening in the city.
Unlike the daytime tours of the Island, when the Island is ofter JAMMED with tourist. The nighttime tour is ONLY limited to a few hundred of so folks. This basically means you will have the Island basically to yourself. And that alone is well worth the price of a ticket. Could you imagine having Yosemite Valley being limited to only a couple of hundred people for you?
The audio tours are extremely educational and entertaining. The only drawback with the night tour is that there is soooooo much to see and hear, you won't have time to see it all.
Also, be warned, the Island is A LOT bigger than it seems from the water. Translation: Be prepared to walk and wear some comfortable tennis shoes! Also, take a snack and some water with you. The Island has NO food or drink services. And since the average tour runs about 2.5 hours...
My posse and me are definitely planning on going back in the winter, when the Island will be the spookiest with the winter winds howling through the complex.... lol -
Review from Michelle M.
Lake Forest, CA
7/21/2009
I've been on the night tour twice, and I loved it both times!!
Be prepaired with comfortable shoes and warm clothes though because you'll be walking a lot and it gets so cold there at night!
You start the tour with a ranger that will show you around for about 10-15 minutes. Than you'll take a 45 minute audio tour, which is awesome! Then the last hour or so that you're there you can wonder around on your own. It's an awesome place to visit and everyone should at least go once!!! -
Review from Vicky L.
10/13/2009
This is pretty creepy, I'll have to admit. It's not scary as in like, ooh ghosts everywhere, but it gives that eerie feeling as you're walking through.
Since the night tour has limited space, it's not crowded on the Rock at all. We took the last one (6:45 PM), so for the last hour, we were pretty much the only group on the Island.
Thankfully it wasn't as cold or windy as we thought it would be, but then again, we both layered up and I brought a scarf. Most of the tour is indoors (the audio part at least), but the inside of the jail has the occasional draft when you're walking near an open window or door.
The 45-minute audio tour was by far the best, and the rangers are helpful and give you lots of informative tips. However, the "extras" at the end of the audio tour kind of sucked. We went to the talk about "escapes," but they really only talked about how one guy tried to escape, and then it turned into a lecture about how he couldn't trust people. Then, we went to the "sounds of the slammer," which entailed a tour guide opening and closing the cell doors. This, too, turned into a lecture, although this time it was worse, because she ended up telling us to appreciate "the sounds of freedom we hear every day."
This would be a LOT freakier if they made some sort of haunted house out of it for Halloween! -
Review from Janet D.
4/11/2010
I give Alcatraz a 4-star and the Night tour a 3-star.
First...Alcatraz in general. I was a bit worried about the state of my kids because they were already worn out when we got in line at 5:30 pm and it was damn cold. Plus, we were still grumbling about our first tour of the trip that was pretty much a bomb for us. The self-guided audio tour saved the day...I went from being subjected to moaning and complaints on the boat ride over (then dirty looks during the guided portion at the beginning) to "Ehhh...that was pretty good" (Translation from teenage-ish to Engl-ish..."Worthy!"). It was the independence and the interesting narration (by a variety of "people" including former prisoners and guards). You gotta do this once in your lifetime...it is now checked off our list.
Night vs. Day...Here's why I would choose daytime over night...1) Our kids - and we parents - were pretty pooped out after a very full day. 2) It was COLD. 3) All but one of the optional guided tours at the end, which looked interesting, ended too late for us to catch the 8:40 ferry back to the mainland. We were all too tired to wait for the 9:30 ferry. 4) I had read somewhere that parts of the island were only open at night...I never saw these parts. Maybe they were during the guided tours at the end???Listed in: San Francisco for COOL…
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Review from Qiong K.
Seattle, WA
5/16/2011 2 photos
Every one should take the Alcatraz tour and do the night one. Very interesting and informative.
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Review from Jessica J.
Aurora, CO
7/27/2010 1 Check-in Here
I had done the day tour forever ago and my hubby had wanted to do the night tour on this trip, so I was excited to see the rock under the moon.
I actually think the tour was great, but night or day, I am not sure it matters when you go. We went when it was still light out and left as darkness fell. It didn't really feel any more creepy or add anything for me to go at night, but I still enjoyed it.
You do get some nice SF city light shots, as well as the view of the bridges lit up. So that is nice. Other than that I can't say I noticed a huge difference from the day tour. Day or night - go enjoy!
A trip to the slammer has never been so fun!
