Alcatraz and San Quentin Prison Tour: Two Legendary Facilities

Walk Alcatraz at your own pace, then hear San Quentin's story from the water

This 4.5-hour tour pairs a self-guided audio experience inside Alcatraz Island's cell blocks with a narrated ferry cruise past San Quentin State Prison. You explore the Rock on your own schedule using the Pintours app, then board a second ferry where a live guide provides commentary on modern prison life and death row history as you pass the high-security walls of California's oldest active penitentiary. The tour includes both ferry rides, Alcatraz entry, and the audio guide in English, Spanish, Italian, French and German.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Alcatraz and San Quentin

• Explore Alcatraz with self-guided app
• Return to mainland
• Board ferry for narrated San Quentin cruise
• Cruise past San Quentin with expert guide

The experience

You start at the Ferry Building and board for Alcatraz Island, where the self-guided app becomes your companion through the cold cell blocks and solitary confinement. The audio plays real stories from inmates and guards who lived on "The Rock," and you move through the haunting spaces at whatever pace suits you: lingering in one cell or moving quickly through another. This is not a crowded group shuffle. The app lets you control when you stop and how long you stay.

After returning to the mainland, you board a second ferry heading north toward San Quentin. This leg is different: a live expert guide narrates the voyage as you cruise directly past the imposing walls of California's oldest and most notorious active facility. The guide covers modern prison life, famous inmates, and the evolution of American justice. You stay on the water and do not enter the prison itself, but the commentary transforms what you see from a distant fortress into a story with names and context.

The whole journey takes 4.5 hours and is wheelchair accessible, with public transportation nearby. The app works in five languages, so the Alcatraz portion adapts to how you prefer to listen.

What’s included

• Pintours self-guided audio app for Alcatraz Island.
• Alcatraz Island ferry ride and entry ticket.
• San Quentin pass-by ferry tour with a live expert guide.
• audio guide in English, Spanish, Italian, French, and German.

Before you book

Days and timesTuesday to FridayDeparts at 11:15

AgesAdult (18 to 61 years) · Senior (62 and older) · Youth (12 to 17 years) · Child (5 to 11 years) · Infant (under 5): free

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends at a different place from where it starts.Operator's directions: “Please look for our guide he will be holding a sign at the meeting point with the tours name.”

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Easy physical levelWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller friendlyPets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by Pintours

Is this one for you?Choose this tour if you want to explore Alcatraz on your own schedule without a guide herding a group through the cells, then learn about modern prison life from an expert as you cruise past San Quentin: the self-guided format on the Rock gives you control, and the narrated ferry afterward fills in the story you cannot see from the water.

Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (12 to 17 years); Child (5 to 11 years); Infant (under 5): free.

What exactly happens on the Alcatraz part of this tour?

You use the Pintours self-guided audio app to walk through the cell blocks and solitary confinement at your own pace, hearing real stories from inmates and guards who lived there. You control the speed and which areas you spend time in. It is not a group tour with a guide leading everyone together.

Do I actually go inside San Quentin prison?

No. The San Quentin portion is a narrated ferry cruise that passes directly by the prison walls. A live guide provides commentary on the facility, its history, and famous inmates as you travel by water, but you do not disembark or enter the grounds.

How long does the whole tour take?

The tour runs 4.5 hours total, including both ferry rides and your time exploring Alcatraz Island with the audio app.

What languages is the audio guide available in?

The Pintours app offers the Alcatraz audio in English, Spanish, Italian, French, and German, so you can choose the language that works best for you.

Where does the tour start and what do I need to bring?

The tour begins at the Ferry Building in San Francisco. You do not need to bring anything special. The app is provided, and the ferry rides and Alcatraz entry are included. Food and drinks are not provided, so you may want to bring water or snacks if you prefer.