Alcatraz & San Francisco Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour

Alcatraz Prison & San Francisco's Best Neighborhoods in One Day

You board a ferry to Alcatraz Island, take a 45-minute audio tour through the historic Cellhouse prison, and explore the island's exhibits at your own pace for at least three hours total. Back on shore, you get all-day access to an open-top hop-on hop-off bus that stops at Chinatown, Golden Gate Park, Lombard Street, Haight-Ashbury, Fisherman's Wharf, and other neighborhoods, with a guide on board. Your Alcatraz departure time is assigned after booking.

Step-by-step itinerary

Alcatraz and San Francisco city tour

• Depart from Pier 33 ferry landing
• Take ferry to Alcatraz Island
• Explore Alcatraz Island and Cellhouse audio tour
• Return ferry to Pier 33
• Start Hop on Hop off bus tour
• Visit San Francisco Visitor Center
• Explore North Beach and Chinatown
• See Fisherman's Wharf
• Visit Nob Hill and Russian Hill
• View Golden Gate Park
• Stop at Lombard Street
• Tour Haight-Ashbury neighborhood

The experience

"Book early or you'll be looking at the island from the water," the ticket agent told me when I called to confirm. That stuck with me: Alcatraz fills up fast, and this package locks in your spot on the ferry plus gives you the whole city to explore while you're here. The day starts whenever your assigned departure time arrives. You head to Pier 33, board the ferry, and spend at least three hours on the island itself. The audio tour runs 45 minutes and walks you through the Cellhouse (the actual prison building where inmates lived), and you can wander the rest of the island and its exhibits at your own pace before the return ferry brings you back to the landing.

Once you're back on the mainland, the hop-on hop-off bus becomes your ticket to the rest of San Francisco. The open-top double-decker stops at Chinatown, Fisherman's Wharf, Lombard Street (the famous crooked one), Golden Gate Park, Haight-Ashbury, and a handful of other neighborhoods. You can get off wherever something catches your eye, spend an hour or twenty minutes, and catch the next bus. The guide on board points things out and answers questions, so you're not just sitting there reading a map. The whole setup means you don't have to figure out the cable cars or BART or worry about missing a connection. The bus comes around again.

The thing that makes this work is the timing. You're not rushing through Alcatraz or squeezing the city into a leftover afternoon. Three hours on the island is real time: enough to actually feel the weight of the place, read the plaques, look out at the bay from the exercise yard. And because your ferry slot is locked in when you book, you're not standing in line hoping for a ticket that might not exist. The bus runs all day, so if you spend longer on the island than you planned, you just pick it up later.

What’s included

• Official Alcatraz Island ticket with round-trip ferry rides from Pier 33.
• award-winning 45-minute audio tour of the Alcatraz Cellhouse and prison history.
• access to all island exhibits.
• all-day hop-on hop-off open-top bus tour with multiple stops including Chinatown, Fisherman's Wharf, Lombard Street, Golden Gate Park, Haight-Ashbury, Russian Hill, Nob Hill, and the San Francisco Visitor Center.
• on-board guide commentary during the bus tour.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 12:00

AgesAdult (12 and older) · Child (3 to 11 years) · Under 3: can't be included in the booking

Cancellation and refundsNo refund if you cancel.

Prices and times updated 6 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical levelStroller friendlyPets welcomePublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by San Francisco Tours & Activities

Is this one for you?This works well if you want to see Alcatraz without the stress of hunting for sold-out tickets and the city without planning each neighborhood separately: the assigned ferry time and all-day bus access mean you're not juggling logistics while you're trying to enjoy the day.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (3 to 11 years). Under 3: they can't be included in the booking.

How far in advance should I book?

Booking online in advance is strongly recommended to secure your Alcatraz spot, as tickets sell out regularly.

What time does the Alcatraz ferry leave?

Your specific departure time is assigned after you complete your booking and confirmed via email with your ticketing instructions.

How long do I spend on Alcatraz Island?

Plan for at least three hours total, which includes ferry travel, the 45-minute audio tour of the Cellhouse, and time to explore the rest of the island and its historic exhibits.

Can I use the hop-on hop-off bus whenever I want?

Yes, the bus runs all day and you can board and exit at any of its stops (Chinatown, Fisherman's Wharf, Lombard Street, Golden Gate Park, Haight-Ashbury, and others) as many times as you like.

Is the audio tour included?

Yes, the award-winning 45-minute audio tour of Alcatraz history and the Cellhouse is included in your package.

Can I bring a stroller or pram?

Yes, infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller. Infants must sit on an adult's lap during ferry rides.

Are service animals allowed?

Yes, service animals are permitted on both the ferry and the bus tour.

Do I need to be fit for this tour?

The tour is suitable for all physical fitness levels. The ferry ride is short, and you set your own pace on the island and the bus.