San Francisco: Alcatraz, Muir Woods & Sausalito Day Tour

Summary

Redwoods, island prison stories & Sausalito’s quiet charm in one day

You’ll cross the Golden Gate Bridge by van, walk under ancient redwoods in Muir Woods, grab lunch by Sausalito’s sunny waterfront, then take a ferry to Alcatraz Island for its award-winning audio tour. The day flows between silence among trees and gritty prison tales — leaving you with more questions than answers, honestly.

What’s the experience like?

I didn’t expect the air on Alcatraz to feel so sharp — maybe it was the wind off the bay or just knowing where I was. We’d started our day winding out of San Francisco in a black Mercedes van (I almost missed it because I was looking for a bus), crossing the Golden Gate Bridge while our guide pointed out fog rolling over the hills. Someone behind me gasped when we caught that first view of Alcatraz Island from Vista Point — honestly, I did too. It looked closer than I thought, like you could swim there if you were desperate enough.

Muir Woods hit different. The quiet is almost physical — all you hear are your own footsteps and maybe a bird or two if you listen hard enough. My shoes crunched on wet leaves and I remember touching one of those redwoods, just to see if it felt as ancient as it looked (it kind of does). Our guide told us some trees were older than most countries. That stuck with me. Lunch in Sausalito was more relaxed; sunlight bouncing off the water, people laughing over coffee at little tables along the boardwalk. I tried to order something with crab but ended up with clam chowder — not complaining though.

The ferry to Alcatraz left from Pier 33 later in the afternoon. There’s something weirdly calm about watching San Francisco get smaller behind you while everyone gets quiet for a minute. On the island, they hand you an audio guide (in like five languages) that plays real stories from ex-inmates and guards. Hearing cell doors slam shut on that recording made my skin prickle — way more intense than I’d pictured. You can stay as long as you want before catching any ferry back; I lingered until my phone battery nearly died taking photos of the city lights coming on across the water.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Visit Muir Woods, Sausalito, and Alcatraz

• Cross Golden Gate Bridge
• Stop at Sausalito Vista Point
• Walk in Muir Woods
• Explore Sausalito town and lunch
• Board ferry to Alcatraz at Pier 33
• Take audio tour on Alcatraz Island

Top questions

How long does the Alcatraz, Muir Woods & Sausalito tour take?

The full tour lasts most of a day, depending on your chosen departure time and how long you stay on Alcatraz Island before returning by ferry.

Does this tour include entry tickets for Alcatraz?

Yes, your admission ticket for Alcatraz and its audio tour are included in the price.

Is transportation included between all stops?

Transportation is provided by small-group Mercedes van between San Francisco, Muir Woods, and Sausalito; ferry tickets are included for Alcatraz.

Can I choose between day or night tours for Alcatraz?

Yes, there are options for both day and night tours of Alcatraz depending on your selected time slot.

Where does the tour start?

The 8:30am option departs from 488 Post Street; other options depart from Pier 33.

Is there free time in Sausalito?

You’ll have time to explore Sausalito at your own pace before heading to Alcatraz or back to San Francisco.

Are guides available throughout?

A local guide leads you through Muir Woods and Sausalito; on Alcatraz Island you use an audio guide narrated by former inmates and staff.

Is lunch included in this tour?

No set lunch is included but there’s free time in Sausalito to buy lunch at cafes or restaurants along the boardwalk.

What’s included

Your day includes small-group transport by Mercedes Sprinter van across the Golden Gate Bridge with a local guide sharing stories along the way, entry to Muir Woods for self-paced walks among redwoods, free time in Sausalito for lunch or exploring art galleries, round-trip ferry tickets to Alcatraz Island with admission plus an award-winning multilingual audio tour — all wrapped into one booking so you don’t have to worry about logistics after pickup.