Combo Tour: Alcatraz Island and San Francisco Grand City Tour
4
LIKELY TO SELL OUT*
Combo Tour: Alcatraz Island and San Francisco Grand City Tour
By Gray Line San Francisco
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About
Once a federal prison and now a national park, historic Alcatraz sits in the middle of the San Francisco Bay and is a must-see sight. Secure a hard-to-get ticket to the island for an audio-guided walking tour and visit other iconic San Francisco sights including the Golden Gate Bridge, Palace of Fine Arts, and Chinatown on this stress-free tour. All entrance fees are included.
from per adult
$160.00
Lowest price guarantee
Ages 0-99, max of 55 per group
Duration: 6h 30m
Start time: Check availability
Mobile ticket
Live guide: English
More
Highlights
- Prebook so you don't miss your chance to go to Alcatraz, which sells out fast
- Round-trip ferry ticket, admission, and audio tour of Alcatraz
- A stress-free package ideal for first-time visitors
- Visit iconic sights including the Golden Gate Bridge and Chinatown
- Alcatraz Admission Ticket (valued at $45.25 USD) including Ferry Ride & Cellhouse Audio Tour
- Narrated Bus Tour of San Francisco
- Transport by air-conditioned luxury motor-coach
- Transportation to Pier 33 Alcatraz Cruise Port after City Tour
- Plenty of stops with Photo opportunities
- Entry/Admission - Alcatraz Island
What's not included- Gratuities
- Any other services not specified
- Hotel Pick up or drop off
- Bus Transportation after the Alcatraz Tour is not included
- This package is a combination of two tours in one. On this city tour, enjoy some of the highlights of San Francisco. Hop aboard an air-conditioned coach and cruise along the city’s waterfront, taking in views of Alcatraz and the San Francisco Bay on your way to the Golden Gate Bridge. Spend the morning visiting the historic Palace of Fine Arts, a monumental structure from the 1915 World’s Fair; stop for pictures at the panoramic viewpoint on Twin Peaks; and explore neighborhoods including North Beach, Chinatown, the Presidio, and Fisherman’s Wharf. After your city tour, board a ferry bound for Alcatraz. Upon arrival, get a brief orientation on the maximum-security facility from a park ranger and pick up your self-guided audio tour. Listen to commentary from former staff and inmates as you explore the cellblocks. When your audio tour concludes, hop back on the ferry to Pier 33.
- Start:Multiple meeting point options.
- Option 1478 Post St, San Francisco, CA 94102, USAUnion Square Departure Location 478 Post St. Arrive by 8:25 AM to check-in Bus Departs at 8:40 AM Although there is no physical location, you'll find Encore Café situated right next door. For boarding the bus, simply head across the street to meet our representative and board the bus.
- Option 22805 Leavenworth St, San Francisco, CA 94133, USAGray Line Fisherman’s Wharf Departure Location 2805 Leavenworth St. Arrive by 8:45 AM to check-in Bus Departs at 9:00 AM Although there is no physical location, you'll easily spot Pomegranate Café directly across the street. Simply wait there, and our representative will meet you.
End:- Pier 33, San Francisco, CA 94133, USAPier 33 concludes the bus transportation portion of tour. Pier 33 Alcatraz landing is where the Alcatraz portion commences. Upon conclusion of Alcatraz, customers will need to make their own way back from whence they came.
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Stroller accessible
- Service animals allowed
- Near public transportation
- Infants must sit on laps
If you have questions about accessibility, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 2660SFODLX3- Alcatraz reservations are first come first serve, all reservations are finalized (5) days prior to your departure date. No refunds or changes allowed after this date.
- You must provide first and last names, along with ages of all passengers to confirm your reservation. If for any reason you do not provide this information within the window of time provided, your Alcatraz tour will be forfeited.
- Date changes are not permitted once confirmation is received
- The Alcatraz portion usually takes 2.5 hours to complete, with its audio tour consisting of approximately 45 minutes. You are advised to inquire on your arrival to the island as to what time the next guided tour will begin. There is no restriction on the amount of time you spend on the Island. The ferry boat service departs Alcatraz every 30 minutes and you can disembark at your own leisure
- Pier 33 is the last stop and ends the bus transport portion of tour. Customers will need to make their own way back to their desired destinations after Alcatraz.
- Most travelers can participate
- There are Stops with Photo opportunities at: Golden Gate Bridge, Palace of Fine Arts, Twin Peaks, Land’s End Ocean Beach (Sutro Baths) & Mission San Francisco de Asis (Mission district) .
- This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 55 travelers
- All sales are final and incur 100% cancellation penalties.
- If you have questions about this tour or need help making your booking, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 2660SFODLX3
Reserve your spot
Similar experiences
Itinerary
- Pass byUnion SquareVan Ness AvenueCow Hollow
- 1
- 2Pass byPresidio of San Francisco
- 3Pass byGolden Gate ParkHaight Street
- 4Pass byThe CastroEmbarcadero Farmer's MarketFinancial DistrictChinatownNorth Beach
- 5
- San Francisco, CA 94133, USAPier 33 concludes the bus transportation portion of tour. Pier 33 Alcatraz landing is where the Alcatraz portion commences. Upon conclusion of Alcatraz, customers will need to make their own way back from whence they came.
About the operator
Don’t take it from us – here’s what people have to say about this operator:
- helloeverybody690 contributionsBeautiful Napa/Sonoma tripReally fun and relaxed trip round beautiful Napa and Sonoma valley. Bus driver was very friendly and all the tour guides were helpful and entertaining. Would definitely recommend!Written September 9, 2024
- A2768OGdavidz0 contributionsGreat trip to beautiful Redwood forest near SF.Love Muir woods, And after that we wondered around Saucolito and took ferry back to SF (which is included in price). Our guide was wonderful and informative. Well worth the cost and half-day.Written September 8, 2024
- April H0 contributionsTake a day and explore wine country!Friendly and informative! Beautiful scenery with 3 different types of wineries. Nice variety! Comfortable Coach and informative driver/guide.Written September 7, 2024
- stem8790 contributionsMajestic RedwoodsVisited Muir Woods in August during a trip to Northern California. The redwoods were so impressive. It was crowded and we had to reserve our parking in advance but it was well worth it. Check out Alcatraz while you’re in the area.Written September 7, 2024
- Edward C0 contributionsLoved the Woods and Our GuideEverything was well coordinated. Of course the Muir Woods are exceptional. The best thing about Sausalito was no rush. Pick whatever ferry we wanted for return And lastly: Our driver and guide Charles was superb!😀Written September 6, 2024
- DodgerFan30 contributionsGo See the Redwoods!It really is something walking among the redwoods. Charles was a great driver/guide and we had a great time. Definitely worth it!Written September 6, 2024
- Voyage144060 contributionsA definite must see!!Muir Woods was awesome. A definite must see!! Saysalita was beautiful and fun. Took ferry back - wonderful tour!!! Our driver was A++++++. Very knowledgeable and entertaining!!Written September 6, 2024
- W2480OGjanetl0 contributionsNo showThey cancelled the tour the day before without any explanation, so I did not get to go. It was a disappointment as I had little opportunity to make other plansWritten September 5, 2024
- Vacation095885129510 contributionsLackluster and disappointing.The bus was very cramped with little space between seats. The driver was not well amplified and did not do the best job hosting. The first winery had delicious wines and the host was very engaging and lively it was a great time. Jacuzzi is beautiful but wines are so so the gentleman there took almost all our time with the tour and we didn’t get to enjoy the grounds and Madonna was disappointing. You are better off taking a smaller group tour, just pay the extra money so you have smaller group. Less waiting, less touring and more tasting. Disappointing.Written September 3, 2024
- Andrea600 contributionsWonderful way to spend the dayWe took this tour on a beautiful September day. Our family was picked up in Downton SF by our lovely tour guide and driver Judith. The mini bus was brand new and very comfortable. We drive over the Golden gate and pulled in to a rest area to take pictures. There were people selling fresh fruit there for $10 for a large cup of mixed fruit. It was delicious, highly recommend. We then continued to Muir Woods while Judith told us a little history about the places we were visiting. Muir Woods is beautiful and the 90 minutes we were there was more than enough time . After Muir Woods we were dropped off in Sausalito. We chose to take the ferry back to SF. Had a wonderful late lunch on the water at Spinnakers. Excellent DayWritten September 2, 2024
- Maggie H0 contributionsGreat experienceIt was a very fun experience. We took a lot of pictures of the beautiful park. The tour guide was very funny as well. Also, he brought us to the town and it was beautiful.Written September 1, 2024
- kroy20240 contributionsThe tour could have been betterThe tour took us to 3 vine yards with a break for lunch at Sonoma plaza after visiting 2 of the 3 vine yards. The first stop was at the Roche vine yard which was very nice and informative. We got to taste the Chardonnay white, Pinot Noir rose’ and the Merlot red. All of them were very good. The host was friendly and forthcoming. The stops at the other two vineyards were repetitive. We were tired and bored by the time we reached the last stop at B. C. Kohn vineyard. We had lunch at an Italian restaurant called Dela Sentini at Sonoma Plaza. The food was excellent, especially the Roctisserie chicken! Unfortunately the bus broke down on our return journey about 5 miles before the drop off point in San Francisco and we had to call for an Uber because the company did not make any alternate arrangement.Written September 1, 2024
- vabeachgirlinnj0 contributionsThis is a fabulous tour!This was a great tour. I had been to Muir Woods many years ago and wanted to share the experience with my husband. This tour was everything I was hoping for. First, there were only two pickups so in no time we were on our way. Great tour guide/driver was very informative without being cheesy. A great guy! After a quick stop to get photos of the Golden Gate Bridge we had a beautiful ride to the park. Muir Woods is just majestic and we had the perfect time to enjoy. We opted for the ferry return which was great in that you had more time in charming Sausalito and of course the ferry ride home offers stunning views. I also thought this was a great value. Price of park admission, ferry ride home and transport there was easily a third of the cost of this tour with zero hassles and great narration. A winner!Written August 31, 2024
- ajit w0 contributionsRoman was excellentRoman was extremely informative and was very entertaining. He had the trip extremely fun. He is an asset to the company.Written August 30, 2024
- sherrytE7150KI0 contributionsMuir Woods and ferry from SausalitoLovely and efficient tour to Muir Woods and Sausalito!! Ran in time and our driver was very informative along the trip. Great outingWritten August 30, 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinions of Tripadvisor members and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.0
156 reviews
Excellent
93
Very good
27
Average
15
Poor
6
Terrible
15
Mindy
Daphne, AL1 contribution
We booked this trip mainly for the Alcatraz tickets, but also was excited for our kids to go on a tour of San Francisco . My husband and I had visited San Fran a few years back and took a wonderful tour of the city with lots of interesting facts about the city. Here was our issues with this tour:
1. Our tour guide was very very kind and helpful however he was very difficult to understand. I would say we only understood a little over half of what he said.
2. The tour was mostly pointing out places along the way and did not give much background information on the sites. It really lacked any interesting information and I found myself falling asleep a few times on the bus. Overall, it was a boring few hours, except for a few stops where we could take pictures. By the end of the tour I was wishing we would have just skipped the tour of San Fran all together.
1. Our tour guide was very very kind and helpful however he was very difficult to understand. I would say we only understood a little over half of what he said.
2. The tour was mostly pointing out places along the way and did not give much background information on the sites. It really lacked any interesting information and I found myself falling asleep a few times on the bus. Overall, it was a boring few hours, except for a few stops where we could take pictures. By the end of the tour I was wishing we would have just skipped the tour of San Fran all together.
Written July 18, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hello Trail21150739327
Thank you for your feedback. We're sorry your tour was not as enjoyable as you expected. We strive to give all our customers top-quality experiences, and we regularly review the storytelling of our guides to make sure they meet the standards we want to achieve
We'd love to have the opportunity to know further about your experience, so we can learn from it and improve our product for the coming guests. Please call us at 415-850-8917.
Xavier
General Manager
Gray Line San Francisco
Written July 19, 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Mark R
Dublin, Ireland20 contributions
Sep 2022
We only had 3 x nights in San Francisco before heading off to Hawaii, so we didn't have much time and had to choose something that would help us see as much as possible without taking up all of our time.
We really only booked this trip so we could see Alcatraz and we really were in for a surprise.
Well, Wow, I'm not sure what I had expected but, this excursion was excellent and great value for money. Firstly, the weather was glorious so the multiple vantage points we were taken to helped us get fantastic photos.
The Golden gate bridge, the views were spectacular. Beside this iconic bridge over looking the whole bay was really impressive.
Twin peaks. The views, overlooking the city were incredible.
The coach stops multiple times at various locations allowing you to take in the spectacular views, use any restrooms available, stretch your legs.
The City tour gave us a great understanding of where places were in relation to our hotel location, Chinatown, Pier 39 (distance, walkable or taxi etc.).
Our tour guide, Joseph, was great and was brilliant help with directions and tips for how best to get around, cable cars, buses taxis etc.
Shout out to our driver, Lee, too.
Oh, and then we were dropped off at Pier 31/33 for the Alcatraz leg of this day out. We thought it was brilliant.
Honestly, if you are like us and had never been to San Francisco before, I cannot recommend this excursion enough.
Thanks a million for making our trip to SF so incredibly memorable.
Cheers,
Mark, from Ireland.
We really only booked this trip so we could see Alcatraz and we really were in for a surprise.
Well, Wow, I'm not sure what I had expected but, this excursion was excellent and great value for money. Firstly, the weather was glorious so the multiple vantage points we were taken to helped us get fantastic photos.
The Golden gate bridge, the views were spectacular. Beside this iconic bridge over looking the whole bay was really impressive.
Twin peaks. The views, overlooking the city were incredible.
The coach stops multiple times at various locations allowing you to take in the spectacular views, use any restrooms available, stretch your legs.
The City tour gave us a great understanding of where places were in relation to our hotel location, Chinatown, Pier 39 (distance, walkable or taxi etc.).
Our tour guide, Joseph, was great and was brilliant help with directions and tips for how best to get around, cable cars, buses taxis etc.
Shout out to our driver, Lee, too.
Oh, and then we were dropped off at Pier 31/33 for the Alcatraz leg of this day out. We thought it was brilliant.
Honestly, if you are like us and had never been to San Francisco before, I cannot recommend this excursion enough.
Thanks a million for making our trip to SF so incredibly memorable.
Cheers,
Mark, from Ireland.
Written September 23, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dear MarkrG,
It was great to hear that you enjoyed San Francisco City Tour. We really appreciate your detailed review and the fact that you had a great time with us.
Your review made our day! Our whole team works very hard to keep our customers happy, but we can only do it thanks to amazing customers like you.
We hope to serve you again soon.
Written September 23, 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Rhiannon
Edmonton, Canada19 contributions
Nov 2022 • Couples
This is a great tour to take when you are in the city for a short period, our guide was very knowledgeable. People on the tour mentioned they used to live in the city and were amazed with the facts that she discussed and the places we visited. Pick up is easy and organized, this was definitely a highlight of our vacation.
Written November 16, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dear Rrose,
We are so happy to hear that you enjoyed our San Francisco City Tour and it was the highlight of your vacation.
Thank you for sharing your experience with us. We really appreciate it.
We hope to serve you again soon.
Written November 17, 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Paul and Ashley S
1 contribution
Apr 2023 • Couples
The San Francisco City Tour & Alcatraz was an amazing experience and really showed a lot of the city! Our tour guide, Michelle, did a great job giving the history about each stop, and the information was so interesting. Booking our Alcatraz tickets along with the city tour was so seamless and made it very easy to get the Alcatraz tickets. I highly recommend booking this tour!
I will say Gray Line offers a lot of different tours, and different sites listed different departure times, so it was a little confusing. I just emailed their customers service, and they were very responsive and helpful in confirming the details and assuring me that we had the right tour.
I will say Gray Line offers a lot of different tours, and different sites listed different departure times, so it was a little confusing. I just emailed their customers service, and they were very responsive and helpful in confirming the details and assuring me that we had the right tour.
Written April 17, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dear Paula,
Your review made us feel so happy to see that you enjoyed our San Francisco Grand City Tour & Alcatraz.
Thank you for the kind words about our tour guide, Michelle. Our team works really hard to give our customers the best experience.
We are glad that our customer service could clarify all your doubts and that everything went well.
We hope to welcome you back again soon!
Written April 18, 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Peter M
1 contribution
The city tour in the morning was very good, however, when we were dropped off for the Alcatraz ferry, our host told us to be at the pier 1.30pm prompt for a 2pm ferry crossing to the island.
On arrival at the ferry reception we showed our tickets, but were told that our tickets were for the 1.35pm ferry and we were too late to board.
This was hugely disappointing as visiting Alcatraz was to be the highlight of our trip to San Francisco.
On arrival at the ferry reception we showed our tickets, but were told that our tickets were for the 1.35pm ferry and we were too late to board.
This was hugely disappointing as visiting Alcatraz was to be the highlight of our trip to San Francisco.
Written November 10, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dear Peter,
We are so sorry about for the misunderstanting as
Alcatraz changed their schedule for the low season.
Our customer service is getting in contact with you.
Sincerely,
Gray Line.
Written November 10, 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Celine
Calgary, Canada46 contributions
Amazing city bus tour with Alcatraz to finish it off!! The tour is on a chartered bus - Lee was our driver and did amazing. The tour was very informative with history, recommendation and recent changes. They gave strict 15 minutes stops and multiple destinations.
The tour took us from 8:30am and we returned from Alcatraz on our own around 5pm. It was a full day but well worth it! The only major downfall was the Golden Gate Bridge was pretty fogged in so not much of a view (I understand fog is VERY common in SF).
I would highly recommend taking this tour if you want to see all the prime spots of SF with out renting a vehicle.
The tour took us from 8:30am and we returned from Alcatraz on our own around 5pm. It was a full day but well worth it! The only major downfall was the Golden Gate Bridge was pretty fogged in so not much of a view (I understand fog is VERY common in SF).
I would highly recommend taking this tour if you want to see all the prime spots of SF with out renting a vehicle.
Written July 1, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi Celine!
Thanks for the kind and detailed feedback! And yes, it is quite common for the fog to shows up, especially during the summer months.
Fun Fact: Fog is so common here in San Francisco that it even has a name and an Instagram account: Karl the Fog :)
Thank you for trusting our service and we hope to see you again!
Isabela Vieira,
Sales and Marketing Coordinator
Gray Line of San Francisco
Written July 11, 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
William B
8 contributions
Aug 2023 • Couples
Two parts to the package: bus tour and alcatraz.
The bus tour starts around 8:30 or 9am and takes you to: Palace of Fine Arts, Golden Gate Bridge, Lands End and Twin Peaks. I think the first 2 stops are the best part of that tour, the rest was just riding around in fog and traffic so there wasn't really anything to see. They drop you off at around noon near the Alcatraz ferry.
We had tried to book Alcatraz tickets directly but they were sold out so bought this combo package instead and and it worked out. I was worried about tickets not being unavailable, but I guess they the company has a pre-allotted amount for the combo package. The alcatraz portion starts at 2:15, so you get about an hour or so to take a break and get a bite.
Alcatraz was really fun. A little crowded at times, but you'll get your turn at everything with a little patience. You should plan for 2.5 - 3hrs end to end time.
The bus tour starts around 8:30 or 9am and takes you to: Palace of Fine Arts, Golden Gate Bridge, Lands End and Twin Peaks. I think the first 2 stops are the best part of that tour, the rest was just riding around in fog and traffic so there wasn't really anything to see. They drop you off at around noon near the Alcatraz ferry.
We had tried to book Alcatraz tickets directly but they were sold out so bought this combo package instead and and it worked out. I was worried about tickets not being unavailable, but I guess they the company has a pre-allotted amount for the combo package. The alcatraz portion starts at 2:15, so you get about an hour or so to take a break and get a bite.
Alcatraz was really fun. A little crowded at times, but you'll get your turn at everything with a little patience. You should plan for 2.5 - 3hrs end to end time.
Written August 12, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi wbish8,
Thank you for sharing your detailed 5-star review with us. It's great to hear that the bus tour provided some wonderful stops, with the Palace of Fine Arts and Golden Gate Bridge being the highlights. Your insight about the later parts of the tour is appreciated.
We're glad the combo package worked out for you, allowing you to secure Alcatraz tickets when they were otherwise sold out. It's excellent that you had a good time exploring Alcatraz, even though it could get a bit crowded at times. Your tip about planning 2.5 - 3 hours for the Alcatraz visit is valuable for future travelers. We hope you had a memorable time overall and hope to have the chance to serve you again in the future.
Written August 13, 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Avelina S
2 contributions
Aug 2021 • Couples
Our tour guide was so nice and knowledgeable. He took us to parts of San Francisco that we never knew existed. The whole bus tour was relaxing and we had plenty of time to take pictures and ask questions. Our guide even helped us figure out the cable car and street car system. Definitely a must do for everyone whether this was your first time in SF or you travel here often. The Alcatraz tour was great as well. It was a bit crowded on the island but the system they have at the ferry dock for getting tickets and boarding is efficient. The only annoying part of the Alcatraz tour was other tourists not really understanding how the self guided audio tour works- it created a lot of bottle necking but that has nothing to do with the park or employees. The whole experience was amazing and we now have new places we want to explore the next time we’re in town.
Written August 21, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dear Avelina S,
I truly appreciate you took the time to write such a lovely review.
I am delighted to learn you were able to discover new parts of San Francisco and you could relax and enjoy your day with us.
I hope you were able to take wonderful photos to capture beautiful memories during our tour.
We hope to welcome you back soon for another excellent experience.
Best regards,
Manager at Gray Line of San Francisco
Written August 29, 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Jen L
Floyds Knobs, IN20 contributions
This was a great tour and a great way to see a lot of city highlights in half of a day. You don’t get to spend a ton of time at any one place, but it’s mostly enough for some great photo-ops. We especially loved the Lands End portion and wish we could’ve had a little more time to actually walk down by the water. Our tour guide was very knowledgeable, and the driver was a champ!
I’ll share my only “complaints/FYIs”: if you’re doing the combination tour with Alcatraz, there’s really not enough time in between the tour and the boat leaving to get anything to eat. That was a little disappointing since it was definitely a long day. However, there was some food and beverages available on the boat, so it ended up being okay. I didn’t see that in other people’s reviews, which is why I wanted to mention it. Also, the boat ride and dock area required masks, which we didn’t know. Nobody seemed to really enforce it on the way back, though, which made the whole thing seem kind of pointless—especially being outside. You could buy masks at the ticket window if you didn’t have one of your own.
I’ll share my only “complaints/FYIs”: if you’re doing the combination tour with Alcatraz, there’s really not enough time in between the tour and the boat leaving to get anything to eat. That was a little disappointing since it was definitely a long day. However, there was some food and beverages available on the boat, so it ended up being okay. I didn’t see that in other people’s reviews, which is why I wanted to mention it. Also, the boat ride and dock area required masks, which we didn’t know. Nobody seemed to really enforce it on the way back, though, which made the whole thing seem kind of pointless—especially being outside. You could buy masks at the ticket window if you didn’t have one of your own.
Written June 10, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hello, 67jenl! Thank you so mush for taking the time to write your review on our tour. We will take your comments into account so that we can improve our customers' experiences. We hope to see you again soon!!
Isabela V., Gray Line of San Francisco
Written June 15, 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Melanie T
12 contributions
Jun 2023 • Couples
Our tour did not have a separate tour guide as scheduled. Our driver, who had never done the tour guide part, had to do it on the fly. He didn’t really know all the sights. He did apologize as he knew he was missing things. We also had shorter stops at the locations and put us at the wharf very early.
Written June 30, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi melanietA5250KF,
Thank you for sharing your review with us. We apologize for the unexpected change in your tour experience and the inconvenience caused by not having a separate tour guide as scheduled. We appreciate your understanding of the situation and the driver's efforts to provide commentary on the fly. We will address these issues to ensure a smoother and more fulfilling tour experience in the future. Thank you for bringing this to our attention. Come back soon and let us serve you again.
Written July 5, 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
I'm just about to reserve three tickets for Alcatraz and the Grand City Tour. We're not going until March 23. It says first come, first served. We won't know we have the tickets until 11 days prior to going. Have looked at other sites and tickets have sold out! Just worried we won't get to see Alcatraz. Am I worrying for nothing?
Written July 12, 2022
Apologies for the delayed response.
I don't imagine you'll have any problem being able to go tour Alcatraz. Although there were long queues to get tickets and board the ferry, they moved quickly. They are quite strict about reserved times however. For example, we arrived early and had advanced purchase tickets for a 2:00PM ferry to the Island. Even though there was room on the 1:00PM ferry, we could NOT use our 2:00PM tickets for that 1:00PM ferry.
Seemed very odd to us, but they were intractable.
What seemed to me might work best, is to simply buy tickets the day you want to go at the tour ferry point itself down at the wharf. If a given time is sold out, there will almost certainly be one a few hours later with availability.
Good luck
Written December 13, 2022
Since the tour is hop-on, hop-off, is it possible to hop off in Sausalito for lunch then hop on another bus to come back to city and Pier 39?
Written April 19, 2022
Is Alcatraz open in 2021? Want to book this combo tour but don’t see any reviews on 2021
Written March 6, 2021
I will not be able to begin the tour until about 3:30pm, is this ok or is there set time to catch ferry?
Written February 18, 2020
Yes, it’s where you transfer to Alcatraz Ferry
Written February 20, 2020
Under “Additional Info” it says “a current valid passport is required on the day of travel”. Do they actually require a passport? I don’t have one and don’t want to purchase tickets since there are no refunds.
Written December 28, 2019
All they ask is that you have photographic ID, like a passport but a driving licence or any photographic ID will do, my partner didnt have but because she was travelling with me and I had my driving license they let her on the boat, hope thats helped.
Written December 28, 2019
Hello
I`ve booked the SF Combo tour on November 20th, i`m arriving by bus from L.A that very morning about 7PM. So i won`t be able to get my tickets the day before. How do i pick up my tickets for the tour?
Best regards
Anders
Written October 7, 2019
You collect bus tickets from the office in the morning and are dropped off at fishermans wharf to get lunch and then depending on your alcatraz time for sailing you get the boat to alcatraz for a great trip.
Written October 14, 2019
Passenger60477764598
Longueuil, Canada
Quel sont les différentes heures que nous pouvons visiter Alcatraz, nous aimerions revenir au coucher du soleil
Written September 5, 2019
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*Likely to sell out: Based on Viator’s booking data and information from the provider from the past 30 days, it seems likely this experience will sell out through Viator, a Tripadvisor company.
