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Alcatraz Island, San Francisco

4.7

#1 of 6,307 in Nature in United States

Island National Park Must See

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Tour the infamous former maximum-security penitentiary on Alcatraz Island. Nicknamed The Rock, this small island in the San Francisco Bay is now a national park. After taking a ferry to the island, follow the audio guide, available in ten languages. You'll go through the inside of the old prison's facilities, which include a lighthouse, military fortifications, and cellblocks. Though long considered escape-proof, the prison suffered an irreparable blow to its reputation in 1962, when three inmates mysteriously disappeared using a makeshift raft. Explore the protected recreation area with a park ranger, who can enhance your visit with little-known information about the island's current inhabitants: the black-crested night herons and western gulls. Using our custom trip planner, San Francisco attractions like Alcatraz Island can form part of a personalized travel itinerary.

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Alcatraz Island Reviews

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51,986 reviews

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4.7

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4.8

48,694 likes

• By Abster6877

  Loved every second. Super informational, guided audio tour was great, the grounds were beautiful and we were so glad for the opportunity to visit.  more »

• By Alejandro V

  Como amante del arte y la arquitectura la ida a Alcatraz no me entusiasmaba mucho, pero debo reconocer que me sorprendió. No solo las historias de los presidiarios y las fugas famosas sino el conocer ...  more »

  As a lover of art and architecture the IDA to Alcatraz was not very enthusiastic, but I must admit that I was surprised. Not only the stories of the convicts and the famous escapes but the knowing the maenra of living, if you can llamarsele in a prison. Also the views of San Francisco are wonderful.
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• By Edwin Ramos

  Want to come back and experience it again. Visiting Alcatraz was not just to see what a prison looks like but also to somehow get that feeling/vibe how to live in a prison away from the normal world! It was very interesting to learn the history and some of the prisoners' life experiences!

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• By Michael Wiseman

  Very cool experience. Highly recommend checking this out. Very authentic, and preserved well. The audio tour is descriptive and interesting. I’d recommend pausing the tour and going down to the courtyard where the inmates spent time outdoors and seeing where the concrete steps are. Also recommend seeing “Escape From Alcatraz” with Clint Eastwood before attending.

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