San Francisco - Best place to purchase tickets to Alcatraz Island

We will be in San Francisco the 3rd week of July. We would like to take a tour of Alcatraz. Where is the best place to purchase tickets. I am looking online, but there seems to be different sites and different tours? Thanks for any suggestions. We were advised to purchase our tickets soon.

Barbara

There is only one official site: http://www.alcatrazcruises.com/website/buy-tickets.aspx

That's where I buy my tickets and I don't think there is any value booking anywhere else: once on the island, everyone gets the same tour, and there is only one ferry company authorized to land on the island.

If you are planning on going to Alcatraz in July I highly recommend you buy your tickets in advance from the official Alcatraz site. As mentioned in the other post there is only one boat company authorized to dock at Alcatraz.

Tickets can be booked up to 90 days in advance. In the summertime tickets can be sold out a week in advance.

Thanks, do you recommend purchasing the early boat?

Thanks, do you recommend purchasing the early boat?

That will probably be the calmest time out there in terms of wind (wind increases as the day goes on) and probably the least crowded. I've always gone mid-afternoon, though, and that has been fine. The capacity limits on the ferries keep it from getting too crowded. There are lots of people, but I never found it bothersome, like it can be at places like Disneyland.

Depending on time of year, the last cruise puts you there around sunset. The hospital tour that you can only sign up for while there is quite spooky when it's getting dark out. You also get introduced to the Bird Man of Alcatraz.

We will be in town from July 19th until July 24th. We have tickets for the Giants game on July 20th but could go any other day. Is any day of the week better then others?

Again, thanks for all the help.

Barbara

We will be in town from July 19th until July 24th. We have tickets for the Giants game on July 20th but could go any other day. Is any day of the week better then others?

Again, thanks for all the help.

Barbara

Not really -- even when it's at capacity, it doesn't result in much of a wait or hassle as you move around the island. I strongly agree with the others about getting your tickets in advance from the official source.

Decided to go to SF last minute. Alcatraz is sold out online. Does anyone know an alternative to the official site?
Thanks.

Decided to go to SF last minute. Alcatraz is sold out online. Does anyone know an alternative to the official site?

There are some "tour agencies" that buy bulk tickets and then sell them, either at a higher price, or as a part of a tour package. eg, http://www.alcatraztickets.com (although they have nothing available for the next week). You could also look at a bus tour that includes Alcatraz.

If you're looking more than 3 days in advance keep an eye on the official site as they can have cancellations. Within 3 days it's still possible, but they don't give a refund if you cancel within 3 days I wouldn't be surprised if most people don't bother canceling...

There's only one company allowed runs boats to the island, so there's no point looking at the other companies. Some do run "Alcatraz" trips, but they all involve simply sailing past the island and not actually landing there.

They also used to release a small number of same-day tickets some mornings, although I'm not sure if that still happens.

Thanks