Alcatraz timing

[Markanddonna]

We arrive for a day in SF on Sunday, May 3 and want to go to Alcatraz as early as possible. We can disembark at 8 AM. When would you recommend the earliest "safe" time would be to book tickets? 9:10? 9:30? Thanks!

 

The pier to Alcatraz appears to be just a 5-10 minute walk from our pier.

[CruiserBruce]

9:30 should be fine. Get your tickets ASAP. They sell very fast.

[xlxo]

I've read somewhere that one should purchase tickets online weeks before the planned date to avoid sellouts. You might want to call ahead to get an idea if sellouts are expected, especially if you are going on a holiday long weekend.

[pseudoware]

Can't underscore enough the importance of buying as early in advance as possible.

 

I've often seen unfortunate tourists there who thought they could walk up day of and get tix. Be sure to include the cellhouse audio tour. Enjoy!

 

http://www.alcatrazcruises.com/

Edited February 25, 2015 by pseudoware

[sfken1977]

Just adding in - if you can't get a ticket online - then you likely can't get a ticket. They will try to sell you "alcatraz" tickets on the piers - but they are almost always just trips around alcatraz (which isn't a bad option).

[Glaciers]

This won't help the poster but when we were there a couple of years ago I was down by the waterfront taking photos and happened upon the ticket office. They were selling day-of tickets. They opened at 7am.

[PoohUnderstands]

Just did cruise out of SF. Did Alcatraz day before cruise. 9:30 should be just fine so you are not rushing etc. YES, definitely go online and pay and print out tickets for Alcatraz early. Very easy to do. Went on 3/20. At that time as of Friday at 8:45 a.m., they were selling tickets for Monday. So definitely do online line around 1 month out should be fine.

 

Pooh