Book Alcatraz as early as you can, since the National Park Service says tickets can sell out several weeks ahead in summer and around holiday weekends.
The rest of a first visit is easier: pay for Muni with Clipper or MuniMobile, bring layers, and leave nothing in the car.
Checked against NPS, the Golden Gate Bridge District, SFMTA and the city on 27 October 2026.
Before You Go
- Book aheadAlcatrazThe National Park Service says advance tickets can be bought from Alcatraz City Cruises, online or by phone at (415) 981-7625, and calls advance sales strongly recommended. The ferry ticket includes the cellhouse audio tour. Ferry schedules change by season. Read our answer on Alcatraz with young kids and the Alcatraz history.
- Pick a passMuni and cable carsA cable car ride is $9 with no transfers. A 1-day visitor passport is $15. Details on Getting Around San Francisco.
- PackLayersNOAA’s downtown normals put average highs between 57.8 and 70.2 degrees all year. See When to Go.
- PlanWhere to stayOur neighborhood comparison weighs Union Square, Fisherman’s Wharf, the Marina, SoMa and the Mission.
Hours That Change by Season
| Season | Dates | Pedestrian hours |
|---|---|---|
| Pacific Daylight Time | Early March to early November | 5:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. |
| Pacific Standard Time | Early November to early March | 5:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. |
The bridge district adds that the east sidewalk closes an hour early on some weeknights during construction, and that tolls are collected in one direction only, southbound into San Francisco, all electronically. Cyclists have toll-free sidewalk access around the clock, with a 15 mph limit on the sidewalks.
Fort Point is open Thursday through Monday, 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. according to the National Park Service, with roof access closing at 4:30 p.m., and closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day. The exterior can be reached seven days a week. Lands End is the wild, windy coastal trail at the northwestern corner of the city; wheelchair-accessible trails start at the Merrie Way parking lot, and the park service asks you to stay on trails and away from cliff edges.
Where Next
What We Could Not Confirm
- Alcatraz prices are not listed here because we did not read a price on the NPS pages. The NPS pages we read did not use the word official for the ticket seller, so check nps.gov for the current seller.
- The Fort Point hours page shows an update date of June 24, 2025. Call or check NPS before you go.
- The Lands End trail length and Lookout hours were not on the pages we read.
Sources
- NPS, Alcatraz basic information: https://www.nps.gov/alca/planyourvisit/basicinfo.htm (read 27 October 2026)
- NPS, Alcatraz FAQs: https://www.nps.gov/alca/faqs.htm (read 27 October 2026)
- Golden Gate Bridge, Bikes and pedestrians: https://www.goldengate.org/bridge/visiting-the-bridge/bikes-pedestrians/ (read 27 October 2026)
- Golden Gate Bridge, Tolls and payment: https://www.goldengate.org/bridge/tolls-payment/ (read 27 October 2026)
- NPS, Fort Point hours: https://www.nps.gov/fopo/planyourvisit/hours.htm (read 27 October 2026)
- NPS, Lands End: https://www.nps.gov/goga/planyourvisit/landsend.htm (read 27 October 2026)
- SFMTA, Muni fares: https://www.sfmta.com/getting-around/muni/fares (read 27 October 2026)