The inside local's take
Book the official Alcatraz City Cruises ferry weeks in advance — tickets sell out, especially the atmospheric night tour with a smaller crowd and dramatic lighting.
The 45-minute cellhouse audio tour, narrated by former guards and inmates, is widely rated one of the best museum audio experiences in the world.
Wear sturdy shoes: the walk from the dock up to the cellhouse is steep, and the wind off the bay is relentless year-round.
More landmarks
See all →
Golden Gate Bridge
The 1.7-mile International Orange span opened in 1937 and still steals every San Francisco skyline. Walk it from Battery East for the classic view.
Painted Ladies of Alamo Square
The famous row of pastel Victorians on Steiner Street, with the downtown skyline framed perfectly behind them from the park's east lawn.
Coit Tower on Telegraph Hill
A 210-foot Art Deco fluted column crowning Telegraph Hill. Ride the elevator up for a 360° panorama and admire the Depression-era WPA murals inside.