Alcatraz after dark
The best Alcatraz night tours
The night ferry and audio tour, a night ticket with an app guide, with a bay cruise or with Muir Woods: here is how to pick, with honest advice on the closure, day or night, and which ticket is worth the money.
See our 6 picks
The best Alcatraz night tour for most people is the ferry and audio tour with the night option. But no night tours run while the island is closed, from 26 October to 18 November 2026. Book a night from 19 November on, and pick a tour with free cancellation.
Our 6 picks for Alcatraz at night
Four tours with free cancellation first, then two that are non-refundable. All need a date after the closure.
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from €85 per person Our top pick 3 hours 4.4 (1,221) reviews on GetYourGuide
Alcatraz, ferry and audio tour with a night option
The ferry from Pier 33, the official ticket and two audio tours. Choose the night visit when you book. About 3 hours. Free cancellation up to 24 hours ahead.
Best for Most night visitors
Check availability: Alcatraz, ferry and audio tour with a night option on GetYourGuide -
from €100 per person 3 hours 4.1 (181) reviews on GetYourGuide
Alcatraz night ticket with an app guide
The official night ticket and the ferry, with an app that unlocks stories and music. Meals are not included. About 3 hours. Free cancellation up to 24 hours ahead.
Best for Visitors who like an app with extra stories
Check availability: Alcatraz night ticket with an app guide on GetYourGuide -
from €77 per person 3 hours 4.4 (128) reviews on GetYourGuide
Inside Alcatraz with audio and a night option
The ferry, the ticket and an audio tour told by former inmates and guards. Add the night visit when you book. About 3 hours. Free cancellation up to 24 hours ahead.
Best for Budget night visitors
Check availability: Inside Alcatraz with audio and a night option on GetYourGuide -
from €210 per person 1 day 4.6 (38) reviews on GetYourGuide
Muir Woods, Sausalito and Alcatraz at night
A full day with a live guide: the redwoods, free time in Sausalito, then the Alcatraz night tour. The ferry from Sausalito costs extra. Free cancellation up to 5 days ahead.
Best for Visitors with one full day to fill
Check availability: Muir Woods, Sausalito and Alcatraz at night on GetYourGuide -
from €142 per person 4 hours 4.5 (108) reviews on GetYourGuide
Alcatraz night tour with a bay cruise
Non-refundable. A sunset ferry to the island, the night visit with an audio guide, and a one-hour bay cruise. About 4 hours.
Best for Sure-of-the-date visitors who want the cruise too
Check availability: Alcatraz night tour with a bay cruise on GetYourGuide -
from €159 per person 7 hours 4.0 (19) reviews on GetYourGuide
Muir Woods, Sausalito and Alcatraz night tour
Non-refundable. A 7-hour small-group day with a bridge photo stop, Sausalito, Muir Woods and Alcatraz at night. The Muir Woods entry fee of $15 is extra.
Best for Small-group fans with a fixed date
Check availability: Muir Woods, Sausalito and Alcatraz night tour on GetYourGuide
Alcatraz night tours compared
| Tour | From | Duration | Free cancellation | Who it suits | Why we picked it |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alcatraz, ferry and audio tour with a night option | €85 per person | 3 hours | Yes, 24 h | Most night visitors | The most-reviewed night option: 4.4 from 1,221 reviews. |
| Alcatraz night ticket with an app guide | €100 per person | 3 hours | Yes, 24 h | Visitors who like an app with extra stories | The night ticket with app stories, at 4.1 from 181 reviews. |
| Inside Alcatraz with audio and a night option | €77 per person | 3 hours | Yes, 24 h | Budget night visitors | The cheapest pick, from €77. |
| Muir Woods, Sausalito and Alcatraz at night | €210 per person | 1 day | Yes, up to 5 days before | Visitors with one full day to fill | The only full-day combo with free cancellation, at 4.6 from 38 reviews. |
| Alcatraz night tour with a bay cruise | €142 per person | 4 hours | No | Sure-of-the-date visitors who want the cruise too | 4.5 from 108 reviews, but there is no free cancellation. |
| Muir Woods, Sausalito and Alcatraz night tour | €159 per person | 7 hours | No | Small-group fans with a fixed date | Groups of up to 14, but a lower rating: 4.0 from 19 reviews. |
Alcatraz, ferry and audio tour with a night option
€85 per person3 hours 4.4 (1,221)
More details
- Free cancellation
- Yes, 24 h
- Who it suits
- Most night visitors
- Why we picked it
- The most-reviewed night option: 4.4 from 1,221 reviews.
Alcatraz night ticket with an app guide
€100 per person3 hours 4.1 (181)
More details
- Free cancellation
- Yes, 24 h
- Who it suits
- Visitors who like an app with extra stories
- Why we picked it
- The night ticket with app stories, at 4.1 from 181 reviews.
Inside Alcatraz with audio and a night option
€77 per person3 hours 4.4 (128)
More details
- Free cancellation
- Yes, 24 h
- Who it suits
- Budget night visitors
- Why we picked it
- The cheapest pick, from €77.
Muir Woods, Sausalito and Alcatraz at night
€210 per person1 day 4.6 (38)
More details
- Free cancellation
- Yes, up to 5 days before
- Who it suits
- Visitors with one full day to fill
- Why we picked it
- The only full-day combo with free cancellation, at 4.6 from 38 reviews.
Alcatraz night tour with a bay cruise
€142 per person4 hours 4.5 (108)
More details
- Free cancellation
- No
- Who it suits
- Sure-of-the-date visitors who want the cruise too
- Why we picked it
- 4.5 from 108 reviews, but there is no free cancellation.
Muir Woods, Sausalito and Alcatraz night tour
€159 per person7 hours 4.0 (19)
More details
- Free cancellation
- No
- Who it suits
- Small-group fans with a fixed date
- Why we picked it
- Groups of up to 14, but a lower rating: 4.0 from 19 reviews.
Group size is stated for one tour only: Muir Woods, Sausalito and Alcatraz night tour, up to 14. None of the 6 includes hotel pickup: you meet on site. Prices and ratings as shown on GetYourGuide on 22 October 2026. Prices are "from" prices in euros and can change; the booking page shows the live price.
Alcatraz day or night: which tour is better?
The night tour is better if you want the prison in the dark and a ride at dusk. The day tour is better if you want a lower price.
The official Night Tour costs $59.65 for an adult. The Day Tour costs $47.95. For day tickets and combos, see our guide on how to tour Alcatraz.
What Alcatraz at night is like
At night the cellhouse is quieter and darker. The ferry ride out often comes with the sunset and the city lights. It is a good time to hear the story of the Alcatraz escape of 1962.
How long the night tour takes and when it starts
The Alcatraz night tour takes about 3 hours, ferry included. With a bay cruise, plan on about 4 hours.
The night ferry leaves Pier 33 in the early evening. Two of our picks say you watch the sunset on the way out. Your exact start time is on your ticket.
Alcatraz evening tour tickets compared
The cheapest night ticket in our list starts from €77. A bay cruise combo starts from €142. The full-day tours with Muir Woods start from €159.
The Behind the Scenes Tour from the park includes the Night Tour and takes 4 to 5 hours. It costs $104.65 for an adult.
What the night visit adds
A night ticket gives you more than a later start time.
- A sunset ferry: two of our picks say you watch the sunset on the ferry out, with live narration.
- The prison after dark: you explore the old prison in the dark, at your own pace, with an audio guide.
- Talks: the 7-hour Muir Woods day includes docent-guided tours and talks on the island.
Tips for the Alcatraz night tour
No night tours until 19 November
The island is closed from 26 October to 18 November 2026. Ticket holders can get a refund, move the date or take the Bay Discovery Cruise on some dates.
Pick free cancellation
Four of our six picks let you cancel for free. The bay cruise combo and the 7-hour Muir Woods day do not.
Dress for a cold evening
Fog and gusty wind can come back fast. Bring a warm jacket for the ferry and the island.
Check the ferry back
One Muir Woods day does not include the ferry from Sausalito or the ride home from Fisherman's Wharf. Check what is included before you pay.
Alcatraz night tour: questions and answers
Is the Alcatraz night tour worth it?
How long does the Alcatraz night tour take?
What time does the Alcatraz night tour start?
More Alcatraz night tours, live
More options with live prices and availability, straight from GetYourGuide.
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More after dark
Facts checked on 23 October 2026 against: NPS: Alcatraz Island · NPS: fees and tickets · NPS: Alcatraz to close for dock repairs · NPS: weather · Alcatraz City Cruises: tickets.
Written by the Things to Do in San Francisco editorial team.