TourTruth score 9.0 out of 10
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San Francisco Prison Tour
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Rated on 1 provider · Why
- San Francisco
- 4 hrs 30 min
- Updated November 2, 2026
Explore Alcatraz with a self-guided app, then cruise past San Quentin State Prison on a live-guided ferry passage.
About this tour
Trace the past and present of California’s prison history on a journey linking Alcatraz Island and San Quentin State Prison. This 270-minute experience pairs time to explore Alcatraz at your own pace with a narrated ferry passage past San Quentin.
At Alcatraz, use the Pintours app to walk through the island’s cell blocks and hear stories about its notorious inmates. The Alcatraz ferry ride and ticket are included. After returning to the mainland, board a ferry for the passage north toward San Quentin, California’s oldest active prison. A live guide shares commentary as you cruise past its walls. The ferry tour does not enter the prison.
This San Francisco prison tour offers two distinct perspectives: the history of Alcatraz and a guided look at the modern correctional facility from the water. Food and drinks are not included. Book your San Francisco prison tour to experience both landmarks in one outing.
Highlights
- Explore Alcatraz’s cell blocks with a self-guided app
- Cruise past San Quentin State Prison with a live guide
- Connect the history of Alcatraz with modern prison life
What's included
Included
- Pintours app tour
- Alcatraz Island ferry ride and ticket (value of $47.95)
- San Quentin passage by ferry; does not go inside
- Live tour guide on the San Quentin passage
Not included
- Food and drinks
Ratings on each provider
The ratings and review counts each booking site shows for this tour.
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Important information
- Wheelchair accessible
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
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- Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
- All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Meet your guide at the designated meeting point; look for a sign with the tour name
How this score is calculated
This tour has no TourTruth score yet: Viator doesn't show a usable rating for it. It gets a score as soon as a provider lists one.
How the score works
- Each provider rating is turned into a percentile: the share of that provider's ratings it beats, weighted by review counts.
- Listings on different providers are combined in proportion to their review counts.
- Tours with few reviews are pulled toward the average until more reviews come in, so a handful of perfect reviews can't top the list.
- The result is shown from 0 to 10. Tours without a usable provider rating are not scored.
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