Alcatraz & San Francisco Bay: The Perfect Day on the Water
The best of San Francisco happens on the bay — the notorious island prison of Alcatraz, a cruise beneath the Golden Gate Bridge, and the ferry hop to Sausalito. Here is how to spend one day out on the water, plus the top-rated Alcatraz tickets and bay cruises to book before you go.
At a glance
- 1Morning ferry to Alcatraz Island
- 2The Rock cellhouse audio tour
- 3Golden Gate bay cruise from Pier 39
- 4Ferry across to Sausalito
Morning: the ferry to Alcatraz
Start on The Rock. The only way onto Alcatraz Island is the official ferry from Pier 33, and tickets sell out days — often weeks — ahead in summer, so book in advance is not optional here. The award-winning cellhouse audio tour, narrated by former guards and inmates, runs about 45 minutes; allow two to three hours on the island in total, plus the short crossing each way.
Midday: a Golden Gate bay cruise
Back on the mainland, trade the island for open water on a sightseeing cruise from Pier 39 or Fisherman's Wharf. A 60- to 90-minute Golden Gate bay cruise sails right under the bridge, past Alcatraz and the city skyline, with fares from around $38. Sunset and catamaran sailings cost a little more but add the best light of the day over the headlands.
Afternoon: ferry across to Sausalito
Finish with the classic bay commute. The Sausalito ferry glides across the water in about 30 minutes and drops you in a Mediterranean-style waterfront town of galleries, houseboats and seafood decks. Many guided trips pair Sausalito with the Muir Woods redwoods and return by ferry, so you see the bridge from below and above in a single afternoon.
Book the experiences in this itinerary
Top-rated tours for exactly what this plan recommends in San Francisco — prices per person.
