Getting to Pier 33 for the Alcatraz ferry
Pier 33 is easy to find and easy to be late for. It sits on the Embarcadero waterfront boulevard, and I walk groups there from North Beach and the Wharf in well under twenty minutes; from downtown, any transit or taxi that reaches the Embarcadero works. One thing the packages don’t include is transportation to the pier — you get yourself there. The exception is the $159 Muir Woods day trip, which meets at 488 Post St for the 8:30 and 9:45 departures, or at Pier 33 for the 9:10 and 10:35 ones — check your voucher.
The 30-minute arrival rule is not padding. Boarding closes before departure, the ferry leaves on time — Kenneth, one reviewer, noted the “ferries ran on time” — and a missed boat on a sold-out day can be the end of the visit, given how the ticketing works (see how to get tickets). Sayed, an Australian reviewer, gives the same advice I do: arrive early at the pier. Twenty to thirty minutes is enough; an hour is a waste of your morning.
The crossing itself takes about 15 minutes, with the skyline behind you the whole way, and once you land you can stay as long as you like — the day’s arithmetic is on how long it takes.
Frequently asked questions
Where do you catch the Alcatraz ferry?
Pier 33 “Alcatraz Landing” on the Embarcadero, a short walk from Fisherman’s Wharf. Alcatraz City Cruises runs every departure; no other pier and no other company lands passengers on the island.
How early should I get to Pier 33?
Thirty minutes before your printed departure — enough for check-in and boarding without an idle hour on the dock. Ferries leave on schedule and roughly every 30 minutes from 8:45am.
How long is the ferry ride to Alcatraz?
About 15 minutes each way. On the island, most visitors stay 2 to 3 hours and ride any return ferry they like — though the return queue grows on busy afternoons, as I explain in how long it takes. Dress for wind on deck: what to wear.