Just a short journey from the San Francisco coastline is the famous rocky island of Alcatraz, which was the site of one of the world's most infamous jails for almost three decades until 1963. Even when you set eyes on the island from the shore, you are struck by its isolated setting. And the true menacing terror evoked by the very name is driven home when you visit and get to hear the stories of the dangerous criminals who were incarcerated here – among them Al Capone, George 'Machine Gun' Kelly and Alvin 'Creepy' Karpis.
To reach to the island, simply board a ferry run by Alcatraz Cruises, departing from Pier 33 at the Embarcadero. The journey takes just 15 minutes, and the return ticket price includes an audio tour of the cell house. When you arrive on the island you can choose to take a free tour led by a National Park volunteer or guide, or you can grab a brochure at the ferry landing and explore on your own.
Here you'll be able to find the site where the West Coast's first lighthouse was erected all the way back in 1854, before it was rebuilt in 1909. Take a tour through the cell blocks of the jail itself, where you will see how the inmates lived. Check out the walled exercise yard from which you can see just how close the prison is to the heart of San Francisco.
Alcatraz was in use as a jail for just 29 years, but in that time 36 inmates tried to escape. Six of them were killed, 23 were caught, and the remaining seven were believed to have drowned in the fierce, icy waters of the bay.
Back in 1962, three inmates tried to dig through the cell walls using basic implements such as spoons. They left dummies in their beds, and are believed to have tried to swim to the mainland, but their bodies were not found. A year later, the prison was shut down.
The last ferry back to the mainland departs from the Rock at 4:25 pm, so you can stay here as long as you like until then. This is a popular destination, so it's a good idea to book your ferry tickets ahead of your visit.
