Alcatraz & Angel Island Combination Tour

Can’t get enough island adventure? The Alcatraz & Angel Island Combination Tour is a full-day excursion that visits two historic islands in the Bay. 

This combo tour is a fantastic way to add nature and additional history to your Alcatraz trip. 

Two-in-One Experience

On this two-in-one adventure, in one day, you’ll visit Alcatraz Island and Angel Island. 

Angel Island is the largest natural island in San Francisco Bay and is often called the “Ellis Island of the West” – it was an immigration station from 1910–1940, processing hundreds of thousands of immigrants (primarily from Asia). 

It’s now a beautiful state park with hiking trails and panoramic vistas. 

On this combo, you get the contrast of exploring Alcatraz’s prison and Angel Island’s military and immigration history, plus lovely outdoor scenery. It’s a perfect mix of history and nature in one outing.

How The Tour Works

The combination tour is seasonal, usually running only in the spring and summer months. Typically, it operates daily from around late May through early September (Memorial Day to Labor Day). Additional departures are also available on Saturdays and Sundays in September.

When you book, you choose a specific departure time in the morning and you’ll be assigned to one of two groups: Green Group or Yellow Group. Both groups see both islands, just in a different order:

Green Group

The Green Group first visits Alcatraz and then Angel Island.

Yellow Group

The Yellow Group visits Angel Island first, then Alcatraz.

Yellow Group has the advantage of letting you decide whether to return on, say, the 3:50, 4:20, or even 4:50 PM boat from Alcatraz if you want extra time there.

Either way, both groups depart from and return to Pier 33 at similar times. The entire excursion takes about 5 to 5.5 hours, so plan for essentially a full day (morning to mid/late afternoon).

Activities Included in The Tour

Once you land on Alcatraz, you’ll step inside the main cellhouse and walk the prison corridors. A 45-minute award-winning audio guide, “Doing Time: The Alcatraz Cellhouse Tour,” is included, featuring firsthand stories from former inmates and guards. 

You’ll see places like the mess hall, the recreation yard, solitary confinement cells, and more. 

Park rangers are available on-site offering free interpretive talks and answering questions.

From the Alcatraz Island, you get panoramic views of the San Francisco Bay. Bring your camera – you’ll see the city skyline, Golden Gate Bridge, Bay Bridge, and Angel Island on clear days.

On Angel Island, you’ll enjoy a one-hour narrated tram tour around the island. The open-air tram will take you to key sites like the Immigration Station museum, Fort McDowell (a military fort), and scenic overlooks. 

You’ll learn about Angel Island’s role in immigration and military history, all while soaking in 360° views of the Bay (you can see San Francisco, Golden Gate Bridge, Bay Bridge, and even Mount Tamalpais on a clear day!). 

There’s also a bit of free time on Angel Island – often you’ll have a chance to stroll around Ayala Cove (where there’s a café and visitor center) before re-boarding the ferry. 

Schedule & Availability

Because this combo only runs in summer, tickets are limited and you must book early to stand any chance of getting the tickets.

The first combo tour’s departure is around 9:40 am and the second one is at 9.50 am. 

If you visit outside the summer months, the Alcatraz and then Angel Island combo tour won’t be offered as a regular option. However, you can still visit Angel Island and Alcatraz – just that you’d have to do two separate trips.

Ticket Prices

The Alcatraz & Angel Island Combo Tour costs roughly $91 for all visitors 12 years and above. Seniors tickets cost $88, and children 5-11 about $60. Remember, this price includes two island tours and all transportation, which is reasonable for a full-day outing.

Insider tip: If these combo tickets are sold out on the official site, you might find them via third-party tour companies – but they are often packaged with additional city tours (and at a markup).

Why Choose the Combo?

If you have the time and interest, this combo is super rewarding. You get to visit Alcatraz Island and enjoy the natural beauty of Angel Island in one go. 

It’s great for families (kids love the tram ride and the mix of activities) and for anyone who wants to maximize their sightseeing. 

It does require most of your day and some stamina (there’s a fair bit of walking on Alcatraz, and while the tram covers Angel Island, you’ll still be out and about for hours). 

But you’ll come away having experienced two very different chapters of Bay Area history.

The contrast is striking – the stark prison versus the grassy island with old military buildings and picnic sites. 

Also, Angel Island offers probably the best views of the Bay, so if you’re a photography enthusiast, it’s worth it.