Visit the Gardens of Alcatraz

Getting to the Island

The island is open to visitors every day year-round except for Christmas and New Year’s Day. Although there is not an entrance fee, there is a charge for the ferry service, supplied by a private company under contract to the National Park Service. For additional information on schedules, prices, parking, and to purchase tickets in advance (tickets are made available about 90 days in advance) please visit the Alcatraz Cruises website. Alcatraz frequently sells out, as much as a week in advance, in summer and near holidays.

When to Visit

The best time to visit the gardens of Alcatraz is from January to September, and especially in the spring. The gardens are open for viewing, however, all year round. The weather can be unpredictable so be prepared for wind, cold, or rain. For more information on the island’s weather, click here.

Garden Tours

We offer docent-led tours of the island gardens twice a week on Friday and Sunday mornings at 9:30am, starting at the Alcatraz dock. The tours lead you through all the restored gardens, including those that are off limits to most visitors—Officers’ Row and the Rose Garden. If you are interested in scheduling a garden tour for your group, send an email to info@alcatrazgardens.org.

Download the Self-Guiding Brochure

The Garden of Alcatraz brochure (PDF) is available at a few locations on the island. It is also distributed to participants of the docent-led tours.

The gardens of Alcatraz are testaments to the human spirit, to the desire to create life and beauty even in a forbidding environment. Perhaps this above all is what makes them so inspiring—and so touching.”

Delphine Hirasuna, Gardens of Alcatraz