Is it better to do the ALCATRAZ EVENING TOUR $23.50, or ALCATRAZ DAY TOUR $16.50 and why??

Whichever tour you do, make sure you rent the headphones (or maybe if it is a tour it comes with it)...we didn't get the headphones and I really regretted it.

I have not done the evening tour. IMHO, it would be better to make a first visit during the day, to better see the place and enjoy the views on the ride over. Next time, I plan to try the evening tour, to check out the city lights--assuming the fog's not in!--and spookier atmosphere of the prison buildings. Whichever you choose, enjoy your visit!

There's so much to do in SF that I would recommend the day tour as part of a visit to the pier... that way you can see everything else around your ferry time and still have the evening free for a great dinner and more fun...

I have not done the tour, but have heard many recommend the night tour. For a great view of the city lights, that would do it for me. However, the night tour is supposed to be a little more "atmospheric", FWIW.

We did the night tour and while I agree it was 'atmospheric', ok it rained! I wish we'd done the day tour.

The day had beautiful weather and I would have liked to have taken a picnic and enjoyed the grounds.

On the day tour you are not time constrained, on the night tours you are.

If you decide to do the night tour - take a sweater also, do rent the headsets, there were so many people walking around with no clue as to what they were looking at - they missed out on so much.

Either one is great - but take a jacket it can get really cold out there.

I went on an afternoon tour a couple of months ago. Besides the cell block tour, which takes a fair amount of time, especially if you rent the headphones (highly recommended!), there are a lot of interesting exhibits tracing the history and culture of Alcatraz in the old fort area near the dock. I always like to read every placard and look carefully at every exhibit (which drives my family crazy) - I was by myself this time, and able to take my time. I spent a long time on the island, seeing everything there was to see (and spending time in the bookstore and watching the orientation movie). As atmospheric as the evening tour is, I'm sure I would have felt rushed and therefore frustrated. This may not be an issue for you, but if you like to take your time like I do, this is something you might want to consider.

I agree, if it's the first time you are seeing Alcatraz, go for the day tour, and DEFINITELY get the headsets. You will have incredible views of San Francisco, the East Bay, Sausalito, etc.

DO bring a jacket, sweater, it will be cold regardless of when you go, and definitely windy.

Something they don't tell you....you book a time to GO to Alcatraz, the tour is a self tour with the headsets, so you can go at your own pace. You can take ANY boat back to SF. (They leave every half hour) There are several picnic benches near where the boat docks, with a great view, so bring a sandwich/picnic, and enjoy your time on "the Rock" before heading back to the City.

Also....check out the history channel, the discovery channel, etc. as they almost always have something on about the history of Alcatraz. Kind of fun to see before you actually take the tour.

Have fun!!!
Andiamo