Just heard that tickets to Alcatraz are completely sold out during our stay in San Francisco.

Any suggestions for an alternate "touristy" 1/2 day excursion? Already doing a city tour. Any chance of getting tickets if we just show up and stand in line?

Also, the hotel concierge was supposed to have booked this for us, but neglected to. Do we have any recourse?

You mean other jails? San Quentin.

I saw tickets being sold on the Fishermens Wharf as a package with other city tours, so you can still get on.

You might consider another cruise out on the bay - either to Angel Island, maybe one that does a circuit - goes under the GG bridge, past Alcatraz, etc. You could take the ferry over to Sausalito.

We ran into same problem with ticket availability so altered our plans and bought a full day city tour that included Alcatraz - that was the only way we could get onto island.

Chinatown night tour is interesting and included a dinner and a fortune cookie fresh from the factory.
How about a wine tasting tour of the Napa or Sonoma Valley - lots of fun!
A trolley tour of the city is unique for SF. On Fisherman's Wharf, we got two tickets on a regular fishing boat for a tour of the Bay. We sat of a couch on the front of the boat, right in front of the captain, and he told us what we were seeing right thru the window while he was steering. It was great fun and quite an adventure. We went under the Golden Gate Bridge and then turned around and went back.
Whatever you do, have a great time in that exciting city!

This tour has been selling OUT for years. And there will be "tickets" available, maybe from "private" people selling them. I would have sold mine for twice what I paid for them probably. So bottom line, nope won't be available if you get in line unless you want to involve yourself in the above???

Only way to get on the tour- which is excellent will be to buy a combo, so I would look for one now and purchase it if this is a priority. Otherwise San Francisco has plenty to keep you busy.

Try here :

http://www.craigslist.com/tix/

Check here regularly for tix being sold. This site has no fees and people post at any time of day/night, so again - check frequently.

JCorrea's idea of a ferry to Angel Island or Sausalito would be my choice if you can't get the tour you want to Alcatraz.

Sausalito is charming and the views from there to San Francisco are great.