Pier 33, Pier in San Francisco, US

Pier 33 is a simple waterfront pier in San Francisco that serves as the main terminal for ferries to Alcatraz Island. A row of ticket windows, a small souvenir shop, and the Alcatraz Landing Cafe sit near the water, while a broad paved walkway leads down toward the moored boats.

In 2006 Hornblower won the National Park Service concession for ferry service to Alcatraz Island, taking over from Blue & Gold Fleet. Operating as Alcatraz City Cruises, the company handles ticketing and transport for about 1.5 million visitors a year. In 2008 it introduced the Hornblower Hybrid here, the first hybrid ferry in the United States, running on solar power, wind power and low-emission diesel.

The pier's role as the sole boarding point for Alcatraz ferries means it fills each morning with lines of visitors carrying tickets and cameras, many aiming for the first boats of the day. Even without boarding, people pause at the railing to watch ferries pivot away from the dock and cross the gray water toward the island.

Walk along the Embarcadero to reach the pier, or use the F-line streetcar that stops a block away at Bay Street. Arrive early before your departure, leave extra time during busy months, and remember that only the official ferry operator sells tickets here.

Many visitors confuse this pier with nearby Pier 39, but boats to Alcatraz only leave from Pier 33, and all tickets are sold solely through the official ferry company. Because no other dock is authorized for the crossing, any ticket offered elsewhere in the city may be a fraud.