Starting May 23, City Cruises is running its Alcatraz and Angel Island combination tour out of Pier 33 on the Embarcadero. The tour hits both islands in a single trip — you board at the Ferry Building-adjacent terminal, cross to Alcatraz for the audio cellhouse tour, then continue to Angel Island State Park before returning. Departs multiple times daily; check citycruises.com for the full schedule. Adult tickets run around $59–$69 depending on the departure window; book in advance because the standard Alcatraz-only tours sell out weeks ahead, and this one is no different. Closest BART is Embarcadero station, four blocks away. No hard age minimum, but the cellhouse involves a lot of uneven pavement and stairs.

What makes the combo worthwhile over the standard Alcatraz run is the Angel Island leg. Most visitors skip it entirely, which means the island's Civil War-era batteries, the 360-degree bay views from the summit trail, and the immigration station are genuinely uncrowded. The combination format also means you're not doubling back through the same ferry lines — one loop, two stops. Bring layers; the wind on Angel Island cuts harder than it does on the Rock.

Practical note: the Pier 33 parking situation is a trap. Garage prices spike on weekends and the lots fill by 9am. Take BART or the F-Market streetcar to Embarcadero and walk the waterfront — it's fifteen minutes from the station and you'll skip the car-search spiral entirely.

With two hours, I'd do the full Alcatraz audio tour (budget 90 minutes if you move fast) and skip the exhibits on the return boat. You won't make Angel Island — that leg needs at least a half-day to be worth the crossing.