What to do in Palo Alto, CA

Activities, attractions and tours

Palo Alto
Palo Alto
Aerial view of commercial and residential areas of Palo Alto, California toward Mountain View along El Camino Real near Page Mill Road
Palo Alto City Limit road sign on Skyline Boulevard
F688EF PALO ALTO, USA - OCT 22 2014

Palo Alto Attractions

Let Expedia help you experience the best that Palo Alto has to offer! If you’re looking for fun itinerary ideas, we can provide you with a list of the top sightseeing attractions, as well as helping you to find unmissable activities. Whether you’re travelling with your family, planning a romantic trip with your loved one, or visiting on business, we’ll make it easy to plan an unforgettable holiday that checks all the boxes.

Activities and Tours

Palo Alto is crammed with must-see places to visit and things to do. We can help you decide where to stay, and make it a breeze to explore the surrounding areas with our guides on where to go, what to see and when to see it. No matter how long your stay, it’s easy to find places of interest in Palo Alto to make sure that you enjoy your experience to the fullest and don’t miss a thing. Leave the local knowledge to us and leave the hassle behind.

If you’re planning a visit, why not check out our handy guides to places of interest in the area? You can browse lists of things to do, learn about the most popular attractions, and get help with planning the details of your trip. Expedia makes it easy for you to check out all the top sights.

Palo Alto Attractions

Expedia has something for everyone, so whether you’re planning to get active on a summer holiday, put a spring in your step with a romantic rendezvous, or pamper yourself with a leisurely winter trip, you’ll find plenty of attractions to keep you entertained. In addition to scheduling local tours, booking reservations and scoring advance event tickets, Expedia makes it easy to book your flight, hotel and rental car in advance, all on one consolidated travel itinerary, making for hassle-free travel and freeing you up to explore the sights of Palo Alto.

Looking for things to do can be time consuming, but we can take the hassle out of planning your holiday. Whether you’re looking to get active in the great outdoors, sample the cuisine or catch up with the vibrant local culture, our guides to Palo Alto attractions ensure that you’ll have a successful trip, whatever the season.

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What to do in Palo Alto

Discover the most popular places to visit in Palo Alto

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Stanford University

Enjoy the collegiate vibe around Stanford University, a top university in Palo Alto. Attend a sporting event or simply enjoy the top-notch restaurants while you're in the area.

Stanford University
Stanford University Medical Center

Stanford University Medical Center

Though Stanford University Medical Center might be what brings you to town, perhaps you'll have a chance to explore more of Palo Alto while you are here.

Stanford University Medical Center
girl holding shopping bags on sunny day outdoors

Stanford Shopping Center

You can enjoy retail therapy at Stanford Shopping Center during your trip to Palo Alto. Attend a sporting event or simply enjoy the top-notch restaurants while you're in the area.

Stanford Shopping Center
A flock of Willet birds

Baylands Nature Preserve

Enjoy the mountain views and explore Baylands Nature Preserve, a lovely green space in Palo Alto. Attend a sporting event or simply enjoy the top-notch restaurants while you're in the area.

Baylands Nature Preserve
Hoover Tower overlooking a Stanford University courtyard with its sandstone archways and Spanish style architecture

Hoover Tower

Find out about the history of Palo Alto with a stop at Hoover Tower. Attend a sporting event or simply enjoy the top-notch restaurants while you're in the area.

Hoover Tower
Nothing but green grass and blue skies at this Palo Alto Preserve. Parking lot full? There is some street parking towards Page Mill. #Parks

Pearson-Arastradero Preserve

Enjoy the mountain views and explore Pearson-Arastradero Preserve, a lovely green space in Palo Alto. Attend a sporting event or simply enjoy the top-notch restaurants while you're in the area.

Pearson-Arastradero Preserve
Le Penseur dans le jardin du Musée Rodin, Paris.

Rodin Sculpture Garden

Enjoy the mountain views and explore Rodin Sculpture Garden, a lovely green space in Palo Alto. Attend a sporting event or simply enjoy the top-notch restaurants while you're in the area.

Rodin Sculpture Garden

Stanford Stadium

Catch an event at Stanford Stadium during your trip to Palo Alto. Attend a sporting event or simply enjoy the top-notch restaurants while you're in the area.

Stanford Stadium

Lucile Salter Packard Children's Hospital at Stanford

Though Lucile Salter Packard Children's Hospital at Stanford might be what brings you to town, perhaps you'll have a chance to explore more of Palo Alto while you are here.

Lucile Salter Packard Children's Hospital at Stanford

Explore areas of Palo Alto

Stanford Dish - Stanford Dish Trail...

Stanford

You'll enjoy the churches and monuments in Stanford. You might want to make time for a stop at Stanford Stadium or Stanford Shopping Center.

Stanford
A boardwalk at Baylands Nature Preserve. Palo Alto, Santa Clara County, California, USA

East Palo Alto

Situated near the Baylands Nature Preserve, East Palo Alto offers access to a scenic marshland trail and is close to the Ravenswood 101 shopping center. Convenient transportation options include U.S. Route 101 and SamTrans.

East Palo Alto
Aerial view of towards Stanford campus and Hoover tower, Palo Alto and Silicon Valley from the Stanford dish hills, California, USA

Barron Park

4.5/5(2 area reviews)

Though Barron Park might not have many top sights, you can venture to the surrounding area to see attractions like San Antonio Shopping Center and San Andreas Fault Trail.

Barron Park
2024-01-16 BRICK BUILDING WTH ARCHES AND SQUARE WINDOWS ALONG A TILED WALKWAY WITH A GREEN PARK LIKE SCENE AT THE END OF THE WALKWAY IN PALO ALTO CALIFORNIA

Old Palo Alto

Old Palo Alto might not have many top sights, but Palo Alto Art Center and Stanford Stadium are two attractions nearby that you can check out.

Old Palo Alto
Aerial View of a University in Palo Alto, California.

University South

4/5(1 area review)

While visiting University South, you might make a stop by sights like Stanford Theatre and Museum of American Heritage.

University South
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Midtown

While Midtown might not have many sights to explore, venturing just a little farther will lead you to top things to see and do like Palo Alto Art Center and Stanford Stadium.

Midtown

 

Looking for fun things to do nearby? Check things to do near me to find and book the best things to do, fun activities, and top attractions wherever you happen to be.

 

 

Day trip destinations from Palo Alto

Aerial view of commercial and residential areas of Menlo Park, California toward Palo Alto along El Camino Real Road near Middle Avenue. Backdrop distant San Francisco Bay and mountains

Menlo Park

Panoramic view of snow mountains and citrus trees and Santa Rosa Valley and homes Ventura California during winter snow storms

Mountain View

Redwood City featuring street scenes and a city

Redwood City

Daytime view of the historic downtown urban core of Los Altos, California, USA.

Los Altos

Sunset through Guardian Oak tree on the Dish Trail

Portola Valley

Frequently asked questions

Is Palo Alto worth visiting?
Whether you want to experience the local charm and cultural hotspots or sample unique foods and explore the outdoors, there are plenty of things to do in Palo Alto.
How do I spend a day in Palo Alto?
Start your adventures with a visit to Golfland USA and Los Altos History Museum. Then, explore other areas of Palo Alto for a bite to eat and some shopping.
What is the top tourist attraction in Palo Alto?
Shoreline Amphitheatre is one of the top tourist attractions in Palo Alto and deserves a spot on every must-do list of the area.
Is three days enough to stay in Palo Alto?
Three days will be enough time to check out many city attractions, like Shoreline Amphitheatre, Mountain View Centre for the Performing Arts and Los Altos History Museum. The average stay in Palo Alto is two days. If you feel the urge to extend your escape, San Francisco isn't far away.
Is Palo Alto a walkable city?
With popular neighbourhoods and top attractions within walking distance of the city centre, Palo Alto is a good destination to discover on foot. Enjoy wandering between Palo Alto Junior Museum and Zoo and Shoreline Park. Then take a stroll through Ventura, located 2 kilometres from the centre, and Barron Park, which is roughly 3 kilometres away.
What are some activities to do in Palo Alto with kids?
Whether you're vacationing with tiny adventurers or thrill-loving teens, an itinerary filled with cool activities sets the tone for a great escape. Take a look at our recommendations for what to do in Palo Alto with kids.

What to do in Palo Alto for adults?
There are loads of things to do in Palo Alto, with entertainment for adults of all ages. Cap off your day with a visit to Computer History Museum or NASA Ames Research.
Are there free things to do in Palo Alto?
One of the top ways to learn about free things to do in Palo Alto is to ask a local tour guide. You'll get insider recommendations on interesting neighbourhoods, parks and other hotspots you can visit without reaching into your pocket. Los Altos History Museum is one sight that doesn't charge an entrance fee.

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