Things to do & places to visit in Palo Alto, California, United States

Palo Alto city in California, United States. Timezone: America/Los_Angeles, current date and time: Friday, May 03, 2024, 22:31.

Top things to do (26)

Top places to visit (30 attractions) view more »

5.0 Stanford University (1.732 reviews)
- Auguste Rodin’s sculptures and much more
Friday: 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM Universities & Schools

Breeding ground for Silicon Valley businesses. The founders of Hewlett Packard, Yahoo!, and Sun Microsystems all passed through the doors of this institution. See more..
5.0 The Stanford Theatre (110 reviews)
- perfect
Theaters

a great movie theatherl, I LOVED itwe are very used to coming to this movie theatre it is always very nice and comfortable See more..
5.0 Stanford Memorial Church (69 reviews)
- Bring on the Music
Spent < 1 hour Churches & Cathedrals

Memorial church serves its campus community in a variety of worship settings, but it also has a lot of free offerings for the wider community in its worship offerings. Although most of the music is performed by Stanford folks, this is not a put down since the faculty and students and friends are greatly talented. We like the evening vesper services as an alternative to most Christian worship services—quiet and thoughtful and short. See more..
5.0 The Foster Museum (21 reviews)
- Don't miss this wonderful exhibit!!
Friday: 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM Spent 1-2 hours Speciality Museums • Art Museums

We are open by appointment Tuesday – Friday (10am-4pm) and Saturday – Sunday (12-4pm). Appointments can be made prior to your visit through our website or by calling us. Admission is free of charge. Our mission is to unite and celebrate artist-explorer Tony Foster’s watercolor wilderness Journeys and inspire connection to art and the natural world. The Foster Museum also serves as a community venue for art, wilderness, and educational programs and events. See more..
5.0 California Avenue Farmer's Market (9 reviews)
- The highlight of the area
Friday: Spent 1-2 hours Farmers Markets

This charming neighbourhood has a great weekly attraction and it is the farmers market which is awaited every week by the locals and non locals . The freshest of farm produce , fresh flowers and the freshly baked goodies , jams juices etc .ypu can also grab a satisfying non pretentious breakfast , / brunch and coffee . It opens at 8 am on sundays . The popular market is littered with very tempting goodies , sea food , eggs , choicest cheeses and the whole lot more of the charming goods .There is no entree fee . The prices are competitive lm See more..
5.0 Rinconada Park (9 reviews)
- Awesome Park in Palo Alto - Rinconada Park, Palo Alto, Ca
Zoos • Parks • Playgrounds

We went to the large and very Rinconada Park in Palo Alto. This is a wonderful park with many areas to play sports such as tennis courts. There is places for walking There is a magical area with trees called The Magic Forest. There is an art center, library, neighborhood place to plant vegetables, and more. See more..
5.0 Palo Alto Research Center (PARC) (5 reviews)
- If you are reading this on a computer on the web, here's why
Educational sites

The GUI interface was designed and refined (not quite far enough in my opinion) here. I've used the auditorium for SIGGRAPH professional meetings. This place does not give tours to the general public (both good and bad). You must generally know people who work here (an exception where the 8th graders in the 70s who were test subjects). Woodsy (they can't have trees in the patio area due to Palo Alto laws, no shade). Look at it from a distance. My friends who worked here were lucky. They now realize this. See more..
4.5 Stanford Shopping Center (878 reviews)
- Love This Place
Friday: 10:00 AM - 9:00 PM Spent 2-3 hours Shopping Malls

Welcome to Stanford Shopping Center, Northern California’s premier open-air shopping and dining destination with Bloomingdale’s, Macy’s, Nordstrom, Neiman Marcus, Wilkes Bashford and more than 140 world-class specialty stores, ranging from luxury brands to local favorites. Enjoy an extraordinary mix of restaurants and cafes from Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar, P.F. Chang’s China Bistro, True Food Kitchen, and The Melt, to Yucca de Lac and so many more. Shop the European Street Market for the freshest California produce and gourmet specialty foods. Breathtaking gardens, sculptures and fountains accent the garden environment that people come from all over the world to see. Stanford Shopping Center truly is a one of a kind experience. Whatever the season, it’s always magically in bloom! Experience the garden of everything. Stanford Shopping Center. Stanford Shopping Center is located between El Camino Real and Sand Hill Rd. The Center situated in the heart of the Silicon Valley adjacent to the world renowned Stanford University Campus. Stanford Shopping Center serves the nearby affluent communities of Palo Alto, Menlo Park, Woodside, and Atherton. See more..
4.5 Cantor Arts Center (481 reviews)
- Free Viewing with Easy Reservations
Friday: 11:00 AM - 5:00 PM Spent 1-2 hours Art Museums

The Center presents a wide selection of art in 24 galleries, plus outdoor gardens, courtyards, and terraces. The Center's collection spans 5000 years and ranges from ancient China to the 21st century. See more..
4.5 Hoover Tower (284 reviews)
- cool
Friday: 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM Observation Decks & Towers • History Museums

This 285-foot tower furnishes an outstanding view and houses the Hoover Institution on War, Revolution, and Peace. See more..
4.5 The Stanford Dish (148 reviews)
- A must be!
Hiking Trails

An amazing and magic place. You can go there just walking but there are even people jogging there. The views are just amazing! See more..
4.5 Elizabeth F. Gamble Garden (116 reviews)
- Hidden Gem!!!
Gardens

It's a small garden, but amazingly planned and maintained for colorful visual! Stopped by here on our way to San Francisco and end up spending an hour easily. Beautiful flowers, different type of vegetables and trees. All nature lovers would definitely enjoy this place. See more..
4.5 Palo Alto Baylands Nature Preserve (114 reviews)
- Great nature trail
Friday: 2:00 PM - 5:00 PM Nature & Wildlife Areas

We took a family trip here because we were looking to do something different. It’s a great place to go to walk, run or ride a bike. It’s windy and cool so it’s a great place to go on a hot day. We went on a Saturday and it was not crowded and the parking was not bad. It’s a great place to go to be surrounded by nature. The girls (5 & 7) enjoyed riding their bikes, watching the birds and playing around the shoreline. It's very relaxing and a great place to take pictures. See more..
4.5 Palo Alto Junior Museum & Zoo (64 reviews)
- Our toddler really enjoyed this place
Friday: 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM Spent 1-2 hours Children's Museums

A place for children and their caregivers to explore, learn, discover, play, and get curious about science and nature! Visit us for immersive zoo experiences, hands-on science exhibits, and nature play. See more..
4.5 Downtown Palo Alto Farmer's Market (34 reviews)
- A taste of ....ancient times ....
Flea & Street Markets

Nice to know that there is such a place to buy fresh and authentic food ! You ll Also find crêpes for your kids ! See more..
4.5 Mitchell Park (26 reviews)
- Very Nice Neighborhood Park - Mitchell Park, Palo Alto
Spent 1-2 hours Parks • Playgrounds

For some outdoor time, we went to Mitchell Park in Palo Alto. This is a very nice neighborhood park . The library and neighborhood center is also there. People were out painting, walking, playing and having a good time. See more..
4.5 Pearson-Arastradero Preserve (26 reviews)
- Amazing place
Friday: 8:00 AM - 5:30 PM Nature & Wildlife Areas

If you like nature it is the best place for you. By bike it's 30 minutes from Stanford University. You can do it even by the city bike :) The place is really wild and beautiful See more..
4.5 Town & Country Village (22 reviews)
- Nice Time at Town and Country Shopping Center in Palo Alto
Factory Outlets

We had lunch and did some shopping at Town and Country Village in Palo Alto We also did some shopping at Trader Joe. They have a very good European Style Bakery there as well. Its located very close to Stanford University. See more..
4.5 Lucy Evans Baylands Nature Interpretive Center (18 reviews)
- Great place
Friday: 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM Nature & Wildlife Areas

This protected bayland offers a 120-acre salt marsh and the opportunity to observe the plants and birds of the region. See more..
4.5 Sigona's Farmers Market (16 reviews)
- Excellent Produce, Olive Oils, Nuts, Cheeses and More - Sigona's Farmers Market
Spent < 1 hour Farmers Markets

I love going to Sigona's Farmers Market at Stanford Shopping Center. First, the amazing vegetables and fruits are so colorful and so good. They are locally grown and are organic. They always seem to have the best produce. There is also very good fresh press and seasonal olive oils and balsamics on sell; there is a tasting station so one can decide which one to buy this time. For cheese, yum. They have the best and over 250 different cheeses. There is other local and globally sourced specialty foods; I like their pasta for example. They also have very good nuts. And for that special touch, they also have nice floweres. In addition, they have excellent service. Although they do not have the lowest prices, the quality of their products is amazing. Its worth just going to Stanford Shopping Center to go here. They are a family owned business and also have a place in Redwood City. See more..
4.5 Palo Alto Art Center (16 reviews)
- Studios and Fun For the Family - Palo Alto Art Center
Friday: 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM Art Galleries

I like the Palo Alto Art Center. There are a variety of art projects and studios. Its a good place to learn and be creative. See more..
4.5 Monte Bello Open Space Preserve (15 reviews)
- 17 Miles of trails
Nature & Wildlife Areas

The Monte Bello Open Space Preserve is a "must do" if visitors to Stanford University and the Silicon Valley have an extra few hours. The park is located at the top of Page Mill Road above Palo Alto, California that can be accessed via car from Page Mill Road; or, for the adventurous, up fire roads from Palo Alto. This is a favorite area for day hikers that offers spectacular views of San Francisco Bay on one side, and the Pacific Ocean, on the other. The preserve is part of a series of Santa Clara Mountain parks along Skyline Boulevard. Parking is on either side of Page Mill Road (map: http://g.co/maps/c7fn2). It's important to bring water. More information on this park and the series of parks in the area is at openspace.org. See more..
4.5 Los Trancos Open Space Preserve (12 reviews)
- Great earthquake hike
Points of Interest & Landmarks

Excellent hike for tourists and locals alike. No better place for an interpretive, educational hike about the San Andreas Fault. Excellent guide brochure and easy to follow Trail. Numbered guideposts correspond with printed narrative. Before going, read up on the geology and the San Andreas Fault. Even if you're not a geology buff, it's interesting to know that you're standing at the place where the 1906 earthquake had so much effect. Entrance is free of charge. Google Maps takes you to the wrong location. But there is a sign at the wrong location pointing you 1 km down the road to the right location. The parking area and trailheads are well-marked on Page Mill Road. See more..
4.5 Thomas Welton Stanford Art Gallery (8 reviews)
- Worth visiting
Art Galleries

Gorgeous facade detail rendered in stone caught out attention to begin with. It provides a lovely introduction to the gallery contents. It was interesting to learn that the gallery was founded with a bequest from Welton Stanford, the younger brother of Leland, the university's founder. We enjoyed moving amongst the art works and seeing some striking creations. See more..
4.5 Arizona Garden (7 reviews)
- super
Gardens

Quite small but gorgeous part of the park. Lots of nice cactus trees. You can feel like in Arizona! Really worth seeing it See more..
4.5 Hanna House (7 reviews)
- Great FLW at Stanford
Spent 1-2 hours Points of Interest & Landmarks • Architectural Buildings

The Hanna House is a great example of FLW's domestic architecture, and it very well preserved both interior and exterior. Sign up online for one of the guided tours and enjoy the amazing play between geometry, design, nature and the light of the sunset. If you are in the Bay Area this is a must. See more..
4.5 Byxbee Park (7 reviews)
- Easy hike by salt marshes and creeks
Parks

Leashed dogs are allowed here and the trails are easy walking, although, after several hours, I wished I wore heavier soled shoes.......most of the trails were on pebbley terrain. I saw a multitude of different birds and rabbits on the marsh. I followed the Adobe Creek Loop. Parking is easy and there are bathrooms and water fountains near the parking lot. See more..
4.5 Foothills Park (4 reviews)
- Awesome Time at Foothills Park, Palo Alto, CA
Bodies of Water • Canyons • Parks

We went to Foothills Park, which is in Palo Alto. This is a superb and very nice park. There is a nice lake where people can see ducks or go fishing. There are amazing views from another area of the park of Silicon Valley (Santa Clara Valley). There is huge meadow area and a nature center. We enjoyed a walk, seeing the sights and having a great time. See more..
4.0 Hewlett Packard Garage (144 reviews)
- When in the Silicon Valley
Historic Sites • Educational sites

Hewlett and Packard started their business in this garage. See more..
4.0 Professorville (20 reviews)
- PAST Historic Walking Tours of Palo Alto's Professorville
Neighborhoods

Many of Stanford's first professors resided in the well-preserved Victorians in this Palo Alto neighborhood. See more..