Palo Alto, United States
Palo AltoPalo Alto

Palo Alto Travel Guide

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Facts and practical information

Alternative names: Population: 66.9 thous. (2019)Area: 25.79 mi²Elevation: 59 ft a.s.l.Coordinates: 37°25'59"N, 122°9'43"W
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CaliforniaUnited States

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Palo Alto Top Attractions

Palo Alto Attractions - What to See and Explore

Palo Alto offers many attractions and places to visit. Here are the most important ones: Stanford Memorial Church, Museum of American Heritage, Stanford Dish, Cantor Arts Center. Below you will find a complete list of places worth visiting.

  • stanford memorial church palo alto
    Romanesque architecture • Church

    Stanford Memorial Church

    Nestled in the heart of Silicon Valley, Stanford Memorial Church stands as a beacon of architectural beauty and historical significance on the campus of Stanford University in Palo Alto, California. This non-denominational church was established as a memorial by Jane...

  • museum of american heritage palo alto
    Museum • History museum

    Museum of American Heritage

    Nestled in the heart of Silicon Valley, the Museum of American Heritage in Palo Alto, California, offers visitors a unique glimpse into the life and innovations that shaped America from the late 19th century to the mid-20th century.

  • stanford dish palo alto
    Museum • Observatories and planetariums

    Stanford Dish

    The Dish, also known as the Stanford Dish, is a radio antenna in the Stanford foothills. The 150-foot-diameter dish was built in 1961 by the Stanford Research Institute.

  • iris b gerald cantor center for visual arts palo alto
    Museum • Art museum

    Cantor Arts Center

    The Iris & B. Gerald Cantor Center for Visual Arts at Stanford University, formerly the Stanford University Museum of Art, and commonly known as the Cantor Arts Center, is an art museum on the campus of Stanford University in Stanford, California.

  • white memorial fountain palo alto
    Monuments and statues • Stanford

    White Memorial Fountain

    White Memorial Fountain, also known as The Claw, is a fountain by Aristides Demetrios on the Stanford University campus in Stanford, California, United States. It was installed in 1964, and Demetrios returned to restore the fountain in 2011. It has 65 jets. The fountain was commissioned by Mr. and Mrs. Raymond B.

  • hoover tower palo alto
    Observation decks and towers • History museum • Museum

    Hoover Tower

    Hoover Tower is a 285 feet structure on the campus of Stanford University in Stanford, California. The tower houses the Hoover Institution Library and Archives, an archive collection founded by Herbert Hoover before he became President of the United States.

  • hp garage palo alto
    Historic garage where HP got its start

    HP Garage

    The HP Garage is a private museum where the company Hewlett-Packard was founded. It is located at 367 Addison Avenue in Palo Alto, California. It is considered to be the "Birthplace of Silicon Valley".

  • papua new guinea sculpture garden palo alto
    Park • Garden

    Papua New Guinea Sculpture Garden

    In 1994, Jim Mason, a graduate student in the Department of Anthropology at Stanford University, arranged for two groups of men from the Sepik River region of Papua New Guinea to carve the New Guinea Sculpture Garden at Stanford University. The men were from several communities or villages of the Iatmul people and the Kwoma people.

  • stanford mausoleum palo alto
    Museum • Memorial • Cemetery

    Stanford Mausoleum

    The Stanford Mausoleum, located in the Northwest of the Stanford University campus in the Stanford University Arboretum, holds the remains of the university's namesake Leland Stanford, Jr. and his parents Leland and Jane Stanford.

  • arizona cactus garden palo alto
    Park • Stanford

    Arizona Cactus Garden

    The Arizona Cactus Garden, or, officially, Arizona Garden, also known as the Cactus Garden, is a small botanical garden specializing in cactus and succulents.

  • allied arts guild palo alto
    Park • West Menlo

    Allied Arts Guild

    Allied Arts Guild was founded in 1928 and is a complex of artist studios, shops, restaurant, and gardens in Menlo Park, California and is used as a venue for both public and private events.

  • palo alto junior museum and zoo
    Children's museum • Museum • Zoo

    Palo Alto Junior Museum and Zoo

    Palo Alto Junior Museum and Zoo is located in Palo Alto, California and part of the City of Palo Alto's Community Services Department. It was founded in 1934 by Josephine O’Hara in the basement of a local elementary school.

  • stanford university palo alto
    Romanesque architecture • Universities and schools

    Stanford University

    Stanford University, officially Leland Stanford Junior University, is a private research university located in the census-designated place of Stanford, California, near the city of Palo Alto.

  • el palo alto
    Tiny park with a sequoia tree and a trail

    El Palo Alto

    El Palo Alto is a coastal redwood tree located in El Palo Alto Park on the banks of San Francisquito Creek in Palo Alto, California, United States. It is famous for its historical significance and as the namesake of the city of Palo Alto. In July 2016, El Palo Alto was 110 feet in height, down from 162.2 feet in 1814.

  • tanner fountain palo alto
    Fountain • Stanford

    Tanner Fountain

    Tanner Fountain is a fountain on the Stanford University campus in Stanford, California, United States. Located between Hoover Tower and Memorial Auditorium, the fountain was installed in 1977, having been donated by Obert Tanner and his wife to commemorate their son.

  • palo alto art center
    Museum • Art gallery • Shopping

    Palo Alto Art Center

    The Palo Alto Art Center is a multi-purpose center open to the public for art activities for all ages, located at 1313 Newell Road in Palo Alto, California.

  • john adam squire house palo alto
    Greek Revival architecture • Crescent Park

    John Adam Squire House

    The John Adam Squire House is a historic house in Palo Alto, California. It was built in 1904-1905 for John Adam Squire, a Greek professor. Squire lived here with his wife Georgina and their three daughters until his death in 1930. His wife died in 1959.

  • main quad palo alto
    37°25'39"N • 122°10'12"W

    Main Quad

    The Main Quadrangle, or more commonly Main Quad or simply Quad, is the heart and oldest part of Stanford University in California. The collection of connected buildings was started in 1887 and completed in 1906. The Quad was damaged in the 1906 earthquake, repaired, less severely damaged in an 1989 earthquake, and repaired again.

  • old union fountain palo alto
    Fountain • Stanford

    Old Union Fountain

    Old Union Fountain is a fountain on the Stanford University campus in Stanford, California, United States. The fountain exhibits traditional mission style architecture, and is one of several on campus used in the tradition of "fountain hopping".

Things to See and Do in Palo Alto by Category

Sights, interesting and unusual places and attractions valued by most tourists. See the list of places to visit in Palo Alto.

Culture

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Day trips

Palo Alto – popular in the area (distance from the center)

In the vicinity of Palo Alto, it's worth seeing attractions such as: Golden Gate Bridge (San Francisco), de Young Museum (San Francisco), San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (San Francisco).

  • golden gate bridge san francisco32 milesNW
    Iconic art deco span opened in 1937

    Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco

    Spanning the strait that connects San Francisco Bay to the Pacific Ocean, the Golden Gate Bridge stands as an iconic marvel of modern engineering and a celebrated symbol of San Francisco. Completed in 1937, this suspension bridge is renowned for its striking...

  • de young museum san francisco29 milesNW
    Fine-arts museum with a sculpture garden

    de Young Museum, San Francisco

    Nestled in the heart of San Francisco's vibrant Golden Gate Park, the de Young Museum stands as a testament to the city's rich cultural tapestry and dedication to the arts. This premier public art institution, known for its distinctive copper facade that naturally...

  • san francisco museum of modern art28 milesNW
    Vast collection of prominent artworks

    San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, San Francisco

    Nestled in the heart of San Francisco's bustling downtown, the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA) stands as a beacon of contemporary creativity and innovation. This temple of modern and contemporary art, reopened in 2016 after a significant expansion, is one...

  • exploratorium san francisco29 milesNW
    Hands-on science museum

    Exploratorium, San Francisco

    The Exploratorium, nestled in the vibrant city of San Francisco, is a public learning laboratory that invites exploration and discovery at the intersection of science, art, and human perception. This innovative museum, located at Pier 15 along the city's bustling...

  • california academy of sciences san francisco29 milesNW
    Museum with science exhibits and research

    California Academy of Sciences, San Francisco

    Nestled within the verdant Golden Gate Park in San Francisco, the California Academy of Sciences stands as a beacon of knowledge and an ode to the natural world. This prestigious institution is not just a museum; it is an expansive realm of exploration that includes an...

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Best Time To Visit Palo Alto

Learn when is the best time to travel to Palo Alto weather-wise and what to expect in each season.

Popularity among visitors

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June, July, August and September are the busiest months in this location. Slightly fewer tourists decide to visit in April and May.

Average temperatures in °F

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The highest air temperature is in May, June, July, August and September. While the coldest is in January, February and December.

Monthly rainfall in inches

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The lowest rainfall is recorded in July and August. Most of it rains in January.

Length of day in hours

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We can expect the longest days in June, while the shortest in December.

Sunrise

Best Ways to Experience the City

cuisine

Food & drink

Cuisine

A guide to some of the best local dishes and drinks that you will meet in the region.

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What are the top attractions to visit in Palo Alto?

The top attractions to visit in Palo Alto are:

What is the best time to visit Palo Alto?

June, July, August and September are the busiest months in this location. Slightly fewer tourists decide to visit in April and May. The highest air temperature is in May, June, July, August and September. While the coldest is in January, February and December.

Where to next? Visit california California region page or discover the top tourist attractions in United States.

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