Welcome to our bike-friendly city with its historic neighborhoods and scenic foothills, parks and Baylands. Enjoy outstanding restaurants, hotels and shopping, all in the heart of world-renowned Silicon Valley.
Palo Alto and Stanford University form the hub of one of the most dynamic, exciting, beautiful and distinctive areas nationwide. The two closely related communities are considered the birthplace of the high technology region known as Silicon Valley.
Palo Alto, whose borders extend from San Francisco Bay to the Skyline Ridge of the coastal mountains, is a vibrant community of 62,000 residents and 6,000 businesses that values both the natural environment and high-tech innovation. Palo Alto has recreational amenities of cities twice its size, as well as world-class shopping and dining. The city has the distinction of being the first Green Power Community in California, and is proud of its 4,000 acres of open space, 34 parks and more than 30 miles of bike lanes.
Stanford University, one of the world’s leading research universities, contributes to the region’s lively intellectual, cultural and artistic environment. Stanford has an undergraduate and graduate student population of nearly 15,000 and boasts a faculty that includes 17 Nobel laureates. The university has helped spawn some 3,000 companies in high technology and other fields.
Helpful buy link
Palo Alto Chamber of Commerce
Visitor tour, events listings and business directory
Palo Alto Downtown
The web site of P.A. Downtown's Business Improvement District
Palo Alto California Avenue Area
The web site of California Avenue area of restaurants, stores, and more
Palo Alto Midtown Area
Midtown area of shopping, restaurants, and more
Destination Palo Alto
Wide-ranging information on shopping, art and more
Lodging in Palo Alto
Comprehensive list of local lodging options