See a Photo Gallery of Stanford's Main Quad
Stanford University Attractions
See the Stanford University Campus Map for the locations listed below.
Rodin Sculpture Garden
Lomita Drive & Museum Way
Largest collection of Rodin bronze casts outside of Paris. The Rodin Sculpture Garden is free and is open all hours, and is visually dramatic as the sculpture lights come up in the evening.
Also visit the Burghers of Calais sculpture exhibit at the Main Quad on campus -- another series of independent Rodin casts.
Cantor Arts Center at Stanford
Lomita Drive & Museum Way
Houses a collection of modern and ancient arts, with rotating exhibits throughout the year. Admission is free.
Hoover Tower Observation Platform
550 Serra Mall, near the Main Quad on Stanford Campus
Get a panoramic view of Stanford University, the Palo Alto area, as well as farther stretches of the Bay Area. Access the tower platform between 10a and 4:30p every day. Rides are $2 (free for students and faculty). Seniors and children (under 13) pay $1.
Stanford Memorial Church
Main Quad on Stanford Campus
One of the earliest interdenominational churches in the west, Memorial Church is open to visitors from 8a to 5p (Mon to Fri).
Photo of Stanford Memorial Church
Public Walking Tours of Stanford Campus
Depart from Memorial Auditorium at 551 Serra Mall
Campus tours are free and take place at 11a and 3:15p every day. Tours cover Stanford history and run approximately an hour.
The Mausoleum and Angel of Grief
Between Palm Drive and Quarry Road
Holds the remains of the Stanford family (Leland, Jane and Leland, Jr.). An arboretum surrounds the mausoleum and the Angel of Grief sculpture (memorial to Jane Stanford's brother.
Cactus Garden
Off Quarry Road between Campus Drive and Arboretum Road
For those with a horticultural interest, the Cactus Garden (aka Arizona Garden) has many species of cacti and succulents.
Stanford Red Barn & Equestrian Center
Campus Drive near the golf course
The Red Barn was built in the 1870s, a Victorian structure used as a training barn for Leland Stanford's championship trotters.
Tour the Stanford Linear Accelerator (SLAC)
2575 Sand Hill Road (3 miles west of campus)
SLAC is a state-of-the-art particle physics research facility. Tours operate at select times and you must register in advance. The link above will take you to a schedule of upcoming tours.
Frank Lloyd Wright's Hanna Honeycomb House
The Lloyd Wright structure is a private residence, but tours are offered by appointment . Call (650) 725-8352 for reservations
Dining on the Stanford Campus
The Stanford University website maintains a complete list of campus eateries (with descriptions). The list also includes a map that shows exact location for each dining spot.
Favorite spot on campus: Cool Cafe - Overlooking the Rodin Sculpture Garden - salads, soups, sandwiches and beverages (including beer and wine).
Some Favorite Spots in Palo Alto
Bella Luna Ristorante Italiano
233 University Avenue - (650) 322-1846
Northern Italian cuisine
Bistro Elan
448 S California Avenue - (650) 327-0284
French cuisine with California influence
Coupa Cafe
238 Ramona - (650) 322-6872
Venezuelan coffee - salads, panini, breakfast
Evvia Estiatorio
420 Emerson Street - (650) 326-0983
Greek/Aegean cuisine - sister restaurant of Kokkari in San Francisco
La Bodeguita del Medio
463 California Avenue - (650 326-7762
Cuban cuisine
Nola Restaurant
535 Ramona - (650) 328-2722
New Orleans/Cajun cuisine and ambiance
Palo Alto Sol
408 California Avenue - (650) 328-8840
Mexican cuisine
St. Michael's Alley
806 Emerson - (650) 326-2530
California/American cuisine - good brunch
Tamarine
546 University - (650) 325-8500
Vietnamese cuisine - sister restaurant of Bong Su in San Francisco
Getting to Stanford University - from San Francisco and SFO
Driving Directions to Stanford
Take 101 South toward San Jose and and exit on Embarcadero Road -- west toward Stanford. When you cross El Camino Real, Embarcadero becomes Galvez Street. Continue on Galvez, past Stanford Stadium (on the left).
There will be visitor parking on the left after you pass Stanford Stadium, as well as additional parking ahead at Galvez and Memorial Way (closer to the central Stanford campus).
To get to Palm Drive, the Oval and the Cantor Center for Visual Art and Rodin Sculpture Garden, follow directions above and after you cross El Camino Real, veer right onto Arboretum Road. Turn left on Palm Drive and look for signs to the museum and sculpture garden on the right (at Museum Way). There's a visitor parking lot at the Stanford Art Museum.
You can find a series of route maps and parking maps in PDF form, at the Stanford University website.
Taking Caltrain to Stanford
Transfer from BART to Caltrain at the Millbrae BART station. There are three Caltrain stations in close proximity to Stanford University. The Stanford Marguerite -- a free campus shuttle -- stops at both the Palo Alto Station/Transit Center (on University) and at the California Avenue Caltrain Station.
For Stanford Stadium, take Caltrain to the Stanford stop which is walking distance from the stadium. Caltrain is also offering an express shuttle on Big Game day (Stanford vs. UC Berkeley).