<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>
<periodOfReport>2003-12-19</periodOfReport>
<notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000047580</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>HILTON HOTELS CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>HLT</issuerTradingSymbol>
</issuer>
<reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001188279</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>HARVEY JAMES TIMOTHY</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>HILTON HOTELS CORPORATION</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>9336 CIVIC CENTER DRIVE</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>BEVERLY HILLS</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>90210</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>0</isDirector>
<isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
<isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
<isOther>0</isOther>
<officerTitle>Senior VP and CIO</officerTitle>
<otherText></otherText>
</reportingOwnerRelationship>
</reportingOwner>
<nonDerivativeTable><nonDerivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value>
</securityTitle>
<transactionDate><value>2003-12-19</value>
</transactionDate>
<transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
<transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
<equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
</transactionCoding>
<transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>87</value>
<footnoteId id="F1"></footnoteId>
</transactionShares>
<transactionPricePerShare><value>16.85</value>
</transactionPricePerShare>
<transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value>
</transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
</transactionAmounts>
<postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>80274</value>
<footnoteId id="F2"></footnoteId>
</sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
</postTransactionAmounts>
<ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value>
</directOrIndirectOwnership>
</ownershipNature>
</nonDerivativeTransaction>
</nonDerivativeTable>
<derivativeTable></derivativeTable>
<footnotes><footnote id="F1">Represents stock units under the Corporation's Supplemental Retirement and Retention Plan ("SRRP") attributable to dividend equivalent rights. Stock units under the SRRP settle for common stock on a one-for-one basis upon the participant's retirement. </footnote>
<footnote id="F2">Includes stock units attributable to participant's account under the SRRP and investment units owned by participant in the Promus Hotel Corporation 401(k) Retirement Plan.</footnote>
</footnotes>
<ownerSignature><signatureName>James T. Harvey, By Bryan S. White, Attorney-in-Fact</signatureName>
<signatureDate>2003-12-23</signatureDate>
</ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

