<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2005-05-26</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000047580</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>HILTON HOTELS CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>HLT</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001167826</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>CROWN A STEVEN</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>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle></officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2005-05-26</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>1257</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>23.85</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>2807084</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable></derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Represents award of shares of common stock under the Hilton Hotels Corporation 2004 Omnibus Equity Compensation Plan.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Includes stock units attributable to participant's account under the Hilton Hotels Corporation Directors' Stock and Deferred Retainer Plan, which settle for common stock on a one-for-one basis upon the participant's retirement from the Board.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Mr. Crown is a partner of The Crown Fund, which owns 239,888 shares of common stock. Pines Trailer Limited Partnership, the partners of which include a corporation of which Mr. Crown is a director, officer and shareholder and a partnership of which Mr. Crown is a partner, owns 600,000 shares of common stock. Areljay, L.P., the partners of which include a corporation of which Mr. Crown is a director, officer, and shareholder and a trust of which Mr. Crown is a beneficiary, owns 1,935,340 shares of common stock.  Mr. Crown's spouse owns 10,000 shares of common stock.  Mr. Crown disclaims beneficial ownership of the shares held by The Crown Fund, Pines Trailer Limited Partnership, Areljay, L.P., and his spouse, except to the extent of his beneficial interest in such shares.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>A. Steven Crown, by Bryan S. White, Attorney-at-Law</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2005-05-27</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
