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

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2007-08-30</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>2007-08-30</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>J</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>22361</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>.00</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>2108573</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 a non pro rata distribution of shares from The Crown Fund, a partnership of which Mr. Crown is a partner.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Includes stock units attributable to participant's account under the Hilton Hotels Corporation Director's Stock and Deferred Retainer Plan. Stock units settle for common stock on a one-for-one basis upon the participant's retirement from the Board.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Includes 107,125 shares received as a pro rata distribution from Henry Crown and Company (Not Incorporated), a partnership of which Mr. Crown and trusts for his benefit are partners, and 22,361 shares received as a non pro rata distribution from The Crown Fund. In prior reports, the reporting person reported beneficial ownership of 600,000 shares of common stock held by Henry Crown and Company (Not Incorporated) and 239,888 shares of common stock held by The Crown Fund. Also includes 1,935,340 shares of common stock held by 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 he is a beneficiary.  Mr. Crown's spouse owns 10,000 shares of common stock. Mr. Crown disclaims beneficial ownership of the shares held by 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-in-Fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2007-09-04</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
