<?xml version="1.0" encoding="us-ascii" standalone="yes"?>
<!-- DFIN ActiveDisclosure(SM) XBRL Linkbase Document - http://www.dfinsolutions.com/ -->
<!-- Creation Date      : 2021-02-04T16:03:35.8546266+00:00 -->
<!-- Version            : 5.0.1.571 -->
<!-- Package ID         : b4faec3f42ac4a818dc3b25ab3bc8c2c -->
<!-- Copyright (c) 2021 Donnelley Financial Solutions, Inc. All Rights Reserved. -->
<link:linkbase xmlns:link="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/linkbase" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance" xsi:schemaLocation="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/linkbase http://www.xbrl.org/2003/xbrl-linkbase-2003-12-31.xsd">
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.hosthotels.com/20210203/role/TemplateLink" xlink:href="hst-20210203.xsd#TemplateLink" xlink:type="simple" />
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.hosthotels.com/20210203/taxonomy/role/DocumentCoverPage" xlink:href="hst-20210203.xsd#Role_DocumentCoverPage" xlink:type="simple" />
  <link:presentationLink xlink:type="extended" xlink:role="http://www.hosthotels.com/20210203/taxonomy/role/DocumentCoverPage">
    <link:loc xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2020/dei-2020-01-31.xsd#dei_SecurityExchangeName" xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="dei_SecurityExchangeName" />
    <link:loc xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2020/dei-2020-01-31.xsd#dei_TradingSymbol" xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="dei_TradingSymbol" />
    <link:loc xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2020/dei-2020-01-31.xsd#dei_Security12bTitle" xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="dei_Security12bTitle" />
    <link:loc xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2020/dei-2020-01-31.xsd#dei_PreCommencementIssuerTenderOffer" xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="dei_PreCommencementIssuerTenderOffer" />
    <link:loc xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2020/dei-2020-01-31.xsd#dei_PreCommencementTenderOffer" xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="dei_PreCommencementTenderOffer" />
    <link:loc xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2020/dei-2020-01-31.xsd#dei_SolicitingMaterial" xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="dei_SolicitingMaterial" />
    <link:loc xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2020/dei-2020-01-31.xsd#dei_WrittenCommunications" xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="dei_WrittenCommunications" />
    <link:loc xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2020/dei-2020-01-31.xsd#dei_LocalPhoneNumber" xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="dei_LocalPhoneNumber" />
    <link:loc xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2020/dei-2020-01-31.xsd#dei_CityAreaCode" xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="dei_CityAreaCode" />
    <link:loc xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2020/dei-2020-01-31.xsd#dei_EntityAddressPostalZipCode" xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="dei_EntityAddressPostalZipCode" />
    <link:loc xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2020/dei-2020-01-31.xsd#dei_EntityAddressStateOrProvince" xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="dei_EntityAddressStateOrProvince" />
    <link:loc xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2020/dei-2020-01-31.xsd#dei_EntityAddressCityOrTown" xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="dei_EntityAddressCityOrTown" />
    <link:loc xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2020/dei-2020-01-31.xsd#dei_EntityAddressAddressLine2" xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="dei_EntityAddressAddressLine2" />
    <link:loc xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2020/dei-2020-01-31.xsd#dei_EntityAddressAddressLine1" xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="dei_EntityAddressAddressLine1" />
    <link:loc xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2020/dei-2020-01-31.xsd#dei_EntityTaxIdentificationNumber" xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="dei_EntityTaxIdentificationNumber" />
    <link:loc xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2020/dei-2020-01-31.xsd#dei_EntityIncorporationStateCountryCode" xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="dei_EntityIncorporationStateCountryCode" />
    <link:loc xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2020/dei-2020-01-31.xsd#dei_EntityFileNumber" xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="dei_EntityFileNumber" />
    <link:loc xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2020/dei-2020-01-31.xsd#dei_EntityEmergingGrowthCompany" xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="dei_EntityEmergingGrowthCompany" />
    <link:loc xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2020/dei-2020-01-31.xsd#dei_EntityCentralIndexKey" xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="dei_EntityCentralIndexKey" />
    <link:loc xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2020/dei-2020-01-31.xsd#dei_EntityRegistrantName" xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="dei_EntityRegistrantName" />
    <link:loc xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2020/dei-2020-01-31.xsd#dei_DocumentPeriodEndDate" xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="dei_DocumentPeriodEndDate" />
    <link:loc xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2020/dei-2020-01-31.xsd#dei_AmendmentFlag" xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="dei_AmendmentFlag" />
    <link:loc xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2020/dei-2020-01-31.xsd#dei_DocumentType" xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="dei_DocumentType" />
    <link:loc xlink:href="hst-20210203.xsd#hst_DocumentAndEntityInformationLineItems" xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="hst_DocumentAndEntityInformationLineItems" />
    <link:loc xlink:href="hst-20210203.xsd#hst_HostHotelsAndResortsLimitedPartnershipSubsidiariesMember" xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="hst_HostHotelsAndResortsLimitedPartnershipSubsidiariesMember" />
    <link:loc xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2020/dei-2020-01-31.xsd#dei_EntityDomain" xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="dei_EntityDomain" />
    <link:loc xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2020/dei-2020-01-31.xsd#dei_LegalEntityAxis" xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="dei_LegalEntityAxis" />
    <link:loc xlink:href="hst-20210203.xsd#hst_DocumentAndEntityInformationTable" xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="hst_DocumentAndEntityInformationTable" />
    <link:loc xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2020/dei-2020-01-31.xsd#dei_CoverAbstract" xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="dei_CoverAbstract" />
    <link:presentationArc xlink:type="arc" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="dei_CoverAbstract" xlink:to="hst_DocumentAndEntityInformationTable" order="10020.00" priority="2" use="optional" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel" />
    <link:presentationArc xlink:type="arc" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="hst_DocumentAndEntityInformationTable" xlink:to="dei_LegalEntityAxis" order="10030.00" priority="2" use="optional" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel" />
    <link:presentationArc xlink:type="arc" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="dei_LegalEntityAxis" xlink:to="dei_EntityDomain" order="10060.00" priority="2" use="optional" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel" />
    <link:presentationArc xlink:type="arc" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="dei_EntityDomain" xlink:to="hst_HostHotelsAndResortsLimitedPartnershipSubsidiariesMember" order="10080.00" priority="2" use="optional" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel" />
    <link:presentationArc xlink:type="arc" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="hst_DocumentAndEntityInformationTable" xlink:to="hst_DocumentAndEntityInformationLineItems" order="10100.00" priority="2" use="optional" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel" />
    <link:presentationArc xlink:type="arc" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="hst_DocumentAndEntityInformationLineItems" xlink:to="dei_DocumentType" order="10110.00" priority="2" use="optional" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/verboseLabel" />
    <link:presentationArc xlink:type="arc" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="hst_DocumentAndEntityInformationLineItems" xlink:to="dei_AmendmentFlag" order="10150.00" priority="2" use="optional" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel" />
    <link:presentationArc xlink:type="arc" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="hst_DocumentAndEntityInformationLineItems" xlink:to="dei_DocumentPeriodEndDate" order="10190.00" priority="2" use="optional" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel" />
    <link:presentationArc xlink:type="arc" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="hst_DocumentAndEntityInformationLineItems" xlink:to="dei_EntityRegistrantName" order="10230.00" priority="2" use="optional" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/verboseLabel" />
    <link:presentationArc xlink:type="arc" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="hst_DocumentAndEntityInformationLineItems" xlink:to="dei_EntityCentralIndexKey" order="10270.00" priority="2" use="optional" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel" />
    <link:presentationArc xlink:type="arc" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="hst_DocumentAndEntityInformationLineItems" xlink:to="dei_EntityEmergingGrowthCompany" order="10310.00" priority="2" use="optional" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel" />
    <link:presentationArc xlink:type="arc" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="hst_DocumentAndEntityInformationLineItems" xlink:to="dei_EntityFileNumber" order="10350.00" priority="2" use="optional" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel" />
    <link:presentationArc xlink:type="arc" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="hst_DocumentAndEntityInformationLineItems" xlink:to="dei_EntityIncorporationStateCountryCode" order="10390.00" priority="2" use="optional" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel" />
    <link:presentationArc xlink:type="arc" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="hst_DocumentAndEntityInformationLineItems" xlink:to="dei_EntityTaxIdentificationNumber" order="10430.00" priority="2" use="optional" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel" />
    <link:presentationArc xlink:type="arc" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="hst_DocumentAndEntityInformationLineItems" xlink:to="dei_EntityAddressAddressLine1" order="10470.00" priority="2" use="optional" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel" />
    <link:presentationArc xlink:type="arc" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="hst_DocumentAndEntityInformationLineItems" xlink:to="dei_EntityAddressAddressLine2" order="10510.00" priority="2" use="optional" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel" />
    <link:presentationArc xlink:type="arc" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="hst_DocumentAndEntityInformationLineItems" xlink:to="dei_EntityAddressCityOrTown" order="10550.00" priority="2" use="optional" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel" />
    <link:presentationArc xlink:type="arc" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="hst_DocumentAndEntityInformationLineItems" xlink:to="dei_EntityAddressStateOrProvince" order="10590.00" priority="2" use="optional" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel" />
    <link:presentationArc xlink:type="arc" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="hst_DocumentAndEntityInformationLineItems" xlink:to="dei_EntityAddressPostalZipCode" order="10630.00" priority="2" use="optional" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel" />
    <link:presentationArc xlink:type="arc" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="hst_DocumentAndEntityInformationLineItems" xlink:to="dei_CityAreaCode" order="10670.00" priority="2" use="optional" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel" />
    <link:presentationArc xlink:type="arc" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="hst_DocumentAndEntityInformationLineItems" xlink:to="dei_LocalPhoneNumber" order="10710.00" priority="2" use="optional" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/verboseLabel" />
    <link:presentationArc xlink:type="arc" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="hst_DocumentAndEntityInformationLineItems" xlink:to="dei_WrittenCommunications" order="10750.00" priority="2" use="optional" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel" />
    <link:presentationArc xlink:type="arc" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="hst_DocumentAndEntityInformationLineItems" xlink:to="dei_SolicitingMaterial" order="10790.00" priority="2" use="optional" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel" />
    <link:presentationArc xlink:type="arc" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="hst_DocumentAndEntityInformationLineItems" xlink:to="dei_PreCommencementTenderOffer" order="10830.00" priority="2" use="optional" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel" />
    <link:presentationArc xlink:type="arc" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="hst_DocumentAndEntityInformationLineItems" xlink:to="dei_PreCommencementIssuerTenderOffer" order="10870.00" priority="2" use="optional" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel" />
    <link:presentationArc xlink:type="arc" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="hst_DocumentAndEntityInformationLineItems" xlink:to="dei_Security12bTitle" order="10940.00" priority="2" use="optional" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel" />
    <link:presentationArc xlink:type="arc" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="hst_DocumentAndEntityInformationLineItems" xlink:to="dei_TradingSymbol" order="11000.00" priority="2" use="optional" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel" />
    <link:presentationArc xlink:type="arc" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="hst_DocumentAndEntityInformationLineItems" xlink:to="dei_SecurityExchangeName" order="11060.00" priority="2" use="optional" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel" />
  </link:presentationLink>
</link:linkbase>
