Modern tech capital, garden city, old-world bazaar: Bengaluru contains multitudes. Founded by Kempe Gowda in the 16th century and shaped by the Mysore rulers and the British cantonment era, it balances Victorian-era boulevards with steel-and-glass towers. The city’s mild climate and tree-lined neighborhoods make it an inviting base for culture, cuisine, and day trips across Karnataka.

Travelers come for Lalbagh’s storied botanical wonders, Cubbon Park’s leafy paths, and the Tudor-style Bangalore Palace. Markets brim with marigolds and spices at dawn, while evenings belong to microbreweries, rooftop lounges, and restaurants serving coastal seafood and fiery Andhra meals. Coffee culture thrives here, too—Bengaluru sits at the gateway to India’s coffee heartlands.

Practical notes: Traffic is real—plan around rush hours and cluster sights by neighborhood. The best weather is October to February; summer afternoons can be warm. Dress modestly for temples, carry digital payments, and use ride-hailing or the Namma Metro where it fits your route. Airport buses (Vayu Vajra) operate 24/7 and are reliable.

Bengaluru

Nicknamed the “Garden City,” Bengaluru rewards unhurried wandering: palm-fringed parks, red-brick libraries, Indo-Saracenic courthouses, and chic cafés all within a few metro stops. By day, explore palaces and markets; by night, sip fresh IPAs at sprawling brewpubs or graze through Church Street and Indiranagar.

Top highlights include Lalbagh Botanical Garden (don’t miss the Glass House), Cubbon Park and the State Central Library, the Bangalore Palace, Tipu Sultan’s Summer Palace, the flower-laden KR Market, and neighborhood strolls through Basavanagudi and Malleswaram. Food-wise, this is dosa, filter coffee, and biryani heaven—punctuated by standout coastal seafood and a serious craft beer culture.

Where to stay (center yourself near MG Road, Indiranagar, or Richmond Town for easy dining and metro access):

• Browse homes on VRBO Bengaluru or hotels via Hotels.com Bengaluru.
• Classic splurge with serene gardens: The Leela Palace Bengaluru.
• Excellent value near city action: Treebo Trend Raj Premier.
• Polished and central on MG Road: Taj MG Road, Bengaluru.

How to get there (Kempegowda International Airport—BLR):

• Find competitive fares on Trip.com flights or Kiwi.com.
• Arriving by train within India? Check schedules on Trip.com trains. Major stations: KSR Bengaluru (Majestic), Yesvantpur, and KR Puram.

Airport into town: Vayu Vajra airport buses run 24/7 to MG Road, Indiranagar, and other hubs (roughly 60–90 minutes). Taxis and ride-hailing typically take 60–90 minutes depending on traffic.

Day 1: Palaces, Parks, and a Classic Bangalore Evening

Morning: Travel day. If you land early, ease in with old-school filter coffee at Indian Coffee House on Church Street or a cappuccino at Third Wave Coffee (multiple outlets). Quick bite: a butter-laden khara bun and plain dosa at MTR St. Mark’s Road.

Afternoon: Head to Cubbon Park for a shaded stroll beneath rain trees, passing the red-brick State Central Library and High Court. Continue to the Bangalore Palace to tour its Tudor-style halls, ornate woodwork, and royal portraits—an evocative window into the Wodeyar era. If time allows, pop into the National Gallery of Modern Art for well-curated Indian modern masters.

Evening: Wander Church Street and MG Road at golden hour. Book lovers should duck into Blossom Book House; street-side, you’ll find chaat and peanut vendors. Dinner picks nearby: Karavalli (legendary coastal thali—think pepper crab and flaky neer dosa), Nagarjuna (Andhra meals on banana leaves with punchy gongura), or Koshy’s (vintage Bengaluru institution; order the appam-stew combo). Nightcap: sample fresh IPA and stouts at Arbor Brewing Company or go big at Byg Brewski Brewing Company (open-air lagoons, multiple bars). Return to your hotel or take a calm stroll down the now-pedestrian-friendly stretches of Church Street.

Day 2: Dawn Market, Heritage, and Wildlife + City Sights

Morning: Rise early for the KR Market flower mandis (best before 8:00 a.m.)—a riot of marigolds, jasmine, and roses. Walk over to Tipu Sultan’s Summer Palace, a teak marvel with delicate arches and murals. Breakfast nearby: Brahmin’s Coffee Bar (idli-vada with coconut chutney only, plus strong filter coffee) or drive to Vidyarthi Bhavan in Basavanagudi for a crisp, ghee-brushed masala dosa served on steel plates.

Afternoon: Join this well-paced combo of nature and city highlights:

• From Bangalore Bannerghatta Park and City Sights Private Tour — Safari at Bannerghatta Biological Park to spot lions, tigers, and sloth bears, followed by a curated half-day loop to Lalbagh Botanical Garden, Tipu Sultan’s Palace, and colonial-era landmarks. Hotel pickup and flexible pacing make this an efficient way to cover Bengaluru’s greatest hits.

If you explored Tipu’s Palace in the morning, ask your guide to extend time in Lalbagh (the 19th-century Glass House and serene lotus ponds are unmissable) or add a drive-by of Vidhana Soudha for that grand Indo-Saracenic façade.

Evening: Cap the day in Indiranagar. Pre-dinner cocktails at a neighborhood bar, then choose dinner: The Only Place (retro grills and pies), Shivaji Military Hotel satellite outlets (aromatic donne biryani), or Karavalli if you saved it for today. For a quieter finish, head to Windmills Craftworks in Whitefield (book if catching live jazz) for a curated beer flight and their famed bacon-wrapped dates.

Day 3: Old Bengaluru Neighborhoods and Departure

Morning: Explore Malleswaram, a leafy, century-old grid of lanes and temples. Start with benne (butter) masala dosa at CTR – Shree Sagar, then browse the fragrant Malleswaram flower and vegetable market near 8th Cross. If you’d like a spiritual stop, visit the nearby ISKCON Temple for sweeping city views and melodic chants.

Afternoon: Last tastes before you go: grab a quick biryani at Meghana Foods (boneless chicken or paneer versions are local favorites) or a thali at Hallimane (North Karnataka-style—jolada rotti, yennegai stuffed brinjal). Depart for the airport with cushion time; weekday traffic can add 30–45 minutes.

Evening: Flying out later? Squeeze in one final stroll through UB City’s piazza for a coffee and people-watching, or a breezy amble through a different corner of Cubbon Park you missed on Day 1.

Optional add-ons (time permitting):

• Nandi Hills sunrise (about 1.5 hours from central Bengaluru; depart ~4:30 a.m. on clear days).
• Commercial Street for quick textile and accessory shopping—bargain with a smile.

Getting around each day: Use ride-hailing for cross-town hops; the Namma Metro Green and Purple Lines are handy for Cubbon Park, MG Road, and Majestic interchanges. For airport runs, Vayu Vajra buses or pre-booked taxis are the most reliable.

Booking pointers:

• Compare airfare deals on Trip.com flights or Kiwi.com.
• If arriving overland, check Trip.com trains for India routes (e.g., Mysuru–Bengaluru ~2–3 hours; Chennai–Bengaluru ~5–6 hours).
• Lock in stays early during festival weeks and the biennial flower shows at Lalbagh (January and August).
• Shortlist lodgings via VRBO Bengaluru or Hotels.com Bengaluru, and consider The Leela Palace, Taj MG Road, or Treebo Trend Raj Premier depending on budget.

In three days, you’ll trace Bengaluru’s arc from royal courts and British-era parks to sunrise markets and inventive kitchens. Come hungry for dosa and seafood, curious for history, and ready to toast the evening with a fresh pint under the trees.