Welcome to Bangalore—officially Bengaluru—the Garden City that grew into India’s innovation capital. Founded in 1537 by Kempegowda and later shaped by Tipu Sultan and the British cantonment, the city blends tree-lined boulevards, grand public buildings, and colorful markets with a dynamic tech scene. In spring, purple jacarandas canopy the avenues; year-round, filter coffee perfumes the air.

Travelers come for Lalbagh’s glasshouse and rare flora, Cubbon Park’s towering rain trees, and a vivid temple-and-palace circuit that runs from Basavanagudi to the Bangalore Palace. Food is a headline act: crisp benne dosas, thatte idlis, feisty Andhra thalis, coastal seafood, and a pioneering craft-beer culture. Shop vintage bookstores on Church Street, fabrics on Commercial Street, and design-forward boutiques in Indiranagar.

Getting around is easiest with the Namma Metro (Purple and Green lines) and rideshare cabs; traffic can be heavy, so start early for day trips. Pack modest clothing for temples, cash for markets, and an appetite for street eats. This 7-day itinerary threads history, gardens, markets, wildlife, and day trips—paced for discovery, not fatigue.

Bangalore (Bengaluru)

Bangalore rewards curiosity. Start with dawn in KR Market’s riot of marigolds, then trace the old pété (bazaar) quarters to Tipu Sultan’s teak palace. By afternoon, slide into leafy parks and contemporary galleries before a filter-coffee pause. Evenings bring buzzy brewpubs, world-class South Indian dining, and late-night parottas on Residency Road.

Top sights include Lalbagh Botanical Garden, Cubbon Park, Bangalore Palace, Tipu Sultan’s Summer Palace, Bull Temple, KR Market, Vidhana Soudha, National Gallery of Modern Art, and the Church Street–MG Road corridor. Neighborhoods worth lingering: Basavanagudi for heritage and food, Malleshwaram for old-Bangalore rhythms, Indiranagar for boutiques and bars, and Koramangala for cafes and brunch.

Where to stay (curated picks + search tools):

• The Oberoi, Bengaluru (MG Road; legendary service, leafy pool): Check rates
• Taj MG Road, Bengaluru (central, great for first-timers): Check rates
• Taj West End (historic bungalow ambiance by Cubbon Park): Check rates
• The Leela Palace Bengaluru (resort-style luxury near Old Airport Road): Check rates
• Treebo Trend Raj Premier (value stay near central hubs): Check rates
• Hotel Empire International (budget, late-night eats next door): See details
• Search more hotels: Hotels.com — Bangalore
• Prefer apartments or villas: VRBO — Bangalore

Getting to Bangalore: Fly into BLR (Kempegowda International). Compare fares on Trip.com Flights or Kiwi.com. Trains from within India arrive at KSR (Majestic), Yeshwanthpur, and KR Puram; check schedules on Trip.com Trains (2.5–6 hours from Chennai/Mysuru; ~₹250–₹1200 depending on class).

Day 1: Arrive, MG Road and Church Street Stroll

Afternoon: Land and check in. Shake off jet lag with a gentle walk in Cubbon Park—stone pathways, bamboo groves, and the red-bricked State Central Library set the tone. Swing by the Visvesvaraya Industrial & Technological Museum if you’re traveling with kids or science lovers.

Evening: Do a book-and-bite amble along Church Street. Browse used treasures at Blossoms Book House, then grab craft pints and small plates at Communiti (try the crispy corn and house lagers) or The Biere Club on Lavelle Road. Dinner at Karavalli (Taj gateway on Residency Road): order the kori gassi, Meen Pollichathu, and neer dosa—arguably the city’s benchmark for coastal Karnataka cuisine. Dessert: Corner House’s cult “Death by Chocolate.”

Food picks today: Coffee at Matteo Coffea (Church Street); if you arrive late, Empire Restaurant on Church Street serves parottas and kebabs past midnight.

Day 2: Old Bangalore Heritage, KR Market, Basavanagudi

Morning: Start early at KR Market’s flower bazaar—jasmine and marigold garlands piled like hills. Join a guided heritage walk to decode the pété quarters, Tipu’s era, and living crafts:

Tipu Palace + Koté Vishnu + Fort + KR Market + Jain Temple = Bengaluru Pété Walk (Viator)

Breakfast nearby at Brahmin’s Coffee Bar (idli-vada with chutney; strong filter coffee) or CTR Shri Sagar in Malleshwaram for the legendary benne dosa.

Afternoon: Explore Tipu Sultan’s Summer Palace (intricate teakwork) and Bangalore Fort, then head to the Bull Temple (Dodda Basavana Gudi). Stroll Gandhi Bazaar for bangle and pooja shops. Lunch at Hallimane (Malleshwaram) for North Karnataka meals with jolada rotti and yennegai, or at Ranganna Military Hotel (Authentic Karnataka non-veg; mutton chops and nati koli).

Evening: Classic dinner at Vidyarthi Bhavan (plan for a queue; crisp masala dosas are worth it). Round off with a walk around Bugle Rock Park. For a nightcap, try Byg Brewski Brewing Company (Hennur or Sarjapur)—vast gardens, wood-fired grills, and reliable IPAs.

Day 3: “Discover Bangalore Through the Ages” — Full-Day Guided City Tour

Let an expert condense centuries into a day—gardens, temples, and modern Bangalore with lunch included:

Discover Bangalore Through the Ages — Guided Tour with Lunch (Viator)

Expect highlights like ISKCON Temple’s ornate sanctum, the glasshouse at Lalbagh Botanical Garden, Vidhana Soudha’s granite might, and a curated lunch stop. It’s a great overview early in the trip. In the evening, feast at Rim Naam (The Oberoi’s alfresco Thai by a lily pond) or Nagarjuna (Residency Road) for fiery Andhra meals—try the chicken roast and avakai biryani.

Day 4: Day Trip to Mysore, Somnathpur & Srirangapatna

Trade city bustle for royal avenues and Hoysala stone lacework. Depart around 6:30 a.m.; it’s ~3–3.5 hours by road each way. Prefer a streamlined, guided experience with entries and logistics handled?

Best of Mysore, UNESCO Somnathpur Temple & Srirangapatna Day Tour (Viator)

Highlights: the Keshava Temple at Somnathpur (13th-century soapstone marvel), Amba Vilas (Mysore Palace) with stained glass and gilded halls, and Tipu Sultan’s island citadel in Srirangapatna. Lunch ideas if you go independent: Vinayaka Mylari (ghee dosas) or Parklane Hotel’s simple thali. Prefer trains? Mysuru Shatabdi/Express from KSR takes ~2.5–3 hours each way (₹250–₹1000); search on Trip.com Trains. Back in Bangalore, late dinner at Empire (biryani, shawarma) which serves well past midnight.

Day 5: Modern Bangalore — Boutiques, Bookstores, and Craft Beer

Morning: Brunch in Koramangala at Hole in the Wall Café (fluffy omelets, waffles) or DYU Art Café (Kerala-style snacks, art-lined walls). Browse indie stores on 8th Block and then head to Bangalore Palace for a self-guided look at the Tudor-style interiors and grounds.

Afternoon: Shop Commercial Street (fabrics, footwear, silver), then Church Street for new titles at Bookworm and more seconds at Blossoms. Coffee crawl: Third Wave Coffee Roasters or Blue Tokai for pour-overs; Hatti Kaapi or Indian Coffee House for old-school filter coffee.

Evening: Choose your vibe. For sky views, The 13th Floor (classic cocktails, city lights). For brewpub + garden ambiance, Byg Brewski (Sarjapur): order the wood-fired pizzas and a hop-forward IPA. Prefer music and a quieter conversation? Windmills Craftworks (Whitefield) pairs craft beer with a stellar library and occasional jazz gigs. Dinner picks nearby include Truffles (burgers) or Toscano (Italian) if you want a Western bite.

Day 6: Bannerghatta Wildlife and Butterfly Park

Meet the city’s wild side south of town (~1–1.5 hours’ drive depending on where you start). A guided visit helps with transfers, safari tickets, and time management:

Explore Bangalore’s Wild Side – An Exclusive Bannerghatta Safari! (Viator)

Expect a safari through herbivore and carnivore enclosures, elephant and big-cat viewing, plus a delightful Butterfly Park. Pack water and a hat; queues build by late morning. Post-tour dinner: Meghana Foods (biryani with a kick) or Kaapi + tiffin at Taaza Thindi (Jayanagar) if you want something light and local.

Day 7: Nandi Hills Sunrise, Temple Carvings, and Farewell

Morning: Pre-dawn drive to Nandi Hills (60–75 km; 1.5–2 hours). Watch the sun spill over mist-laced valleys from Tipu’s Drop, then continue to Bhoga Nandeeshwara Temple at the hill’s base—exquisite Dravidian carvings and a serene kalyani tank. Entry fees are modest (~₹20–₹50); bring small change.

Afternoon: Return to the city for a final South Indian brunch. Options: MTR (Mavalli Tiffin Rooms) near Lalbagh for rava idli and sagu; or New Krishna Bhavan (Malleshwaram) for thatte idli and khara bath. Depart for the airport; compare rides and timing (BLR is ~60–90 minutes from central areas in traffic). If you’re flying today or onward, check options on Trip.com Flights or Kiwi.com.

Evening: If you have extra time before departure, stretch your legs at UB City’s piazza, pick up last-minute gifts at Honey & Spice (honey, masalas) or Khadi stores, and close with filter coffee at Koshy’s on St. Marks Road—a Bangalore institution since the 1940s.

Practical notes:

• Namma Metro is the fastest cross-town option; autos and app cabs are easy for short hops. Start early for KR Market, Mysore, Bannerghatta, and Nandi Hills.
• Temple etiquette: shoulders and knees covered; remove footwear. Cash is handy at markets and street-food lanes (VV Puram Food Street is great in the evening).
• Rains visit June–Sept; carry a light rain jacket. Winters (Nov–Feb) are mild and ideal for outdoor time.

Optional swap-ins (if you want to tailor days): Art lovers can dedicate an afternoon to Karnataka Chitrakala Parishath and the National Gallery of Modern Art. Aviation buffs will enjoy the HAL Heritage Centre and Aerospace Museum near Old Airport Road. Foodies should not miss VV Puram “Thindi Beedi” for dosa, holige, pav bhaji, and gadbad ice cream.

In a week, you’ll have tasted old and new Bangalore—temples and palaces at dawn, gardens by mid-morning, markets at full throttle, and clinking glasses at sunset. With Mysore’s regal splendor, Bannerghatta’s wildlife, and a Nandi Hills sunrise in the mix, this Bengaluru itinerary balances culture, cuisine, and calm with ease.