Bangalore—officially Bengaluru—grew from a 16th‑century fort town into India’s tech capital, all while keeping a heart of gardens, lakes, and age-old eateries. You’ll feel that mix instantly: Cubbon Park’s canopies, KR Market’s kaleidoscope of flowers, and gleaming cafés steps from centuries-old temples.

Nicknamed the Garden City, Bangalore’s mild climate, blossoming jacarandas, and sprawling Lalbagh Botanical Garden make it a rare big city that begs you to slow down. Yet its markets, breweries, music venues, and indie bookstores keep the pulse quick. The food scene is a pilgrimage for dosa lovers and filter coffee fans.

Practicals: October–February is coolest; June–September brings monsoon showers. Traffic can crawl—use the Namma Metro and plan generously. Dress modestly for temples, carry small cash for markets, and book popular tables (like dosas at Vidyarthi Bhavan) early on weekends.

Bangalore (Bengaluru)

Bangalore’s core is compact enough to explore in neighborhoods: MG Road/Church Street for bookshops and cafés, Basavanagudi and Malleswaram for heritage streets and iconic tiffin joints, Indiranagar and Koramangala for dining and nightlife, and Whitefield for museums and live music. Day trips unlock hilltop sunrises and royal palaces.

Top sights span the Lalbagh Botanical Garden, Cubbon Park, Bangalore Palace, Tipu Sultan’s Summer Palace, KR (City) Market, ISKCON Temple, and the engaging HAL Heritage Centre & Aerospace Museum. For shopping, browse Commercial Street, Church Street, and the sleek arcades at UB City.

• Where to stay (book with our partners):
  • The Oberoi, Bengaluru (MG Road): Leafy resort feel, stellar service, and a renowned Thai restaurant Rim Naam.
  • The Leela Palace Bengaluru (Old Airport Rd): Palatial rooms, landscaped gardens, and destination dining.
  • Taj MG Road, Bengaluru (Ulsoor/MG Rd): Convenient, contemporary, near metro and lake walks.
  • Taj West End (Race Course Rd): Heritage hotel set in 20 acres of greenery—oasis vibes.
  • Treebo Trend Raj Premier (budget-friendly, central): Clean rooms, good value near dining corridors.
  • Hotel Empire International (budget, foodies love the late-night kebabs downstairs).
  • Browse more stays: Hotels.com – Bangalore or apartment stays on VRBO – Bangalore.
• Getting to Bangalore (BLR): Fly into Kempegowda International Airport. From Mumbai (~1.5 hrs, ~$55–120 round-trip), Delhi (~2.5 hrs, ~$65–140), Dubai (~4 hrs, ~$220–450), Singapore (~4.5 hrs, ~$260–550), London (~10 hrs nonstop on select days, ~$650–1,150). Search fares on Kiwi.com or Trip.com Flights. Intercity trains (e.g., Chennai 6–7 hrs; Mysuru 2.5–3 hrs) on Trip.com Trains.
• Airport to city: 35–60 km depending on your hotel; 45–90 minutes by taxi, or take KIA airport buses to MG Road/Indiranagar/Koramangala. Metro is expanding; for now, taxis and app cabs are easiest with luggage.

Day 1: Arrive, Church Street Stroll & Bangalore Bites

Morning: Fly in; you’ll likely land midday or early afternoon. Check in and refresh—if you’re near MG Road, you’re perfectly placed for parks, shopping, and great food.

Afternoon: Ease into the city with a wander along Church Street. Pop into Blossom Book House for second‑hand treasures and coffee at Matteo Coffea or Third Wave Coffee Roasters (try South Indian filter coffee to anchor your palate). If you need a quick bite, grab samosas and jalebis at Anand Sweets & Savouries.

Evening: Dinner at Karavalli (coastal Karnataka classics—crab in black pepper, neer dosa, and mojiito-style sol kadi) or at Nagarjuna (Andhra thali on banana leaf; famed spicy podi and ghee). Nightcap at Byg Brewski (Sarjapur or Hennur; sprawling craft brewery with open-air seating and solid pub grub) or The Biere Club (Lavelle Road; one of the city’s pioneers).

Day 2: Full-Day Guided Bangalore Essentials

Let a local historian-guide knit the city’s layers together on a comprehensive tour (temples, gardens, palaces, and lunch included).

Discover Bangalore Through the Ages — Guided Tour with Lunch

Expect highlights like the serene ISKCON Temple, the glasshouse of Lalbagh, Tipu Sultan’s Summer Palace, and stops near Vidhana Soudha and Cubbon Park. It’s an efficient way to orient yourself early in the week.

For dinner after your tour, head to Koshy’s on St. Mark’s Road (old‑world café beloved by writers; order appam-stew or cutlets) or Rim Naam at The Oberoi for alfresco Thai under rain trees.

Day 3: Old Bangalore—Fort, Temples, KR Market & Palate of the Pété

Morning: Dive into the historic pété (old quarter) with a guided walk that threads through palaces, shrines, and the city’s most photogenic market.

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

After the walk, refuel at the Basavanagudi legends: Mavalli Tiffin Room (MTR) for rava idli and sagu, or Vidyarthi Bhavan for ghee-laced masala dosas with coconut chutney.

Afternoon: Tour Bangalore Palace (Tudor-style turrets, ornate interiors) and the National Gallery of Modern Art for Indian masters in a heritage mansion. Pause for an ice-cream sundae at Corner House (try Death by Chocolate—an old-school rite of passage).

Evening: Make it a street‑food safari on VV Puram Food Street: hot holige (sweet flatbreads), pav bhaji, masala dosas, and rose gulkand ice cream. For sit‑down dinner, try Shivaji Military Hotel for aromatic donne biryani or Meghana Foods for boneless Andhra chili chicken and biryani.

Day 4: Nandi Hills Sunrise & Lazy Indiranagar Evening

Wake early for misty viewpoints, hilltop fort traces, and countryside air—Bangalore’s classic dawn escape.

Nandi Hills Day Trip from Bangalore

Typically a 60–90 minute drive each way. After sunrise and the historic Nandidurga sites, stop at a local darshini (stand-and-eat canteen) for idli-vada and piping filter coffee on the return.

Back in the city, nap or get a spa treatment. In the evening, graze along Indiranagar’s 12th Main: start with small plates at The Permit Room (South Indian flavors with a twist), then craft cocktails at Sanchez Cantina & Bar or a mellow wine at Toscano. If you prefer live music and books, Church Street Social hosts gigs, and Champaca (bookstore+café) is perfect for a quiet hour.

Day 5: Aerospace, Whitefield Eats & Music

Morning: Head to the HAL Heritage Centre & Aerospace Museum to trace India’s aviation story—airframes, engines, and a hands‑on simulator for kids at heart. It’s engaging even if you’re not an avgeek.

Afternoon: Whitefield is great for a long lunch and a browse. Book a table at Windmills (microbrewery with a jazz club upstairs and excellent Texas‑leaning plates; their breads and burgers are standouts) or at The Bengaluru Brasserie (seasonal, bright plates, pool views). Shop and people-watch at Phoenix Marketcity afterward.

Evening: Catch a play at Ranga Shankara (JP Nagar; strong repertory of Kannada, Hindi, and English productions). For dinner nearby, Oota Bangalore serves regional Karnataka fare—Badnekai ennegai, ragi mudde, Mangalorean ghee roast—explained with pride. Night dessert? A final dip at Corner House or creamy kulfi at Bombay Chowpati Kulfi.

Day 6: Royal Day Trip to Mysore (Palace, Srirangapatna & Somnathpur)

Spend a day with the Wodeyars and Hoysala artisans: opulent palaces, a riverside island steeped in history, and one of South India’s most exquisite temples.

Best of Mysore, UNESCO Somnathpur Temple & Srirangapatna Day Tour

Depart around 7:00–7:30 a.m. Expect the gilded Mysore Palace, Tipu-era sites at Srirangapatna, and the star‑shaped Keshava Temple at Somnathpur with its lacework stone carvings. Many tours include lunch or a curated stop for Mysore masala dosa and filter coffee.

Back in Bangalore, keep dinner light: Haldiram’s chaat plates near MG Road, or soups and salads at Green Theory (quiet garden seating). Early night is welcome after a big day.

Day 7: Park Mornings, Souvenirs & Departure

Morning: Greet the city in Cubbon Park—bamboo groves, red flamboyants, and dog walkers galore. Stroll by the State Central Library’s terracotta façade and snap Vidhana Soudha from the outside. Brunch at Indian Coffee House (waiters in turbans; strong coffee, masala omelets) or at Koshy’s if you missed it earlier.

Afternoon: Last‑minute shopping on Commercial Street and Brigade Road: embroidered kurtas, juttis, silver jewelry, and indie tees. Pick up filter coffee powder and spices at Bangalore HOPCOMS outlets or neighborhood stores. Depart for the airport—leave 3.5 hours before an international flight, 2.5 hours for domestic during peak traffic.

Evening: Fly onward with a pocket full of spice and the afterglow of jacaranda blossoms.

Local Food & Drink Shortlist (Save This!)

• Dosa & Tiffin: MTR (rava idli origin story), Vidyarthi Bhavan (crispy, buttery dosas), CTR Sri Sagar (Malleshwaram; benne dosa), Brahmin’s Coffee Bar (pillowy idlis, vada, and coffee).
• Meals on Banana Leaf: Nagarjuna or Bheema’s (Andhra thalis), Hallimane (Karnataka home-style).
• Biryani: Shivaji Military Hotel (peppery donne biryani), Meghana Foods (Andhra-style crowd pleaser).
• Coastal & Fine Dining: Karavalli; Rim Naam at The Oberoi for garden-side Thai.
• Cafés & Coffee: Matteo Coffea (Church Street), Third Wave Coffee, Indian Coffee House.
• Breweries & Nightlife: Byg Brewski, Windmills, The Biere Club.

Optional Add‑Ons (If You Have Extra Energy)

• Nrityagram Dance Village (Hesaraghatta) for a morning of Odissi practice viewing (call ahead).
• Ulsoor Lake loop walk at sunrise.
• ISKCON Temple in the late afternoon for arati chants and city views.

How to get around: Use Namma Metro (Purple/Green lines) for MG Road, Indiranagar, Jayanagar, and KSR City Railway Station; auto‑rickshaws and rideshares fill the gaps. For day trips, book vetted tours (above) or hire a car with driver through your hotel.

Book your flights on Kiwi.com or Trip.com Flights, trains on Trip.com Trains, and stays via Hotels.com or VRBO for the best availability in peak season.

In seven days, you’ll see Bengaluru’s best: dew-dropped gardens, temple bells in the old pété, craft beer and bookstores, a sunrise above the clouds, and Mysore’s gilded halls. This itinerary keeps travel time sane and flavors bold—just how Bangalore likes it.