Once known as the “Garden City,” Bengaluru (Bangalore) grew into India’s tech capital without losing its leafy heart. You’ll roam 18th-century palaces, colonial-era parks, and buzzing markets perfumed by jasmine garlands before tasting the city’s booming culinary scene and microbreweries.

Just a fast train away lies Mysuru, a city of palaces and sandalwood where the Wadiyar rulers left a treasure trove of Indo-Saracenic architecture and living crafts. Westward, the hills of Coorg (Kodagu) unfurl in green waves—coffee, spice, and cool mist with treks, waterfalls, and velvety beans roasted on-site.

This 7-day Karnataka itinerary balances history, nature, and food. Expect early mornings for markets and gardens, leisurely lunches on banana leaves, and golden sunsets from hilltop viewpoints. Getting around is easy with trains, reliable road trips, and app cabs—plus plenty of filter coffee to power your days.

Bengaluru

Bengaluru is India’s incubator of ideas—startups, design studios, craft roasters—yet mornings still begin with a crisp dosa and a steel tumbler of filter coffee. Spend time in Lalbagh and Cubbon Park, visit palaces and art museums, then graze your way across neighborhoods like Basavanagudi, Malleshwaram, Indiranagar, and Church Street.

• Top sights: Lalbagh Botanical Garden, Cubbon Park, Tipu Sultan’s Summer Palace, Bangalore Palace, KR (City) Market flower mandi, Visvesvaraya Industrial & Technological Museum, NGMA, HAL Aerospace Museum.
• Eat & drink: Iconic breakfasts at MTR (Lalbagh Rd), Vidyarthi Bhavan (Basavanagudi), Brahmin’s Coffee Bar (Shankarapuram), and CTR/Shri Sagar (Malleshwaram). Andhra meals at Nagarjuna (Residency Rd), coastal Karnataka at Karavalli (Residency Rd), biryani at Meghana Foods, regional thalis at Oota Bangalore (HSR/Whitefield), and craft beer at Byg Brewski (Sarjapur/Hennur) or Windmills Craftworks (Whitefield).
• Fun fact: Bengaluru’s “Garden City” moniker dates to the 19th century; many of its grand avenues and parks were laid out during the British Raj.
• Where to stay: Browse stays on VRBO Bengaluru or Hotels.com Bengaluru. Notable picks: The Leela Palace Bengaluru, Taj MG Road, Bengaluru, and value-friendly Treebo Trend Raj Premier.
• How to get there: Fly into BLR—compare fares on Trip.com flights or Kiwi.com. Airport to city: 45–90 minutes by app cab or Vayu Vajra airport buses.

Mysuru (Mysore)

Mysuru is royalty writ in sandstone and stained glass. Its grand palace gleams by day; in the evening, it’s strung with tens of thousands of bulbs on select days, evoking the opulence of the Wadiyars.

• Top sights: Mysore Palace, Jaganmohan Palace Art Gallery, Devaraja Market, Chamundi Hill, St. Philomena’s Cathedral, (optional) Brindavan Gardens light show.
• Local bites: Set dosa at Vinayaka Mylari, thali and biryani at Hotel RRR, and sweet specialties like Mysore Pak from neighborhood sweet shops.
• Stay suggestions: See options on VRBO Mysuru or Hotels.com Mysuru.
• Getting there: Bengaluru–Mysuru by train in 2–2.5 hours (Vande Bharat or Shatabdi; ~INR 500–1,600). Check schedules on Trip.com trains. By car: ~3–3.5 hours via NICE Rd–Mysore Rd.

Coorg (Madikeri)

Coorg is where mornings smell like roasted Arabica and damp forest. Estates weave through rolling hills; trails thread to waterfalls, viewpoints, and Tibetan monasteries near Kushalnagar.

• Top sights & activities: Coffee and spice estates, Raja’s Seat sunset, Abbey Falls, Dubare Elephant Camp (timings vary), Bylakuppe monasteries, seasonal rafting (monsoon dependent).
• Eat & sip: Try Kodava specialties like pandi (pork) curry and akki rotti at Coorg Cuisine; savor estate brews at cafés around Madikeri.
• Stay suggestions: Peruse cabins and homestays on VRBO Madikeri or Hotels.com Madikeri.
• Getting there: Mysuru–Madikeri ~3.5–4 hours by car; Bengaluru–Madikeri ~5–6 hours. Buses run via Kushalnagar; no direct trains to Coorg.

Day 1: Arrive in Bengaluru, Garden Strolls and Church Street

Afternoon: Land at BLR and check into your hotel. If energy allows, stretch your legs in Cubbon Park—a 19th-century oasis lined with rain trees—then duck into the Visvesvaraya Industrial & Technological Museum for hands-on science.

Evening: Head to Church Street. Start with South Indian filter coffee at Matteo Coffea or a flat white at Third Wave Coffee Roasters. Dinner at Karavalli (coastal Karnataka, Mangalorean, and Goan seafood—try the thali or kane rava fry). Nightcap on MG Road at The 13th Floor for sweeping city views.

Day 2: Old Bengaluru—Gardens, Palaces, and Markets

Morning: Classic breakfast at MTR (Masala dosa with ghee, idli vada, and strong filter coffee). Wander Lalbagh Botanical Garden to see the Glass House and a 3,000-million-year-old rock outcrop. Continue to Tipu Sultan’s Summer Palace, an elegant teak structure with painted arches.

Afternoon: Walk to Bangalore Fort’s remnants, then into KR Market’s riot of colors—marigold and jasmine garlands, piles of chilies, and brassware. Lunch at Nagarjuna on Residency Road for a spicy Andhra veg/non-veg meal on banana leaves.

Evening: Explore Indiranagar’s boutiques and cafés. For dinner and craft beer, Byg Brewski (Sarjapur) pairs wood-fired grills with sprawling, garden-like seating; or opt for regional Karnataka fare at Oota Bangalore. Dessert? Corner House’s “Death by Chocolate,” a local cult favorite.

Day 3: Wildlife and City Highlights (Guided)

Book the From Bangalore Bannerghatta Park and City Sights Private Tour for a well-paced day that combines Bannerghatta Biological Park with city icons like Lalbagh and Tipu’s Palace. It’s a great all-in-one for wildlife, history, and culture with hotel pickup and a local guide.

After the tour, browse UB City’s open-air piazza for a coffee or mocktail. Dinner near MG Road: try Meghana Foods for Andhra-style biryani or Zen at The Leela Palace for refined pan-Asian if you’re celebrating.

Day 4: Bengaluru to Mysuru—Palace, Art, and Market Walk

Morning (travel): Catch an early train from KSR Bengaluru or Yesvantpur to Mysuru (Vande Bharat ~2h10; Shatabdi ~2.5h). Check times and book on Trip.com trains. Approximate fares INR 500–1,600 depending on class.

Join the Mysore Heritage Walk to cover Mysore Palace’s gilded halls, the Jaganmohan Art Gallery’s Raja Ravi Varma canvases, and Devaraja Market’s spice and flower lanes with stories that bring the city to life.

Evening: Taste the famous set dosa at Vinayaka Mylari or head to Hotel RRR for a hearty thali or biryani. If time allows, drive to Brindavan Gardens for the musical fountain show (check current timings locally). Overnight in Mysuru—browse VRBO or Hotels.com for central stays.

Day 5: Mysuru to Coorg—Coffee, Spices, and Hill Country

Morning (travel): Depart Mysuru by car to Madikeri (Coorg) ~3.5–4 hours via Kushalnagar. Stop at Bylakuppe’s Namdroling Monastery (Golden Temple) if you’d like a serene, Tibetan detour.

Mercara Gold Coorg Coffee and Spice Estate Tour: Walk through shade-grown plantations, learn bean-to-cup processing, and smell cardamom, pepper, and vanilla vines. Tasting included—great for understanding Kodagu’s agricultural backbone.

Evening: Check into a hillside homestay or hotel (VRBO Madikeri | Hotels.com Madikeri). Catch sunset at Raja’s Seat, then dine at Coorg Cuisine (try pandi curry, noolputtu string hoppers, and a lime-chili relish called koli pudi).

Day 6: Trekking in Coorg, Return to Bengaluru

Morning adventure: the Half Day Guided Trek winds through rainforest and grassland to a peak with valley views (easy to medium; ~4 hours). Keep a light rain jacket handy outside the dry months.

Afternoon (travel): Lunch in Madikeri (Raintree serves Coorg and North Indian staples), then depart for Bengaluru by car—~5–6 hours depending on traffic. Expect to arrive in the evening; stretch out with a relaxed dinner near your hotel. For a celebratory last big meal, consider Jamavar at The Leela Palace for refined Indian regional tasting menus.

Day 7: Bengaluru Brunch, Shopping, and Departure

Morning: Early dosa crawl—CTR/Shri Sagar in Malleshwaram (benne dosa), Vidyarthi Bhavan (crisp, umbrella-shaped masala dosas), or Brahmin’s Coffee Bar (idli vada with coconut chutney only). Walk off breakfast in Malleshwaram’s markets or in leafy lanes around Basavanagudi.

Afternoon: Last-minute shopping on Commercial Street for fabrics, on Brigade Road for high-street, or at Cauvery Handicrafts Emporium for sandalwood and inlay work. Transfer to BLR for your flight—compare options on Trip.com or Kiwi.com. If you’re staying tonight, toast the city at Windmills Craftworks with live jazz and a Kolsch.

Practical Notes

• Best time: October–March for pleasant weather. June–September monsoon brings lush landscapes (and rain gear).
• Getting around: Uber/Ola are ubiquitous; Metro is expanding and handy for MG Road/Indiranagar. For intercity legs, use Trip.com trains or private car hires (Bengaluru–Mysuru ~INR 3,500–5,000; Mysuru–Coorg ~INR 3,000–4,500; Coorg–Bengaluru ~INR 5,500–7,500, depending on vehicle and season).
• What to eat: Dosas, idli vada, Karnataka-style thalis, donne biryani, coastal seafood, pandi curry, and of course filter coffee. For street snacks, V.V. Puram Food Street lights up in the evening.
• Stay picks in Bengaluru: For pampering, The Leela Palace Bengaluru. For central convenience, Taj MG Road, Bengaluru. For budget-friendly comfort, Treebo Trend Raj Premier.

Optional extra day ideas: aviation fans can add HAL Heritage Centre & Aerospace Museum; art lovers, NGMA; families, Jawaharlal Nehru Planetarium. Coffee connoisseurs can add a second estate visit around Kushalnagar.

For flights to/from India, search Trip.com flights or Kiwi.com. For trains in India, check Trip.com trains.

In seven days, you’ll have tasted Bengaluru’s legendary filter coffee and cutting-edge dining, stood beneath Mysore Palace’s gilded ceilings, and breathed the spice-scented air of Coorg’s hills. Karnataka rewards curiosity—come hungry, walk often, and leave room for one more dosa.