Bengaluru—still fondly called Bangalore—grew from a 16th-century fort town into India’s tech capital. Yet beyond startups and skylines, the “Garden City” holds temples older than empires, a botanical garden seeded by emperors, and one of the most colorful flower markets in Asia.

Travelers come for the weather (pleasant most of the year), the coffee culture, and food that swings from centuries-old tiffin rooms to modern craft breweries. Stroll grand colonial boulevards, duck into incense-scented shrines, and watch the city flip from serene parks to buzzing night streets by sundown.

Practical notes: The best time to visit is October–February. Traffic is real—plan smart with clusters by neighborhood and the Namma Metro (Purple/Green lines) where possible. Dress modestly for temples, carry small notes for auto-rickshaws, and pace meals—South Indian breakfasts can be gloriously generous.

Bangalore

The city thrives on contrasts: 18th-century palaces and cutting-edge art venues, timeless vegetarian thalis and cult-favorite biryanis, meditative parks and electric craft beer gardens. It’s a place to sip strong filter coffee at dawn and end with live jazz in Whitefield or a rooftop on MG Road.

• Top sights: Lalbagh Botanical Garden, Cubbon Park, KR (City) Market, Bangalore Palace, Bull Temple (Dodda Basavana Gudi), ISKCON Temple, National Gallery of Modern Art (NGMA), Visvesvaraya Industrial & Technological Museum.
• Eat & drink: Iconic tiffin rooms (MTR, Vidyarthi Bhavan, CTR), fiery Andhra meals (Nagarjuna), military-style biryani (Shivaji Military Hotel), coastal feasts (Karavalli), microbreweries (Byg Brewski, Windmills Craftworks, Geist).
• Neighborhood vibes: MG Road/Church Street for bookstores and cafes, Indiranagar for restaurants and bars, Basavanagudi for heritage lanes and temples, Whitefield for live music and design-forward dining.

Where to stay (MG Road/Residency Road and central neighborhoods minimize commute):

• The Oberoi, Bengaluru (lush gardens on MG Road; impeccable service): Check availability
• Taj MG Road, Bengaluru (walkable to Church Street/metro): Check availability
• Taj West End (heritage resort-in-the-city with old-growth trees): Check availability
• The Leela Palace Bengaluru (regal, resort-style oasis near the ORR): Check availability
• Treebo Trend Raj Premier (budget-friendly near prime areas): Check availability
• Browse more hotels: Bangalore hotels on Hotels.com
• Prefer apartments/villas: VRBO stays in Bangalore

Getting in: Fly into BLR (Kempegowda International). Search fares on Trip.com Flights or Kiwi.com. From the airport, an app taxi to MG Road is 50–90 minutes (approx ₹900–1,400), or take the Vayu Vajra airport bus (₹300–400, every 15–30 minutes). For trains within India, check Trip.com Trains.

Day 1: Arrival, Cubbon Park calm, Church Street flavor

Afternoon: Land, check in, and stretch your legs in Cubbon Park—a green lung ringed by neo-classical buildings. Pop into the State Central Library for its red-brick grandeur. Coffee at Matteo Coffea (Brigade Road) or Third Wave Coffee (Church Street) to sample the city’s specialty brew scene.

Evening: Browse stacks at Blossoms Book House (legendary used books) and stroll the pedestrian-friendly Church Street. Dinner at Nagarjuna (Andhra meals on banana leaf—try the spicy chicken roast and gongura chutney) or coastal classic Karavalli (mangalorean crab, kori gassi). Nightcap on a view-rich terrace at The 13th Floor (Barton Centre) or sample craft pints at Byg Brewski Brewing Company (Sarjapur) if you don’t mind a short ride.

Day 2: Full-day Bangalore heritage and gardens (guided)

Today is a comprehensive, guided city immersion covering temples, gardens, markets, and key monuments—ideal on Day 2 to map the city’s story early.

Book: Discover Bangalore Through the Ages — Guided Tour with Lunch

Expect highlights such as Lalbagh Botanical Garden (glasshouse modeled on London’s Crystal Palace), Tipu Sultan’s Summer Palace (teak columns and arches), the serene Someshwara or Bull Temple, and the kaleidoscopic KR Market. A local guide’s context brings dynasties and deities to life, and lunch introduces classic Karnataka flavors.

Optional dinner after your tour: MTR – Mavalli Tiffin Rooms (set “meals” and iconic rava idli), or head to Church Street Social for a lively bistro vibe.

Day 3: Old Bengaluru lanes, palaces, and museum time

Morning: Dive deeper into the city’s pre-colonial trading quarter with a storytelling walk.

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

It’s a compact hit-list of timber palaces, citadel remains, vibrant shrines, and the dizzying colors of the flower market—great for photography and spice shopping.

Afternoon: Continue to the Visvesvaraya Industrial & Technological Museum (engaging, hands-on science), then pause for old-school filter coffee and masala dosa at Indian Coffee House or CTR (Shri Sagar) in Malleshwaram (famously crisp benne dosa). If time allows, step into the National Gallery of Modern Art for a tranquil art fix.

Evening: Dress-casual for a refined regional dinner at Karavalli (coastal southwest masterpieces) or explore Oota Bangalore (Whitefield) for a curated tour of Karnataka cuisines—Kodava pork, Mangalorean neer dosa, and more. Cap the night with a gin at Sanchez & Sriracha’s neighbors on UB City’s terrace strip or keep it mellow with ice cream on MG Road.

Day 4: Nandi Hills countryside escape

Leave the city for breezy hills, fort ruins, vineyards, and colonial-era bungalows. It’s the classic Bangalore day trip.

Book: Nandi Hills Day Trip from Bangalore

The ~60 km drive (about 1.5–2 hours each way) rewards with misty viewpoints, the 9th-century Bhoga Nandeeshwara Temple, and laid-back village life. If not on a tour, depart by 5:00–5:30 am to catch sunrise, then linger over thatte idli at a highway joint.

Back in town, keep dinner easy: Koshy’s (old-Bangalore institution—appam–stew, prawn curry, cutlets) or Andhra-style comfort at Nagarjuna. If you’ve got energy, swing by Geist Brewing Co. (Old Madras Road) for crisp lagers and seasonal specials.

Day 5: Gardens, palaces, and Indiranagar evenings

Morning: Beat the crowds at Lalbagh Botanical Garden. Walk the lake loop, see the "Lalbagh Rock" (among the planet’s oldest geological formations), and the glasshouse. Breakfast afterwards at MTR (idli–vada–kesari bath combo) or Brahmin’s Coffee Bar (silky chutney and hot vadas).

Afternoon: Tour Bangalore Palace (Tudor-style interiors and ballroom tales). Then choose between ISKCON Temple (sweeping views, serene chants) and NGMA for art. Shoppers can detour to Commercial Street for fabrics, silver, and juttis—bargain politely.

Evening: Head to Indiranagar 12th Main for a progressive dinner: start with small plates at a modern Indian spot, move to coastal fish fry at a specialty house, and finish with craft cocktails. If you prefer beer and music, book a table at Windmills Craftworks (Whitefield) for live jazz and elegant brews; the smoked porter pairs well with their kebabs.

Day 6: Basavanagudi temples, market flavors, and a home-cooking masterclass

Morning: Explore old-world Basavanagudi. Visit the monolithic Bull Temple, then wander Gandhi Bazaar for flower garlands and brassware. Brunch at Vidyarthi Bhavan (semolina-crisp masala dosas; go early and expect a cheerful wait).

Afternoon: Join a local for a hands-on kitchen experience—learn spice tempering, masala basics, and the logic of a South Indian meal (rice, sambar, palya, pachadi).

Book: Private Cooking and Dining Experience in Bengaluru

Evening: Taste the city’s street-food soul at VV Puram Food Street: try pav bhaji, akki rotti, paddu, holige (sweet flatbread), and old-fashioned fruit salad with ice cream. End with sugarcane juice or a short tuk-tuk ride for kulfi.

Day 7: Parks, last-minute shopping, and farewell lunch

Morning: Breathe easy with a final walk through Cubbon Park or the leafy streets of Malleshwaram. Coffee at Third Wave or a final filter at Brahmin’s. If you collect crafts, swing by emporiums around MG Road for sandalwood carvings, Channapatna toys, and handloom textiles.

Afternoon: Early farewell lunch. Pick Shivaji Military Hotel (donne biryani; go early—sells out), or a multi-course coastal spread at Karavalli if you want an indulgent finale. Depart for BLR with buffer time—weekday traffic can be slow.

Evening: Departure day—if you have a late flight, unwind in your hotel garden or a quiet cafe near MG Road.

Optional add-ons for another visit: Wildlife at Bannerghatta Biological Park (family-friendly safari), a dance-heritage morning at Nrityagram near Hessarghatta, or a full-day Mysore excursion (3–3.5 hours each way by car; ~2.5–3 hours by train from KSR Bengaluru—check times on Trip.com Trains).

Local logistics:

• Getting around: Auto-rickshaws are plentiful (meter starts around ₹30–35; roughly ₹15/km). Use the Namma Metro where possible (Purple/Green lines cover MG Road, Indiranagar, Majestic, etc.).
• Entry fees (approx): Lalbagh ₹20 (glasshouse shows extra during flower shows), Bangalore Palace ₹240–₹560 (varies by camera/audio guide), Tipu Palace ₹20 (higher for foreigners).
• Tipping: 5–10% in sit-down restaurants is common; round up for taxis/autos.

Selected Viator experiences used in this itinerary (book ahead):

• Discover Bangalore Through the Ages — Guided Tour with Lunch
• Bengaluru Pété Walk (Tipu Palace, Fort, KR Market)
• Nandi Hills Day Trip from Bangalore
• Private Cooking and Dining Experience in Bengaluru

Backup hotel pick (value in a prime area): Hotel Empire International (Central Bangalore; good for late-night bites)—reviews here: Hotel Empire International.

In one week, you’ll trace Bangalore’s arc from fort town to future city—temples and palaces by morning, markets and museums by noon, craft beers and rooftop sunsets by night. Between spice-scented lanes, tranquil parks, and a day in the hills, this itinerary balances culture, nature, and food in India’s most livable metropolis.