Welcome to Karnataka, where medieval empires meet modern India. Bengaluru (Bangalore) hums with innovation yet unwinds in leafy parks, century-old eateries, and vibrant markets. A few hours north, Hampi’s boulder-strewn landscape preserves the grandeur of the Vijayanagara Empire, a UNESCO World Heritage site that feels like a living museum.

This one-week itinerary focuses on two standout bases—Bengaluru and Hampi—with optional day trips and immersive guided experiences. Expect mornings with crisp filter coffee and benne dosas, afternoons in palaces and botanical gardens, and evenings under temple silhouettes or jazz-lit rooftops.

Practical notes: October–March offers the best weather. App taxis and the Namma Metro simplify Bengaluru; Hampi is best explored by auto-rickshaw, cycle, or with a local guide. Digital payments are widely accepted, but carry some cash for small stalls. Dress modestly for temples, and pack sunscreen and sturdy walking shoes.

Bengaluru (Bangalore)

Nicknamed the Garden City and India’s Silicon Valley, Bengaluru balances Victorian-era avenues and banyan-canopied parks with a dynamic dining and craft beer scene. Its “pété” (old market quarters) still trade in jasmine garlands, silk, and spices as they have for generations.

Top sights include Lalbagh Botanical Garden’s 19th-century glasshouse, Cubbon Park’s red-brick State Library, Bangalore Palace’s Tudor revival interiors, KR Market at dawn, and Basavanagudi’s Bull Temple. For food: dosas at Vidyarthi Bhavan, Andhra thalis at Nagarjuna, and coastal delicacies at Karavalli are local rites of passage.

• Where to stay (Bengaluru): Browse stays on Hotels.com (Bangalore) or VRBO (Bangalore). Excellent picks: The Leela Palace Bengaluru (resort-like city oasis), The Oberoi, Bengaluru (gardens on MG Road), Taj MG Road, Bengaluru (central, sleek), Taj West End (heritage luxury), Treebo Trend Raj Premier (good-value), and budget-friendly Hotel Empire International.
• Getting in: Fly into BLR via Trip.com Flights or compare on Kiwi.com. Namma Metro and app cabs make city travel easy.

Day 1: Arrive and Ease into Bangalore

Morning: Fly into Bengaluru Kempegowda International Airport (BLR). Use Trip.com or Kiwi.com for flight deals; airport to MG Road is ~60–90 minutes by cab depending on traffic.

Afternoon: Check in and stretch your legs at Cubbon Park. Pop into the red-brick State Central Library for a photo, then coffee at Third Wave Coffee or aromatic filter coffee at Brahmin’s Coffee Bar with idli-vada and coconut chutney.

Evening: Dinner at Karavalli for coastal Karnataka classics (kani crab, neer dosa, Kundapur chicken). Prefer something casual? Try Nagarjuna for fiery Andhra meals served on banana leaves or Hallimane in Malleshwaram for North Karnataka jolada rotti. Dessert: Corner House’s cult “Death by Chocolate.”

Day 2: Classic Bangalore Sights and Stories (Guided)

Make the most of your first full day with a comprehensive city tour that strings together gardens, palaces, markets, and temples—plus insider context.

Discover Bangalore Through the Ages — Guided Tour with Lunch

Highlights typically include Lalbagh’s glasshouse, Tipu Sultan’s Summer Palace, KR Market’s flower aisles, and Bangalore Palace exteriors; many tours include hotel pickup and a local lunch. If you’re DIY-ing, start at Lalbagh, then loop through Basavanagudi (Bull Temple), the Pété markets, and end on Church Street for bookstores and cafés.

Day 3: Old Bengaluru Walk, Silk-and-Spice Shopping, Food Street Finale

Morning: South Bangalore ritual: masala dosas at Vidyarthi Bhavan (est. 1943) in Basavanagudi. Then join a guided heritage walk through the old Pété—temples, Tipu-era remnants, KR Market’s colors, and a Jain temple.

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

Afternoon: Lunch at MTR (Mavalli Tiffin Rooms)—their rava idli was born here in WWII. Continue to Commercial Street for fabrics and jewelry, then Church Street for indie shops; coffee at Matteo Coffea or Blue Tokai.

Evening: Taste the city’s legendary VV Puram Food Street—try holige (sweet flatbread), akki rotti, and ghee-soaked dosa from decades-old stalls. If you prefer a sit-down, Windmills Craftworks in Whitefield pairs craft beer with live jazz, or The Bier Library in Koramangala offers excellent wood-fired pizzas and garden seating.

Day 4: Nandi Hills Sunrise, Palaces, and a Craft-Beer Night

Morning: Head 60 km north for hilltop views and 18th-century fort traces. If you want a guided experience with hotel pickup:

Nandi Hills Day Trip from Bangalore

Afternoon: Return for a late lunch—Andhra-style biryani and peppery curries at Nandhini. If you’ve energy, tour Bangalore Palace’s ornate halls or browse the National Gallery of Modern Art.

Evening: Brewery crawl: Byg Brewski (Sarjapur) for a lakeside setting and robust stouts; then end with coastal fish fry and neer dosa at a neighborhood favorite like Kudla or a second round at Windills Craftworks.

Optional bonus day trip from Bengaluru: If palaces beckon, consider a full-day Mysuru run for the illuminated Mysore Palace, Somnathpur’s Hoysala carvings, and Srirangapatna’s riverside history. Good guided choices from Bangalore include: Best of Mysore, UNESCO Somnathpur Temple & Srirangapatna Day Tour

Hampi

Hampi is Karnataka’s crown jewel: a surreal mosaic of granite boulders, banana plantations, and the ruins of Vijayanagara, once among the world’s richest cities. Temples like Virupaksha still draw pilgrims, while elephant stables, bazaars, and royal enclosures whisper of 14th–16th-century splendor.

Expect sunlit stone, stepwells, and striking Dravidian gopurams. Sunrise from Matanga or Hemakuta Hill washes the whole valley in gold, and evenings bring quiet village rhythms by the Tungabhadra River.

• Where to stay (Hampi/Hospet area): Search stays near Hampi, Kamalapura, or Hospet on Hotels.com (Hampi) or VRBO (Hampi). Properties range from upscale resorts near Kamalapura to clean, simple guesthouses closer to the bazaar.
• Getting from Bengaluru to Hampi: Fastest is a 1–1.2 hr flight BLR→Jindal Vijaynagar (VDY), then ~50–60 min by car to Hampi. Compare fares on Trip.com Flights or Kiwi.com (typical one-way ~$40–120). Comfortable overnight trains to Hosapete (HPT) take ~7.5–9 hours—book via Trip.com Trains (AC 2-tier ~₹1,200–2,000 / $15–25), then 30–40 minutes by auto/taxi to Hampi.

Day 5: Bengaluru → Hampi, First Temples and a Golden Sunset

Morning: Depart early. If flying BLR→VDY, aim for a morning flight; if on the night train, you’ll arrive in Hosapete around dawn. Drop bags and fuel up on banana pancakes or masala omelets at a Hampi bazaar café; filter coffee is excellent and strong.

Afternoon: Start at Virupaksha Temple—its 49m gopuram and living traditions anchor Hampi’s sacred heart. Wander the Hampi Bazaar ruins and step inside the monolithic Nandi pavilion for river views.

Evening: Climb Hemakuta Hill for an easy, panoramic sunset over a sea of granite. Dinner at Mango Tree Restaurant for thalis, North Indian curries, and fresh juices; vegetarians are well catered for. For a splurge night, reserve at The Bridge (Evolve Back, near Kamalapura) for refined local plates.

Day 6: The World of Vijayanagara (Guided Hampi Heritage Day)

Hampi rewards context. A good guide brings queens’ baths, bazaars, and epic carvings vividly to life. This full-day tour hits major monuments and hidden gems, with transport and hotel pickup typically included.

Hampi Heritage Hues: Uncover the Majesty of Vijayanagara Empire

Expect the Vitthala Temple (the famed stone chariot and musical pillars), Royal Enclosure with its stepped tank, Lotus Mahal’s Indo-Islamic elegance, Elephant Stables, Hazara Rama’s Ramayana friezes, and riverside shrines. Lunch en route; carry water and a hat—shade is scarce.

Day 7: Sunrise, Last Boulders, and Return to Bengaluru

Morning: Sunrise climb up Matanga Hill for a sweeping view of the Tungabhadra ribboning through ruins. Breakfast back in town—banana-brown sugar crepes or poha at a simple café.

Afternoon: Transfer to VDY for your flight back to BLR (or to Hosapete Jn for trains). Use Trip.com Flights or Trip.com Trains and connect with your onward departure. If you have a late flight, enjoy a farewell Bengaluru lunch—Oota Bengaluru for regional thalis—or a quick Andhra meal at Nagarjuna.

Extra time or alternative picks: If you’ve already visited Nandi Hills, swap Day 4 for a wildlife-leaning outing: Bannerghatta Biological Park plus city highlights via this combo tour: From Bangalore Bannerghatta Park and City Sights Private Tour

Quick dining cheat sheet (Bengaluru): Breakfast: Brahmin’s Coffee Bar (idli-vada), Sri Sagar CTR (benne dosa), Vidyarthi Bhavan (crispy masala dosas). Lunch: MTR (set meals), Nagarjuna or Nandhini (Andhra), Oota Bengaluru (regional thali). Dinner: Karavalli (coastal), Windmills Craftworks (jazz + grills), The Bier Library or Byg Brewski (brews + wood-fired plates). Dessert: Corner House.

Quick dining cheat sheet (Hampi/Hospet): Mango Tree (thalis, fresh juices), rooftop cafés around the bazaar for simple Indian/continental plates, and resort restaurants near Kamalapura (advance reservations recommended for non-guests).

Logistics at a glance: BLR⇄VDY flights ~1–1.2 hrs; VDY→Hampi ~60 min by car (₹1,800–2,800). Trains BLR⇄Hosapete ~7.5–9 hrs overnight; auto/taxi to Hampi 30–40 min. Book via Trip.com Flights, Kiwi.com, and Trip.com Trains.

In one week, you’ll sip Bengaluru’s best filter coffee, weave through palace halls and produce markets, stand before Hampi’s stone chariot, and watch the Deccan sky fade to rose over granite hills. It’s Karnataka in high-definition—cultured, delicious, and deeply memorable.