Top places to visit in Bengaluru

• Nandi Hills

  hill-fort · 4.4 rating · about 3 h · check the fee at the gate

  A 1,478 m hill fortress ~60 km from the city, famed for cloud-sea sunrises, Tipu's summer retreat, ancient temples and paragliding.

• Tipu Sultan's Summer Palace

  palace · 4.2 rating · about 0.8 h · entry ₹300

  An elegant 18th-century teak palace of Tipu Sultan with ornate carved pillars, balconies and frescoes, a fine example of Indo-Islamic architecture.

• UB City

  luxury-mall · 4.4 rating · about 1.5 h · check the fee at the gate

  Bengaluru's premier luxury mall and high-rise complex on Vittal Mallya Road, with designer boutiques, rooftop fine-dining and a glamorous after-dark scene.

• ISKCON Temple Bengaluru

  temple · 4.5 rating · about 1 h · free entry

  A vast hilltop ISKCON temple complex on Hare Krishna Hill, a striking blend of modern and traditional architecture with shrines, a cultural centre and prasadam halls.

• Bull Temple (Dodda Basavana Gudi)

  temple · 4.4 rating · about 0.5 h · check the fee at the gate

  A 16th-century Kempe Gowda temple in Basavanagudi housing a huge monolithic granite Nandi bull, the focus of the annual groundnut fair (Kadlekai Parishe).

• Commercial Street

  bazaar · 4.2 rating · about 1.5 h · check the fee at the gate

  A historic, perpetually bustling shopping street for clothing, jewellery, footwear and street food — Bengaluru's go-to bargain bazaar near Shivajinagar.

• Lalbagh Botanical Garden

  botanical-garden · 4.5 rating · about 1.5 h · entry ₹200

  A historic 240-acre botanical garden begun by Hyder Ali, with a glasshouse modelled on London's Crystal Palace, a lake, ancient rock and famous biannual flower shows.

• Cubbon Park

  urban-park · 4.5 rating · about 1.3 h · free entry

  A sprawling green lung in the city centre with shaded avenues, the State Central Library, museums and statues — a beloved spot for walks and weekend leisure.

• Bannerghatta National Park

  national-park · 4.3 rating · about 3 h · entry ₹120

  A forested park ~22 km south with a zoo, a popular safari and a butterfly park, home to tigers, lions, leopards and elephants close to the city.

• Vidhana Soudha

  government-building · 4.5 rating · about 0.5 h · free entry

  Karnataka's grand granite legislative building (1956) in neo-Dravidian style, especially impressive floodlit at night — the symbol of Bengaluru's civic pride.

• Bangalore Palace

  palace · 4.3 rating · about 1.3 h · entry ₹460

  A Tudor-revival palace built in 1878 by the Wodeyars, with fortified towers, ornate wood interiors and sprawling grounds that host major concerts.

• MG Road & Brigade Road

  shopping-district · 4.3 rating · about 2 h · free entry

  Bengaluru's buzzing commercial and nightlife core, with shops, the Brigade Road strip, pubs, cafes and the leafy Boulevard — the city's social heartbeat.

Things to do

• Lalbagh Botanical Garden Walk Nature · 2 h · from INR 300 per person
• Nandi Hills Sunrise Trip Nature · 6 h · from INR 1,200 per person
• Bannerghatta Safari & Zoo Experience Wildlife · 4 h · from INR 1,500 per person
• ISKCON Bengaluru Visit Cultural · 1.5 h
• Bangalore Palace Tour Cultural · 1.5 h · from INR 460 per person
• Cubbon Park & Vidhana Soudha Heritage Walk Cultural · 2.5 h · from INR 600 per person
• Mysore & Srirangapatna Day Trip Sightseeing · 12 h · from INR 2,500 per person
• Skandagiri Sunrise Night Trek Adventure · 6 h · from INR 1,500 per person

Day trips and tours

• Bengaluru City Highlights 8 h · from INR 1,800
• Nandi Hills Sunrise Tour 6 h · from INR 1,200
• Mysuru & Srirangapatna Day Trip 13 h · from INR 2,800

Where to stay in Bengaluru

• Indiranagar about INR 4,500 per night

  Upscale residential area with trendy cafes and shops

• Koramangala about INR 4,000 per night

  Hip neighborhood with restaurants, bars, and nightlife

• Whitefield about INR 3,500 per night

  IT hub area with business hotels and malls

• Brigade Road about INR 3,000 per night

  Central shopping and commercial district

Hotels

• The Leela Palace Bengaluru 5-star · INR 12,000 to INR 25,000 per night
• Taj West End 5-star · INR 12,000 to INR 24,000 per night
• The Oberoi Bengaluru 5-star · INR 12,000 to INR 22,000 per night
• The Ritz-Carlton Bangalore 5-star · INR 14,000 to INR 32,000 per night
• ITC Gardenia 5-star · INR 11,000 to INR 20,000 per night
• JW Marriott Hotel Bengaluru 5-star · INR 12,000 to INR 28,000 per night

Where to eat

• Mavalli Tiffin Rooms (MTR) South Indian, Vegetarian · about INR 300 per person
• Toit Brewpub Continental, Italian, Bar · about INR 1,500 per person
• Truffles Continental, American, Cafe · about INR 700 per person
• Vidyarthi Bhavan South Indian, Vegetarian · about INR 200 per person
• CTR (Shri Sagar) South Indian, Vegetarian · about INR 200 per person
• Koshy's Continental, North Indian, Cafe · about INR 700 per person
• Nagarjuna Andhra, South Indian, Biryani · about INR 500 per person
• Kritunga Restaurant Andhra, South Indian, Biryani · about INR 600 per person

Getting to Bengaluru

Airport: Bengaluru (BLR)

How visitors arrive in Bengaluru

• Flight to Kempegowda Airport By air · common

  The main airport is at Devanahalli, north of the city; the guide recommends flying over long train trips such as from Mumbai. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

• Train to KSR Bengaluru City By train from across India · common

  Several stations serve the city, with KSR Bengaluru City as the main one. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

• Intercity bus By road from Chennai, Hyderabad, Goa · common

  Government and private buses arrive from Mumbai, Goa, Chennai and Hyderabad, mostly at Majestic. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

From the airport to the centre

• BMTC Vayu Vajra airport bus

  BMTC runs Vayu Vajra Volvo buses from Kempegowda Airport to many parts of the city; the KIAS-9 route goes to Majestic bus stand. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

• Ride-hail or taxi from the airport

  Ola and Uber app cabs are listed on the airport's own site, alongside fixed-fare airport taxis. Follow the pickup point shown in your app after booking. Source: bengaluruairport.com

• The airport is far north of the centre, so allow plenty of road time and check which terminal your flight uses. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

Getting around

• Auto Rickshaw

  Auto rickshaws are among the main ways residents get around Bengaluru, alongside city buses, Namma Metro and app-based taxis.

  Get Ola · Get Rapido

• Metro

  Namma Metro is Bengaluru's metro rail network, run by BMRCL, with a mix of elevated, underground and at-grade stations.

  BMRCL Namma Metro

• Ride Hail

  App-based taxis are part of everyday transport in Bengaluru, used alongside buses, the metro and auto rickshaws.

  Get Uber (India) · Get Ola · Get Rapido

• Walking

Safety and scams to avoid

• Pre-paid taxi "broken meter"

  Airports, train stations, popular squares

  Driver insists meter is broken, quotes ~3x the fair price; or detours via "shopping" stops earning commission.

  How to avoid it: Use pre-paid taxi counter at airport, or Uber/Ola/Rapido apps. Insist on meter or agree price upfront.

Best time to visit Bengaluru

• Jan 30°C
• Feb 33°C
• Mar 36°C
• Apr 36°C
• May 34°C
• Jun 30°C
• Jul 29°C
• Aug 28°C
• Sep 28°C
• Oct 27°C
• Nov 27°C
• Dec 27°C

More in India

• New Delhi
• Agra
• Jaipur
• Panaji
• Mumbai
• Varanasi

Frequently asked questions about Bengaluru

What are the top-rated places to visit in Bengaluru?

The highest-rated places in our Bengaluru guide are ISKCON Temple Bengaluru, Lalbagh Botanical Garden, Cubbon Park, Vidhana Soudha, Nandi Hills.

Where should I stay in Bengaluru?

Our guide covers these areas to stay in Bengaluru: Indiranagar, Koramangala, Whitefield, Brigade Road.

How do I get around Bengaluru?

Ways to get around Bengaluru covered in our guide: Auto-rickshaw, Metro, Ride-hailing app, Walking.

What scams should I watch out for in Bengaluru?

Scams reported to us for Bengaluru include Pre-paid taxi "broken meter". Each is explained in the guide, with how to avoid it.

What is the weather like in Bengaluru?

Average daytime highs in Bengaluru run from 27°C in Nov to 36°C in Apr.

Which airport is nearest to Bengaluru?

The nearest airport to Bengaluru has the code BLR.