The Best Places to Visit in Bangalore in One Day

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Bangalore is one of the most urbanized cities in India. Earlier known as the “Garden city of India” and “Pensioner’s paradise”, Bangalore no longer falls in these categories due to its fast growth and development into a prominent IT hub of India. Most travelers visit the city for work or as a pitstop before visiting the tourist places near Bangalore. But the city itself has many interesting things to do, and we gonna try to squeeze all the best places to visit in Bangalore in one day, so you can make the most of the city in 24 hours.

While most of the best places to visit in Bangalore are not too far from each other, the city can get unpredictable with its traffic. So, we recommend that you do have some buffer time added to your itinerary of things to do in Bangalore. There are enough tourist spots in Bangalore to keep any traveler busy for days, but if you wake up early I’m sure you can manage to visit the top attractions in 24 hours and still have fun.

 

Places to visit in Bangalore in one day trip

 

• Walk amongst the clouds at Nandi Hill

To begin your ‘One day in Bangalore’ trip let’s visit Nandi hills to enjoy the sunrise and walk amongst the clouds. About 40 km from the airport, in Chikkaballapur district, lies the hillock shaped like Nandi bull. The Nandi bull is mythological bull which is Lord Shiva’s vehicle as per Hindu religion. On top of the hill is the remains of the hill fortress built by Tippu Sultan which is considered to be impregnable. Due to its’ height of about 4800 ft above sea level, the weather in Nandi Hills is generally pleasant and clouds engulf the hill early morning.

Currently, the fort is being renovated and will be open to public view soon. Tippu’s drop is the famous cliffside where Tippu Sultan had his prisoners thrown to death. The Bangalore horticulture department runs a restaurant and a cup of chai feels just right in the cool weather.

 

• Enjoy a safari in Bannerghatta National Park

Bannerghatta National Park is one of the nice places to visit near Bangalore. Go for a safari and spend some time close to nature. The park has a zoo, an aquarium, crocodile farm, snake park and a museum. The safari takes you through the biological park and you can see tigers, lions, elephants, zebras and deer in their natural habitat. The children’s park located centrally in the park is one of the favorite places to visit in Bangalore with family. While they have fun you can rest and refresh yourself in the nearby restaurant. Also, there are some adventure activities like trekking, camping, and rafting not too far from the National Park, however, these activities take at least half a day, they are a good option if you plan a one day trip from Bangalore.

 

• Explore the history of Bangalore in Bangalore Palace

The royal Bangalore Palace was built during the rule of King Chamarajendra Wadiyar and is said to be inspired by the architecture of Windsor Castle in London. Some of the highlights of this palace are the ballroom and durbar hall. The walls of the palace are adorned with paintings and photographs of the royal family. These also include the work of India’s famous painter Raja Ravi Varma. Some very unique artwork and arms are on display through this grand palace. The beautifully maintained lawns are a sight and sometimes hold private parties. There are audio guides available and while listening to the stories, you will definitely feel like being taken back in time. It’s a good introduction to the city’s history and one of the most beautiful places to visit in Bangalore in one day.

 

• Lunch at MTR for authentic South Indian food

If you are looking for authentic and tasty South Indian food to spice up your day outing in Bangalore, then MTR at St Marks Road or Lalbagh Road is where you should go. This chain of restaurants is Bangalore’s oldest and a hot favorite amongst the locals. The first restaurant was opened near Lalbagh in 1924, by the Maiya brothers and was renamed to Mavalli Tiffin Rooms (MTR). The rava idli, masala dosa, and bisibele bhath are some of the specialties here and they sell like hot cake. When it comes to food, for sure these are a must visit place in Bangalore city.

 

• Take a green heritage walk through Lalbagh Botanical Garden

This 270-acre park in the heart of the city is one of Bangalore’s oldest and loved landmarks. With a wide range of flora and fauna, this epic garden along with smaller surrounding parks justifies the name of “Garden City”. Inspired by the Mughal gardens, the main glasshouse hosts annual flower shows. The best time to visit Lalbagh is either at sunrise or sunset, during one of these flower shows. If you do get tired of walking the expansive gardens, golf carts are available to help you as well. A lift will also help you to explore the garden faster and then you can add other attractions to your Bangalore in one day itinerary.

 

• Enjoy Indian music at Indira Gandhi Musical Fountain

The musical fountain in this park is one of the biggest musical fountains in India. It is very interesting places to visit in Bangalore with friends and family as everybody enjoys the synchronized light, music and fountains show. Every evening there are two shows in two languages and it is better to inquire before booking your spot. Gandhi Musical Fountain is one of the top things to do in Bangalore and you must add it to your travel itinerary.

 

• Shopping at Commercial Street

Next, we recommend some quality shopping time to explore souvenirs and special clothing. Commercial Street is the most loved shopping area in the city and it’s the perfect places to visit in Bangalore in one day trip. This street has numerous shops of clothes, shoes, jewelry, antiques etc and is not easy to navigate unless you are prepared for it. This area gets crowded in the evening and finding a parking spot is difficult. Some tips for shopping here are to remember what you need, bargain and carry cash as many shops don’t accept cards. We recommend, get in and get out fast with what you need, else you run a chance of over shopping.

 

• Pub hopping and some night fun

After you shop till you drop, it’s time to just chill and relax. Bangalore is quite famous for its pubs and restaurants. If you are planning to check out a couple of bars then you should head down to Indiranagar or MG road. The nightlife is pretty amazing there with some fantastic breweries serving great drinks, food, and music. In case you are planning for a silent dinner; both these areas have enough fine dining restaurants to match up to your mood. This restaurant area is one of the good places to visit in Bangalore for couples.

Definitely, it will be a long day, it’s not easy to put all the best places to visit in Bangalore in one day itinerary. But if you manage to beat the traffic and start your activities early I’m sure you gonna enjoy all the fun things to do in Bangalore.

 

Where to stay in Bangalore, India

After a long day outing in Bangalore, you definitely need a good rest. There are a plethora of accommodation in Bangalore: luxury hotels, romantic resorts, and budget rooms. We listed some of the best places to stay in Bangalore but before you book your hotel check out the location. As you only have one day in Bangalore, a well-located hotel can help you make the most of your time. Here are our recommendations for good hotels in Bangalore:

The Ritz Carlton Bangalore – Rooms from USD 260 per night

The Oberoi Bengaluru – Rooms from USD 134 per night

St Mark’s Hotel – Rooms from USD 86 per night

Lilac – Rooms from USD 45 per night

The Backpacker Panda Bengaluru – Dorms from USD 15 per night

Remember that Bangalore is connected by air, rail and by road with all major cities in India. It makes the city a great spot to visit places in and around Bangalore. The Kempegowda International airport is also connected with all major countries, to find the best flights to Bangalore use Skyscanner and Kiwi.com.

And if you are planning a trip to around India check our post about Palace On Wheels train trip, a 7-day luxury journey through Rajasthan and Agra. And maybe you can add an adventure trip to the sea, check out our guide to scuba diving in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. 

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Author: Pujarini Mitra

Pujarini Mitra is an entrepreneur with a serious travel addiction. She loves traveling and blogging about it. She is exploring the world, one country at a time with her family. MySoulTravels is her venture to share her travel stories and experiences on the road with her baby. Follow her adventures on Facebook and Instagram.