14 Places to Visit in Bangalore

Bangalore, as you know, is now officially called Bengaluru. Due to its booming tech industry, this city is referred to as the Silicon Valley of India. Nevertheless, more than IT parks, the city has a lot to offer. Bengaluru is an attractive combination of modern marvels and old charm. Right from historical landmarks, and architectural masterpieces to stunning gardens, there are a lot of places to visit in Bangalore. The city caters to the interests of tourists and locals with different interests.

If you plan to explore this capital city of Karnataka, you can consider visiting the following best places that attract tourists from across India.

14 Best Places in Bangalore to Visit

You might be a tourist visiting Bangalore. Otherwise, you might be a local staying in the city. If you have recently shifted to this city with your family due to your job change, you will be interested in knowing about the best places to visit in Bangalore. The city has a lot of places to visit. So, you can plan to take your family to the following places to visit in Bangalore to make the weekends enjoyable for your kids and spouse:

1. Lalbagh Botanical Garden

One of the iconic places to visit in Bangalore, Lalbagh Botanical Garden is spread over 240 acres of land. You can find more than 1000 different species of plants in this garden.

The highlight of the garden is its Glass House. It has been modelled after London’s Crystal Palace. In this garden, flower shows are conducted twice a year. People from different parts of India visit the botanical garden mainly during the flower show. Also, this garden has the oldest rock formations that date back to 3000 million years.

Location: The Lalbagh Botanical Garden is located in Mavalli in Bangalore. From the city centre, it is located around 3.4 km. So, you can easily reach it by hiring an auto or cab.
Opening & Closing Time: The garden opens at 6 am and closes at 7 pm. So, you can plan your visit early in the morning or late in the evening.
The garden has mini waterfalls, a bridge, walking trails and a large lake.
The Botanical Garden is spread over 240-acres of land
The entry fee is around Rs.20 for adults

Checkout my post on Exploring The 12 Best Waterfalls Near Bangalore – A Guide To Nature Lovers.

2. Cubbon Park

If you wish to spend your day in a green setting, Cubbon Park is yet another option. It is one of the important places to visit in Bangalore as well. This park is spread over 300 acres of land and it is the ideal spot if you are looking to relax in the lap of nature. This place is ideal for bird watching and nature walks. The park encompasses a lot of government buildings like Karnataka High Court and Vidhana Soudha.

Cubbon Park is located close to the city centre. You can reach the park within a 1.2 km walk or drive via the Kasturba Road from the city centre.
There is no entrance fee to gain access to the park
Near Cubbon Park, many other attractions are accessible within a few kilometres.
Many locals take early morning walks in Cubbon Park. So, the park opens at 6 am every day and closes at 6 pm.
You can find a lot of restaurants close to the Cubbon Park.

3. Bangalore Palace

As you search for the best places to visit in Bangalore, you can consider visiting the Bangalore Palace. You might have visited or seen England’s Windsor Castle in photos. The Bangalore Palace was constructed based on the inspiration gained from Windsor Castle. If you are a history buff, you will surely love this place. Bangalore Palace was constructed in 1878 and this palace is popular for its sprawling gardens, wood carvings and grand architecture.

Bangalore Palace is located in the Palace Road. You can reach this park within a 3.7 km drive from the city centre
Very close to this palace, you can reach the Fun World Amusement Park.
Entry fee is Rs.430 for Indians
When you are at this palace, do not forget to visit the Durbar Hall.
You can spend 2-3 hours in this palace
It has attractive wooden interiors and Tudor-style architecture.

4. Tipu Sultan’s Summer Palace

Are you looking for one of the historical places to visit in Bangalore? If so, you will love visiting Tipu Sultan’s Summer Palace. This palace is located within the historical Bangalore Fort in Bangalore. It was once the summer residence of the famous Mysore Ruler Tipu Sultan. The construction of this palace was completed in 1791 and presently it is under the maintenance of the Archaeological Survey of India.

Tipu Sultan’s Summer Palace opens at 8.30 am every day and closes at 5.30 pm.
The entry fee for Indians is Rs.15 and for foreign nationals, it is Rs.200.
To carry a camera, you will have to pay Rs.15 extra
You can visit a museum inside this palace
At this palace, you can get an insight into the life of the great ruler Tipu Sultan.
You will walk past its huge alleyways and feel stunned by wall embellishments and floral motifs.

5. ISKCON Temple

Located around 9 km away from the city centre, ISKCON temple is one of the best places to visit in Bangalore. This temple holds the pride of being one of the largest ISKCON complexes in the world. This iconic temple attracts visitors from across the world. At this temple, you can pay obeisance to Lord Krishna. Also, you will be impressed by the impressive combination of modern and traditional architecture at this temple.

You can spend 1-2 hours in ISKCON Temple, Bangalore
The temple opens at 4.30 am and remains open until 9.30 pm
Aarti Timing is between 4.30 am and 5 am in the mornings
You can find a store within the complex that sells books and idols of deities
Also, the complex has a canteen. Do not forget to relish tasty vegetarian food in this complex.

6. Vidhana Soudha

This building is the seat of the Government of Karnataka. It is chosen as one of the best places to visit in Bangalore because of its architectural marvel. It has been built using Neo-Dravidian style architecture. The iconic dome and the grand granite structure make this building stand out from the rest in this region. Indeed, you cannot enter the building without permission. However, from the exterior, you can take some stunning pictures.

You can reach Vidhana Soudha within a 3.2 km drive from the city centre
You can travel via the Queens Road
For a peaceful view of the building, plan your visit in early mornings or late evenings
Opposite this building, you can see the High Court of Karnataka

7. Ulsoor Lake

From the city centre, you can travel for just 3.7 km via the Kasturba Road to reach Ulsoor Lake. Apart from being one of the tranquil places to visit in Bangalore, it is one of the ideal spots for peaceful evenings. It has many small islands and the lake has boating facilities as well.

This lake is also called Halasuru Lake
It is a perfect destination for nature lovers, bird watchers, nature photographers and fitness freaks
It is located in the heart of the CBD area in Bangalore
It is spread over 1.5 square km.
You can plan your evening walks in this area.

8. Lumbini Gardens

Within a 12 km drive from the city centre, you can reach Lumbini Gardens. If you looking for one of the scenic places to visit in Bangalore, you can choose these gardens. The garden is located along the attractive banks of the Nagavara Lake. You can expect a silent and serene atmosphere slightly away from the city at Lumbini Gardens:

The locals call Lumbini Gardens, a low-budget amusement park in Bangalore
You can find many water-based rides and slides. So, make sure to carry some extra clothing when visiting this attraction
It is rated among the best water parks in and near Bangalore
Do not forget to dine at the Golden Pearl Floating Restaurant part of this complex.

9. Karnataka Chithrakala Parishath

This is a visual art complex suitable for a visit if you love artwork. For art lovers, this is indeed, one of the best places to visit in Bangalore. When you travel to Vidhana Soudha, you can cover this attraction as well. The reason is that to visit Karnataka Chithrakala Parishath, you will have to travel via the same Queens Road for 3.9 km from the city centre.

The art space is home to 18 unique galleries that exhibit displays of modern and traditional contemporary artworks from across India.
You can easily spend one to two hours in this art space
At this place, you will witness an exclusive collection of folk art, sculptures and paintworks by notable artists from across the world.
You can find a lot of Mysore paintings and leather puppets on display at this art space.
It opens at 10 am and closes at 6 pm and remains closed on Sundays and public holidays.
You can buy notable artworks. Also, you can take part in painting workshops and art classes conducted here.

10. Bull Temple

As you are looking for important places to visit in Bangalore, you can get your spiritual needs met at Bull Temple. As the name implies, this temple is dedicated to Nandi Bhagavan, who is believed to be the vehicle of Lord Shiva. This temple will captivate you with its Dravidian-style architecture. The temple is standing within the Bugle Rock Park.

You can spend around an hour in this temple
The temple opens at 6 am and closes at 8 pm.
You need not have to pay any entry fee to visit the temple
From the city centre, this temple is located around 6 km distance via the Vanivilas Road.

11. Bugle Rock Park

Do you wish to know about a scenic place to visit in Bangalore? If so, you can confidently head to Bugle Rock Park. As mentioned above, the Bull Temple is located within this park’s complex. So, you can cover both these attractions on the same day. This park is popular for its central rock. This rock is a natural formation due to the geological changes that happened over many years.

Not only geologists and scientists but the park attracts nature enthusiasts as well
The park has a watchtower from which you can get a bird’s eye view of the nearby areas.
You can spend some time in silence sitting in this park
If you love meditation, the temple and scenic surroundings will make this spot an ideal destination.

12. National Gallery of Modern Arts

The National Gallery of Modern Arts is standing inside the classic Manikyavelu Mansion. This mansion was once owned by the Mysore Royal Family. In case, you are looking for art-related places to visit in Bangalore, you will love this museum. The heritage museum displays uncommon art features and collections, a museum shop, a library, an open-air theatre, a gallery and an auditorium.

You can spend 1-2 hours in this museum
You can admire the artworks and paintings from famous artists that date back to the 1850s like Rabindranath Tagore, Jamini Roy and Raja Ravi Verma
The museum remains open from 11 am to 6.30 pm
You can visit the museum on all days other than Mondays.
The entry fee is Rs.10 for Indians and Rs.500 for foreign nationals
You can reach the museum within a 3 km drive from the central part of Bangalore

13. Commercial Street

Do you love to shop? If so, Commercial Street is one of the best places to visit in Bangalore for you. Not only local street vendors but also you can find high-end brands on this street. The street has shops for everything starting from electronics, accessories and clothes.

You can consider visiting Commercial Street in the evenings
You have the option to do either window shopping or real shopping when you are there.
The street is reachable within a 2.9 km drive via the Kasturba Road from central Bangalore.
The street is popular for food joints, electronics, jewellery, footwear and clothes

14. UB City Mall

Indeed, the Silicon Valley of India, as a developed city offers no dearth of luxury places to visit in Bangalore. If you wish to spend your time in a mall, you can visit UB City Mall located right in the central part of the city. The mall is standing on Vittal Mallya Road within walking distance from the city centre.