Things to Do in Bangalore
Discover 26 activities and experiences in Bangalore, India — from outdoor adventures to cultural events. Curated from real traveler recommendations.
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Visvesvaraya Industrial & Technological Museum
Visvesvaraya Industrial and Technological Museum is one of the units of National Council of Science Museums an autonomous organisation under the Ministry of Culture, Government of India. It is open on all days of the year except Ganesha Chathurthi and Deepavali. There are many fun learning activities and exhibitions that can be enjoyed by both adults and children alike. Most of the exhibits are based on simple science but some have industrial applications. There is also a 3D show that can be seen for which you have to pay ₹25 (For general public). For general visitors entry fee is ₹40, but the entry fee varies for different type of visitors (Organised school groups, BPL Category on production of valid BPL card, etc.). Entry to the Museum is free for the army, navy, air-force and police personnel in uniform and the physically challenged and children below 5 years of age.
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- Near Kasturba Road.
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- 10AM-5:30PM
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Aero India
Held in the second week of February every alternate year (the next one is in 2017), this is Asia's premier air show. Spanning 5 days but open to the public only on the last 3 days (F-Su), the show at Yelahanka Air Force Base in the northern part of Bangalore comprises a defence exhibition and air show. Fighter jets from around the world are on both, flying and static display. Normally, there are two air shows every day - one in the morning and the other in the afternoon. Tickets can be purchased online or at select outlets - scan the newspapers for more information. (Purchasing a ticket at outlets requires you to show a photo identification and tickets are non-transferable. For the 2011 edition, Pakistani nationals were not permitted to register via the website.)
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Chitra Santhe (Paintings market)
An annual exhibition, held on the first Sunday of every year in January, the Chitra Santhe on Kumara Krupa Road (near Golf Course) brings together artists from all across Karnataka. Paintings, pottery, and sculpture are all on an exhibition-cum-sale. The road is closed for traffic on that day, making it possible to have a leisurely stroll, admiring and buying the items. (It is proposed that from 2012, the venue would be shifted to Freedom Park.) Prices range from ₹ 100-20,000. Bargaining is recommended, but not too hard. Pay a fair price. (Credit cards and foreign currency are rarely accepted, so carry sufficient cash in Indian currency).
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Kadlekai Parishe (Peanut fair)
Every year, sometime during the months of Nov-Dec, the area around Bull Temple Road in South Bangalore hosts a peanut fair. Centuries ago, the villages in and around this area used to cultivate peanuts and the custom was to dedicate the first crop to Nandi (the Bull at the temple). Although the villages of yore are today residential areas, the tradition continues as peanut farmers congregate to sell their crop. The 2 day traditional fair has many stalls that sell peanuts, trinkets, bangles, pottery, dolls etc. There are also a number of food stalls.
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Jawaharlal Nehru Planetarium
Going to this very good planetarium is a great experience for adults and children alike. There are multiple shows in Kannada and English, so choose accordingly. Each show is about 30 minutes long. There are about 200 seats available for each show. A ticket can be used only for the show mentioned on the ticket, and is non-refundable if you miss that show. Ticket prices are ₹35 for adults and ₹20 for school students and children (upto 16 years), children below 3 years are not allowed inside the Sky-Theatre. Mondays and second Tuesday are holidays.
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- Bangalore Association for Science Education, Sri T. Choudaiah Road, High Grounds
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- 12:30PM - 4:30PM
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Rangashankara
Many local groups perform here, although more often shows are presented by traveling groups touring India. Quality of the performances varies, but most plays are worth seeing, especially the ones by Indian playwrights and / or directors, as they can show you an "Indian" (or let's say "non-western") perspective. Shows are in various languages, so it is a good idea to double-check whether the play is in English before buying / reserving (“blocking”) tickets. Tickets cost between ₹ 45–100.
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- 36/2, 8th Cross, J.P. Nagar, 2nd Phase
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- Evening shows start at 7:30PM
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J. P. Park
Jayaprakash Narayan Biodiversity Parkis the third biggest park in Bangalore. There are many statues of animals and provision for children's' games. The park is on an 85-acre plot. The park has four lakes, lawns spread over 25 acres, over 250 varieties of trees and shrubs can be found there all the time. Select exotic and aquatic species, and a nursery. There is a nature centre, an exhibition plaza, and an amphitheatre.
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- Mathikere, Near Yashwanthpur Railway Station
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Watch a cricket match
Chinnaswamy Stadium is the home ground of the Indian Premier League (IPL) team Royal Challengers Bengaluru which is reputed for having a large, loyal, and loud fan following. IPL season typically is between March and May every year, matches are played in the evenings and last around 3 hours. Scour the daily newspapers for ticket information - note that tickets typically get sold out a week before.
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- M. Chinnaswamy Stadium
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Concerts at Bengaluru Palace Grounds
Check the local listings to see if any concerts are happening. Most international acts happen at Bengaluru Palace Grounds and the venue has hosted Metallica, The Rolling Stones, Bryan Adams, Iron Maiden, Deep Purple, Joe Satriani, Mark Knopfler, Aerosmith, Sting, Uriah Heep, Lamb of God, Megadeth, Machinehead, Scorpions among others.
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Thrillophilia Adventure Tours Pvt. Ltd.
Thrillophilia arranges for adventure tours around Bangalore which includes rappelling, mountain safari, camping, trekking, dirt biking, rafting, jumering, river crossing and quad biking. Micro light flying and paragliding can also be arranged on demand basis. Sep – May is the best season for most of the adventure activities.
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- 4th Floor, 2628, 27th main, 1st sector, HSR layout
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- Prices start from ₹1000 per person
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HMT Area
Ideal for nature lovers because this place is dotted with many parks and green layouts. Examples are General Iyyappa Park and Kittur Rani Chennamma Park. The 85-acre-J.P.Park is nearby. Lodges are available at Mathikere and Jalahalli.
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- BEL Junction
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Trash Trail
On this journey through the story of waste, you will meet people who silently clean up and transform all the stuff we throw away. In the process, you will visit places you haven't imagined existed!
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- Daily Dump
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Ultimate Frisbee
Although in a nascent stage, Ultimate Frisbee games are held on Tue/Thu/Sat mornings starting 6:30AM. The teams comprise of players of all skill levels.
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Goethe Institute
The Goethe-Institut / Max Mueller Bhavan Bangalore, (founded in 1960) offers language courses, organises cultural events and has a Library.
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- 716, CMH Road Indiranagar 1st Stage
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Cycling
Art of Bicycle Trips organizes bicycle tours in and around Bangalore. The tours combine cycling with Indian art, culture and heritage.
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Ayur Sukha
Very nice, clean and professional spa in a nice neighborhood. 1 hr basic Ayurvedic treatment (massage and steam) is about ₹ 1,000.
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Bangalore Film Society
A club membership (around ₹ 500/year) is typically required for entrance. Foreign film series and cultural events.
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Aroma Home Spa
Natural eco-friendly products in use. Hydro therapy massage in addition to therapies suited to individual needs.
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- Brookefields, ITPL Main Rd
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The 5th Element
Spa. All practitioners are from Thailand and offer authentic Thai massage, scrubs, and wraps.
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- Inner Ring Rd
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Lalbagh
Garden and lake inside-the lake offers a pleasant view and is home to some water birds
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SPA.ce
Run by an expat Brit offers a variety of massages, scrubs, and facials.
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- Cunningham Rd
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Exploring Bangalore: A Traveler's Guide to Activities
Bangalore rewards curious travelers with an exceptional range of experiences. Whether you have a weekend or several weeks, the city's 26 documented activities cover the full spectrum — architectural landmarks and world-class museums at one end, local neighborhood festivals and underground cultural scenes at the other. The activities listed on this page come from Wikivoyage contributors who have personally explored Bangalore and written detailed, practical descriptions to help you plan your visit.
The most rewarding way to experience Bangalore's activities is with company. Solo travelers who arrive without plans often find that meeting a fellow traveler at a hostel, cafe, or through the Nomax app opens up entirely new itineraries — a museum visit becomes a half-day exploration, a street food crawl turns into an evening of discovery, a day trip to a nearby site becomes an adventure. Bangalore has an active traveler community, and the city is designed to reward those who explore it with open curiosity.
When planning what to do in Bangalore, consider mixing well-known attractions with neighborhood-level experiences. The city's most photographed sights are popular for good reason, but Bangalore's character lives in its quieter corners too — the local markets, the parks where residents spend their weekends, the small performance venues where the next generation of artists and musicians are finding their voice. The 26 activities on this page include both categories, ordered by the richness of their traveler-written descriptions.
How to Get the Most from Bangalore's Activities
Timing matters in Bangalore. Many of the city's best attractions have shorter queues and better atmospheres on weekday mornings. Major cultural sites — museums, galleries, historic monuments — often run free admission windows on certain days or evenings; check before booking. Outdoor activities and walking tours are best enjoyed in the morning before the city heats up or fills with tour groups.
Budget-conscious travelers will find that Bangalore has a strong free-to-access layer. Public parks, open-air markets, architectural walking routes, and many community events cost nothing. The price information included with activities on this page (where available) helps you plan a realistic daily budget. A mix of free and paid activities across a week in Bangalore is entirely feasible for most traveler budgets.
For travelers who want to do more than just sightseeing, Bangalore offers organized activities through local guides, tour companies, and traveler apps like Nomax. Group activities — cooking classes, cycling tours, kayaking excursions, photography walks — are a natural way to meet people while experiencing the city. Many travelers who use Nomax in Bangalore coordinate these types of group experiences together, splitting costs and building memories that last beyond the trip itself.
Activities for Different Travel Styles
Not every traveler wants the same experience. History enthusiasts will gravitate toward Bangalore's museums, heritage sites, and guided historical walks that reveal the layers of the city's past. Outdoor and adventure travelers will focus on the parks, cycling routes, climbing areas, and day trips to surrounding natural areas. Food travelers will treat Bangalore's markets, restaurants, and food tours as the primary activities of each day. Culture seekers will fill evenings with concerts, theater, gallery openings, and street performances.
The 26 activities documented on this page span all these categories. Use the numbered list above to browse in order of description quality — longer descriptions generally mean more detailed, firsthand traveler knowledge. For each activity, the address and opening hours (where available) give you everything you need to plan your visit without needing to search elsewhere.
Connecting with Travelers in Bangalore
One of the best things about traveling to Bangalore is the community of international travelers already there. Backpackers, digital nomads, long-term expats, and short-trip tourists all share the same city at any given moment. Nomax makes it easy to find who is in Bangalore right now, see what activities they are joining, and coordinate plans. Whether you want a hiking companion, someone to split museum entry with, or a group for an evening out — the app connects you to people with the same itinerary in minutes.
Download Nomax before your trip to Bangalore to set your travel dates and start discovering who else will be there at the same time. The app is free, requires no subscription, and works across all the major traveler destinations worldwide — meaning the community you build in Bangalore often extends to your next destination too.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best things to do in Bangalore?
Bangalore offers 26+ activities and experiences for travelers. Top highlights include Visvesvaraya Industrial & Technological Museum, Aero India, Chitra Santhe (Paintings market), and much more. This page lists every documented activity in order of description quality, so you can find both the major attractions and the hidden gems.
Are there free things to do in Bangalore?
Yes — Bangalore has a strong selection of free activities. Public parks, open-air markets, walking routes through historic neighborhoods, and many cultural institutions offer free admission on specific days. Scroll through the list above and look for activities marked with free or no price information — these are often the city's most authentic experiences.
How do I meet other travelers while exploring Bangalore?
Download Nomax — a free travel companion app that shows you other solo travelers currently in Bangalore. You can join group activities, chat with travelers at the same spots, and plan outings together. Many travelers in Bangalore use Nomax to find companions for day trips, museum visits, and evening activities.
What activities can I do with travel companions I meet in Bangalore?
Bangalore has activities for every interest — guided tours, food experiences, outdoor adventures, cultural events, and nightlife. Use Nomax to coordinate with other travelers: join a group for a walking tour, split a day-trip cost, or simply explore the city together. The app makes spontaneous plans easy.
Explore Bangalore with fellow travelers
Download Nomax — find travel companions, join group activities, and chat with solo travelers in Bangalore right now. Free forever.
Travel tips by Wikivoyage contributors (CC BY-SA 3.0). Content may have been updated since publication.
