Weekend Getaways from Bangalore: Where to Go, by Distance
Bangalore is the best-placed metro in India for weekend trips: hills, coffee country, beaches and ruins all sit within a day's drive. The limiting factor is not choice but traffic, so this guide is organised by distance rather than by how photogenic a place is.
Distances below are approximate road distances from central Bangalore. Add an hour to any Friday evening estimate.
Under 100 km: leave after breakfast
These work as day trips or one-nighters.
- Nandi Hills, about 60 km. Sunrise above the clouds, best reached before dawn.
- Savandurga and Ramanagara, about 50 to 60 km. Hiking and rock formations.
- Kanakapura, about 55 km. Riverside resorts and short treks.
- Bheemeshwari, about 100 km. Riverside camps on the Cauvery.
100 to 250 km: a proper two-night weekend
The sweet spot: far enough to feel away, close enough to drive Friday evening.
- Mysore, about 145 km. Palace, market, and an easy first trip.
- Shivanasamudra, about 135 km. Waterfalls, best just after the monsoon.
- Kabini, about 205 km. Wildlife and riverside lodges.
- Yercaud, about 215 km. Quieter than Ooty, with coffee estates.
- Sakleshpur, about 220 km. Coffee country and estate stays.
- Bandipur, about 220 km. Tiger reserve, safaris at dawn and dusk.
- Chikmagalur, about 240 km. Hills, coffee and the state's highest peak.
250 km and beyond: worth a long weekend
Leave Friday afternoon or take a Monday off.
- Coorg, about 255 km. Coffee estates, waterfalls and homestays.
- Ooty, about 270 km. Colder, busier, and the classic hill station choice.
- Wayanad, about 270 km. Kerala's greenest hill district.
- Pondicherry, about 310 km. Coastline and the French quarter.
- Hampi, about 340 km. Ruins and boulder landscapes, best in winter.
- Gokarna, about 480 km. Beaches without Goa's crowds.
When to go
| Season | What works |
|---|---|
| October to February | The best window for everything on this list. Cool, dry, clear. |
| March to May | Hills only: Coorg, Chikmagalur, Ooty and Wayanad stay comfortable while the plains don't. |
| June to September | Waterfalls and coffee country are at their best, but ghat roads get slippery and leeches are real in Coorg and Wayanad. |
| Long weekends | Coorg, Ooty and Chikmagalur fill up weeks ahead. Book early or pick Sakleshpur and Yercaud instead. |
Turning a weekend away into a gift
Every stay here is a voucher: the recipient picks the hotel and the dates, and it stays valid for 12 months. That makes it work as an anniversary or birthday gift when you don't know their calendar.
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Planning notes
- Leave Bangalore before 6am or after 9pm on Friday. Anything in between costs you two hours on the ring road.
- Mysore Road and the Hassan highway handle traffic better than the Tumkur side.
- Estate homestays in Coorg and Chikmagalur often have no mobile signal, so download maps first.
- For wildlife trips to Kabini and Bandipur, safari slots are separate from the room and sell out earlier.
Frequently asked questions
What are the best weekend getaways from Bangalore?
Under 100 km: Nandi Hills and Kanakapura. For a two-night trip: Coorg, Chikmagalur, Sakleshpur or Kabini. For a long weekend: Hampi, Wayanad or Gokarna.
How far can I realistically drive for a weekend?
Under 250 km each way for two nights. Beyond that, take a third day.
Which is better, Coorg or Chikmagalur?
Coorg has more to do and more crowds. Chikmagalur is quieter and better for estate stays.