There simply aren't enough superlatives to describe Munich's world-famous Oktoberfest. Held on the Wies’n fairground from the middle of September to the beginning of October, the festival is opened with the traditional cry of "O'zapft is" (the barrel is tapped).

In terms of size, the Stuttgart Beer Festival is second-only to the Oktoberfest in Munich. It takes place at the end of September every year in the area around the 24 metre high fruit column and originated in 1818 as a harvest festival following a famine.

Carnival is the first thing that springs to mind when Germans think about Cologne, where it is celebrated in a particularly lavish and traditional fashion. Over five fun-packed days it's the Jecken (carnival jesters) that hold court at the carnival festivities.

Built in 1189, Hamburg Port celebrates its birthday at the beginning of May. What started out as a small fair, has since become the largest port festival in the world. Around one million people flock to the event every year.

The Schützenfest fair in Hannover can rightly claim to be the largest of its kind in the world. For ten days the city's Schützenplatz fairground turns into a huge stage for the festivities – just as it has done since the 17th century.

The number one motorsport event in the world makes an annual stop at Hockenheimring, attracting thousands of visitors. Out of all the racing series, Formula 1 is the most demanding, both in terms of the constructors' financial muscle and technological capabilities, and the drivers' racing skills. On 18 different circuits around the world, points are up for grabs that could later bring both a driver and his team the coveted world championship title.

Every May for two and a half weeks, Dresden Music Festival, Germany's most popular classical music festival, captivates international audiences with concerts in the city's finest venues.

Late-night opening for museums, a concept popular in a number of other cities, takes place twice a year in Berlin. More than 110 institutions take part in the event, ranging from museums and archives to memorial sites.

Held in September, the Berlin Marathon is the biggest running event in Germany, with more than 50,000 participants from all over the world. The marathon is as much an experience for the spectators cheering from the side of the road as it is for the runners themselves.

Since 1955, Kassel has provided the setting for the world's most important exhibition of contemporary art. New exhibition concepts are showcased alongside current trends that are moving the modern art scene.