The fishmongers of northern Germany have been bringing the Hamburg Fish Market to Karlsplatz square in Stuttgart for over twenty years now. From 11 to 21 July 2013, visitors can sample fresh fish in every conceivable variety from eels and pike-perch to fried fish and scampi – washed down with an ice-cold Holsten beer, 'Alster water' shandy or Küstennebel liqueur.

As well as delicious Nordic delicacies, the fish market of course brings unique Hamburg characters to Stuttgart such as 'Eel-Dieter' and other larger-than-life individuals – a wonderful opportunity to enjoy Hanseatic humour outside Hamburg. To help bring authentic maritime flair to inland Germany, the culinary delights of the sea are served against a musical backdrop of jazz, shanties and popular port songs.

The new Magnetic Festival of electronic music took the UNESCO World Heritage Völklingen Ironworks by storm in 2012 and received the prize for 'best new festival' at the European Festival Awards. It aims to bring electronic music back to the Saarland and gets under way for the second year on 6 July 2013. Music from Germany and around the world is supported by video, pyrotechnic and lighting performances, with live acts, DJs, light artists and special effect maestros gathering together at one of the most exciting venues associated with Germany's industrial heritage to inject new life into the electronic music scene.

Seit 1986 findet das alljährliche Summer Jam Musik-Festival, eine der größten Reggae Veranstaltungen in Europa, am Fühlinger See in Köln statt. Vom 05. bis 07. Juli 2013 treten eine Vielzahl von Künstlern aus der weltweiten Reggae- und Dancehallszene auf und bringen inzwischen jährlich bis zu 30.000 Reggae-Fans aus aller Welt mit sich.

„Free your mind“ lautet das Motto der diesjährigen Veranstaltung und dieser „freie Geist“ soll den Gästen als Grundeinstellung für ihr tägliches Leben übermittelt werden. Durch eine unabhängige Sichtweise sollen Vorurteile vermieden und antiquierte Denkweisen abgeschafft werden. Neben einem umfangreichen Programm erfolgt auch eine Übertragung im deutschen Fernsehen.

The annual Summer Jam music festival, one of the biggest reggae events in Europe, has taken place on the shores of Lake Fühling in Cologne since 1986. The 2013 edition of the event, on from 5 to 7 July, features a host of artists from the international reggae and dancehall scene and now attracts up to 30,000 festival-goers a year from all over the world.

'Free your mind' is the motto of this year's event and calls on to people to live their everyday lives as a 'free spirit'. The more people free their minds, the more it is possible to avoid prejudices and to do away with outdated modes of thinking. There is an extensive line-up of acts, and the event will be broadcast on German television.

One of the most beautiful squares in Munich is being turned into an open-air concert venue for the Klassik am Odeonsplatz on 6 and 7 July 2013. This concert event has taken place on Odeonsplatz, which is framed by the Residenz Palace, the Feldherrnhalle and the Theatinerkirche church, since 2000 and attracts around 16,000 concert-goers every year.

This is a fantastic opportunity to see the Munich Philharmonic Orchestra and the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra playing alongside global stars of the classical music scene. On the opening evening, the two top singers Rolando Villazón and Thomas Hampson will be performing works by Giuseppe Verdi and Richard Wagner, both of whom would be celebrating their two-hundredth birthday in 2013.

From 5 to 21 July 2013, for a period of just over two weeks, the town of Worms in the Rheinhessen region plays host to the famous Nibelung Festival that recounts the tale of Siegfried. Stars of stage and screen in Germany will be bringing to life this Germanic heroic saga in the very place where the story is set, helped along by traditional costumes, stunning stage sets and breathtaking effects featuring fire and magic. Every year, audiences are captivated by this spectacle, which plays out against the backdrop of the mighty imperial theatre and gives you the feeling of being at the heart of the action.

A visit to the festival can be combined with the enjoyment of fine wine from the nearby wine region or a hike on the Nibelung-Siegfried Route.

The Saxony-Anhalt region has special cause to celebrate in 2013. From 7 May to 1 November, its Saale-Unstrut Wine Route will be celebrating its 20th birthday with 20 anniversary offers. Wine lovers making a trip to the area can enjoy guided tours of the vineyards as well as numerous other activities. It's a great opportunity to find out more about the region's wine.

The 60km route runs from Memleben Abbey to Bad Sulza in Thuringia through ancient terraced vineyards and past seasonal wine taverns and 'winegrowing islands'. Medieval castles, mystical sites and glorious river scenery are the hallmarks of the landscape along the way. The wine route is linked with the Romanesque Route and the Sky Paths archaeological route.

From 28 June to 21 July 2013 the Bavarian town of Landshut will be bringing history to life as it celebrates the Landshut Wedding of 1475. During the three-week festival, around 2,400 participants don traditional medieval costumes to re-enact the marriage of George the Rich, the son of the duke of Landshut, and Hedwig, the daughter of the Polish king, which took place many centuries ago. This event takes place every four years and visitors of all ages are always captivated by its atmosphere and the faithful re-enactment of the marriage celebrations, which are set against an idyllic backdrop of historical houses and Gothic buildings.

Scandinavia is the destination for this year's musical journey of discovery at the parks and palaces of Potsdam. The music festival at Sanssouci Palace, on from 7 to 23 June, has a Nordic theme for 2013 and explores the musical and cultural relationships that have connected the Scandinavian countries of Denmark, Norway and Sweden with German-speaking territories through the centuries.

Discover a creative music and folk scene that has close associations with German volksmusik. The festival offers a varied programme of over 60 concerts, operas, guided tours, talks and open-air events in the magnificent cultural landscape of Potsdam.

On 5 and 6 July 2013 there is an opportunity to see the breathtaking spectacle 'Wagner_reloaded' at Leipzig Arena. Celebrating 200 years since the birth of Richard Wagner, this sensational crossover show features the rock band Apocalyptica and numerous acrobats and dancers. It promises to be a memorable evening and an event not to be missed!

While in Leipzig, fans of classical music might want to enjoy a concert by the eminent St. Thomas choir – once under the charge of Johann Sebastian Bach – which are given three times a week at the Church of St. Thomas. A guided tour focused on the peaceful revolution of 1989 also offers interesting insights into the city's colourful history.