The 67th Ruhr Theatre Festival in Recklinghausen near Bochum is taking place from 1 May to 16 June 2013. This year's festival is themed on 'the dawn of the modern age and utopia' and will present works by leading representatives of this era in around 75 productions and 183 performances at twelve different venues. The plays are performed on the 'green hill' in Recklinghausen and visitors can enjoy fantastic music and comedy in the EntertainTent theatre marquee.

Recklinghausen is also hosting FRiNGE – THE OFFBEAT FESTIVAL from 21 May to 8 June 2013, which is a platform for new creative talents and innovative performances.

On the last day of April, people of all ages with pointed hats, broomsticks and long crooked noses will be flocking to Mount Brocken to join in the Walpurgis Night fun. This traditional European festival is celebrated in more than 20 regions in the Harz mountains. The festival programmes each have a character of their own and in addition to the ghouls, ghosts and witches offer everything from music to medieval crafts. The theatre production of Goethe's 'Faust' at the Brockenherberge hostel and a ride on the Brockenbahn railway are among the highlights.

The Harz is home to a number of castles and palaces as well as several UNESCO World Heritage sites such as the Mines of Rammelsberg, the old quarter of Goslar and the Upper Harz Water Regale.

Numerous cycling tours have been organised in the Münsterland region on 28 April 2013 as part of SattelFest 2013 to mark the official start of the cycling season. The tour around Velen and Ramsdorf, for example, gives cyclists the chance to enjoy local restaurants offering delicious food and drink, warm hospitality and a countryside setting. Because of the variety of tours, it is also possible for families with young children to take part in the event.

Those who wish to experience the Münsterland region in all its diversity will discover a wealth of attractions, regional highlights and beautiful scenery on the Boxenstopp Route.

All manner of gourmet delights will be on offer at this year's Rheingau Schlemmerwochen Festival, on from 26 April to 5 May. Vineyards and restaurants from across the Rheingau region – from Flörsheim on the river Main to Lorchhausen on the Rhine – will be inviting visitors to sample their local specialities. The fine food, wine and programme of cultural and musical entertainment make the festival a great experience for young and old alike.

The Rheingau region has a long tradition of wine-making, started by the monasteries many centuries ago.

A great way to explore the region is a walk on the Rheinsteig trail or a cycling tour on the Rhine Cycle Route.

The Brothers Grimm were born in Hanau, and every year the town brings their timeless stories to life. Four fairytales are performed against a romantic backdrop in the park of Philippsruhe Palace and a further 100 or so events are organised for visitors. This year the fairytales, one of which is always a musical, will be performed from 17 May to 21 July.

You can also explore the history of the Brothers Grimm on the German Fairytale Route. The 600km route from Hanau to Bremen passes through fascinating places associated with the Brothers Grimm and their fairytales.

To celebrate several anniversaries, a year-long programme of cultural events has been organised under the banner GRIMM 2013 , focusing on the lives and works of Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm and their artist brother Ludwig Emil.

From March 2013, it will be possible to sleep high above the rooftops of Nuremberg in an ultra-modern youth hostel inside the castle. At the heart of the city, the completely modernised accommodation in the 500-year-old Kaiserstallung offers 93 modern rooms as well as meeting and conference rooms equipped to a very high standard. Because almost every floor is fully accessible it is possible for all types of visitor to enjoy the unique atmosphere of the castle.

By opening this modern, hi-tech hostel, the German Youth Hostel Association has made the medieval city of Nuremberg even more attractive to young people. As Nuremberg is located on several cycling trails – the Regnitz Cycle Route for example – the youth hostel also offers special services for cyclists.

The annual Museums Night is a wonderful opportunity for numerous towns and cities across Germany to showcase their various museums. Berlin and Stuttgart will start the ball rolling on 16 March 2013 by running after-hours tours of their renowned museums and intimate art galleries. But it's not just about looking around prestigious collections and exhibitions. There is also a variety of other events on offer. Stuttgart, for example, is hosting a special children's programme in the afternoon for the younger members of the family and Berlin is organising Museums Night around its 2013 theme Diversity destroyed .

Düsseldorf, Hamburg and Frankfurt are inviting visitors to come and explore their museums on Museums Nights in April and May. Many other towns and cities in Germany will follow during the year.

The European Media Art Festival has been held annually in Osnabrück for 26 years. Taking place this year from 24 to 28 April, the festival continues to serve as a forum for international media art. In this place of experimentation, the artists present different facets of our rapidly changing society in which the media plays an ever greater role. To complement the experimental films, talks and exhibitions, several awards are presented, including a prize for innovative work in the field of media art.

Osnabrück is not only a showcase for creative talent however – the city also has much to offer in the way of history and fine dining. It is home to one of the best gourmet restaurants in Baden-Württemberg, 'La Vie', run by Michelin-starred chef Thomas Bühner.

'Around the world in 80 gardens' is the theme for the International Garden Show on the Elbe island in Hamburg-Wilhelmsburg. From 26 April to 13 October 2013 visitors can embark on a journey through the cultures and climate zones of the world. The natural scenery that forms the centrepiece of the garden show is complemented by numerous sports and games, hands-on activities, art and food, making this an ideal day out for all the family. The 2013 International Garden Show also demonstrates how the fast-growing city of Hamburg is creating a park for its mobile, multicultural and health-conscious residents.

Hamburg also comes under the spotlight in 2013 as the host of the International Building Exhibition .

Saalburg Fort in Bad Homburg, the only reconstructed Roman fort in the world, is again offering an engaging programme for all visitors. From March to October, there are guided tours of the fort specially for older travellers and people with restricted mobility, followed by Roman-themed refreshments. This year, for the first time, families can take part in the Sunday tours right up to the winter months. The annual programme brings history to life and invites visitors to get actively involved.

Saalburg Fort is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Roman Limes which can be explored on the German Limes Route. The Limes feature numerous legacies of Roman civilisation and culture between the Rhine and the Danube.