The Sports and Media Ball is the highlight of the spring calendar in Würzburg. Now in its 24th year, the ball will be held on 5 April 2014 in the city's conference centre. The soundtrack to the evening is provided by a number of live bands. What makes the event so special is that the proceeds go towards the city's sportsmen and women – all the more reason to celebrate!

There is plenty more to discover while you're in Würzburg, including the UNESCO World Heritage Residenz Palace with its court gardens, and of course the fine Franconian wine.

Starting on 13 February, Europa-Park in Rust presents its new show 'Teatro Colosseo by Leonardo', which runs until 5 April 2014. During the 90-minute spectacular, you enjoy an exquisite three-course meal in a historical spiegeltent. This 20th century 'mirror tent', decorated all around with faceted glass, enchants audiences with circus romanticism and nostalgic charm.

In the coming season, which opens 5 April, Europa-Park will have a brand-new indoor attraction called 'Arthur in the Minimoys Kingdom'.

Visitors have until 10 June 2014 to see an exhibition dedicated to the Greek god Dionysus, on display at the Dresden State Art Collections (SKD) in collaboration with the Bucerius Art Forum of Hamburg. As god of wine, ecstasy and fertility, Dionysus was the inspiration for a varied and captivating range of artworks, including the paintings, drawings, sculptures and vases on display in this exhibition.

It's well worth visiting Dresden not only for its fantastic museums, but also for the wealth of history that you'll discover in its old town.

There's not long to wait now for the highlight of the travel world's calendar, the International Tourismusbörse trade fair in Berlin (ITB). Between 5 and 9 March, keen travellers can gather information for their next trip when some 11,000 exhibitors come from far and wide to the halls of Berlin Exhibition Centre. This year's guest country is Mexico. Destination Germany and many of its federal states, towns, cities and regions will also be out in force at the ITB, providing lots of interesting and practical information for your next trip. Whether it's a cultural adventure, an activity holiday or a city break – there's something for everyone at the ITB.

At the beginning of the week, the latest Hornstein Ranking of leading restaurants was announced. The rankings, primarily focused on the quality of the food, are based on the ratings given by leading culinary guides such as Michelin, Gault Millau and Feinschmecker. Hornstein's top five restaurants were Schwarzwaldstube in Baiersbronn, Waldhotel Sonnora in Wittlich/Dreis, Vendôme in Bergisch Gladbach, Gästehaus Klaus-Erfort in Saarbrücken and Aquain Wolfsburg. The results again attest to the high standard and great diversity of German cuisine. Indeed you'll find restaurants offering the finest dining experiences in every federal state.

'Beyond Tomorrow' is the theme for this year's Quadriennale in Düsseldorf, which is being held from 5 April to 10 August. The festival takes place every four years and is a joint initiative by Düsseldorf's leading art museums, galleries, the art academy and numerous partner institutes. The result is an unparalleled programme of events for art lovers and artists from all over the world.

Düsseldorf, the state capital of North Rhine-Westphalia, is a leading centre for fashion in Germany and therefore an ideal destination for shopping.

A forthcoming exhibition at the Trier Landesmuseum entitled 'Dreaming of Rome' explores how Roman urban architecture has influenced our towns and cities. The exhibition, which runs from 15 March to 28 September 2014, also offers insights into private houses decorated with frescoes and mosaics.

Trier, founded under Roman emperor Augustus Caesar, is one of the oldest cities in Germany and is famous as an important site for classical monuments. The city and its architectural treasures have been granted World Heritage status by UNESCO.

Exercise enthusiasts and other health-conscious people will be in their element at the FIBO trade fair, on from 3 to 6 April 2014. FIBO is a leading international expo for fitness, wellness and health and takes place in Cologne. Industry professionals gather here to hunt down the latest trends and innovations for gyms, spas, doctors' surgeries, physiotherapy practices and hotels. There is, of course, an accompanying programme of entertainment including live stage shows. And if you wear yourself out at the event, simply avail yourself of the wide range of health and wellness facilities in Germany.

Munich's Deutsches Theater reopened its doors in January 2014. Following a five year renovation programme, the theatre is once again home to some of the best entertainment the city has to offer. The theatre's programme embraces practically all performance genres, from musicals and ballet to operetta and concerts. And it's not just the spaces in the theatre that have been redesigned. The technology is now state of the art too.

Alongside its lively theatre and variety scene, Munich has many other highlights to offer. It has an incredible range of museums, and shoppers and food lovers won't leave the Bavarian state capital disappointed either.

From 21 March to 6 April 2014 Mainau Island on Lake Constance will be marking the start of spring with a flower show. Entitled 'From Distant Lands', it is being held in the unusual venue of St. Mary's Church. Meanwhile the orchid show, which traditionally marks the start of the Mainau flower season, will be held in the Palm House until 4 May. The tulips and the spring flowers arrive in April, when over one million blooms cover the southern flank of the island – an unmissable event for lovers of flowers and gardens.