During the Pentecost weekend from 17 to 19 May 2013 Düsseldorf will be transformed into a city of swing and dance. The 21st Düsseldorf Jazz Rally features more than 80 concerts across 35 different venues. As well as classic jazz, the artists will be performing music in the funk, soul, blues and rock genres.

Germany's biggest jazz festival is just one of the many attractions in this city of fashion and culture on the Rhine. For instance, Düsseldorf's Media Harbour is well worth a visit for its architecture alone. For lovers of art there is the Kunst im Tunnel gallery with its collection of works by young artists, while the Open Source Festival is an annual highlight showcasing the city's diverse, dynamic and often experimental clubbing and pop culture scene.

To mark 50 years of the Porsche 911, the Porsche Museum in Stuttgart will be hosting a special exhibition from 4 June to 29 September 2013 revealing the secrets behind this iconic sports car's success. The long tradition, the timeless looks and the many racing triumphs mean that you don't have to be a fan of cars to appreciate the flagship Porsche model.

There are another two special exhibitions at the Porsche Museum this year. The first of these, which opened on 16 March 2013 and runs until 29 March 2013, explores the construction and architecture of the museum itself. The other exhibition, on display from 15 October 2013 until early 2014, is called 'Porsche Sports Cars' and celebrates the anniversaries of other sports models.

Deep in the heart of winegrowing Württemberg, Stuttgart boasts many more attractions aside from the Porsche Museum and Mercedes-Benz Museum. There are the Wilhelma Gardens for instance, or ballet productions at the state opera house.

The German Cyclists' Federation (ADFC) recently added two cycle routes to its list of four-star quality paths. This quality seal indicates routes have fulfilled minimum standards in criteria such as signposting, surface conditions and safety.

One of those that now has four-star accreditation is the Aisch Valley Cycle Route, which stretches for 136 kilometres from medieval Rothenburg all the way to the UNESCO World Heritage town of Bamberg. The other is the Regnitz Cycle Route, which also leads to Bamberg and gives cyclists a choice of two routes from Nuremberg. Both quality-certified routes are a great way for families in particular to explore Germany by bike, away from busy roads.

Services along the route – another important criterion for the accolade – include a wide choice of Bed & Bike accommodation, as well as plenty of places to eat and drink.

This year sees an age-old tradition continued in the shape of the world's biggest port festival – the Hamburg Port Anniversary. From 9 to 12 May 2013 around 1.5 million visitors from far and wide are expected to join the celebrations for the 824th Hamburg Port Anniversary taking place between HafenCity and Övelgönne museum harbour. They have a varied programme to look forward to with events on land, on the water and in the air to highlight the very best of the city described as the 'gateway to the world'. This year's event will once again feature breathtaking opening and closing parades of 300 or so seafaring vessels, as well as the tug boat ballet, dragon boat races and much more besides.

As well as traditional favourites such as the spectacular fireworks display, there's a very special treat in store for visitors this year. The world's only 5-star-plus cruise ship – the MS Europa 2 – will be christened before setting out on her maiden voyage.

Following the launch of this new gourmet series last Saturday in Düsseldorf the event will travel on to four more Hyatt hotel restaurants. Five acclaimed German chefs are taking to the kitchen to produce six courses, with a different theme for each of the culinary evenings. The series started with 'Kitchen Classics' and on 5 May 2013 the chefs will be serving up inventive asparagus dishes at the Hyatt Regency in Mainz for an evening entitled 'Five ways with asparagus'. The events continue into 2014 with Cologne, Berlin and Hamburg still to come.

In early April 2013 Germany will once again welcome in the asparagus season during which the much-loved vegetable appears in a variety of dishes on menus everywhere.

Outlet City Metzingen is a top shopping destination situated in the home town of Hugo Boss in southern Germany. Shoppers can take advantage of huge discounts on international brands at various events such as the late night shopping specials on 10 and 31 May 2013. From Thursday to Saturday the Shopping Shuttle provides convenient transport links to local hotels, the airport, the exhibition centre and the Porsche Museum in Stuttgart.

But international shopping is not all that Metzingen offers. The town is also worth a visit for its historical architecture, its centuries-old winegrowing tradition and the Swabian Alb biosphere reserve.

The German Wine Institute is hosting its wine and walking weekend (WeinWanderWochenende) on 27 and 28 April 2013, offering a range of activities across the winegrowing regions. The marked trails lead walkers through magnificent, ever-changing landscapes – where they can stop off at wine festivals and wine tastings along the way. There will also be guided tours of the vineyards, and the charming winegrowing villages are perfect for families wanting to relax or explore. Twelve wine regions are taking part in the event, providing plenty of local wines and culinary specialities for visitors to enjoy.

Munich city centre will be abuzz with music on 11 May 2013 when the Long Night of Music gets under way. At 120 venues there will be 400 live concerts as well as dance performances and comedy shows, plus four tours to guide visitors through the musical heart of the city.

Munich has something for everyone with a wide range of entertaining cultural events on offer throughout the year. Besides music and the arts, the Bavarian capital also features lots of museums exploring art or technology, for example. And year after year, the world's biggest beer festival – Oktoberfest – attracts millions of visitors from every corner of the globe.

Music will take centre stage in Saxon Switzerland when the region hosts the 2013 Sandstone & Music Festival from March to December. Concerts are held at picturesque locations and offer a wonderful combination of music, culture and beautiful scenery. Venues include Grosssedlitz baroque gardens and Weesenstein Castle. The opening concert takes place on 16 March 2013 in Neustadt and features works by Bach, Vivaldi and other master composers of the baroque era.

Saxon Switzerland National Park is also well worth a visit and offers something for everyone. Visitors can go on a journey of discovery back to the Cretaceous period and enjoy a romantic trip on the Elbe on one of the oldest paddle steamers in the world.

A major exhibition entitled 'Power of Faith – 450 Years of the Heidelberg Catechism' opens at the Palatinate Museum and Heidelberg Castle on 12 May 2013. The exhibition celebrating the appearance of this important confessional document of the Reformed Church will run until 15 September 2013. Accompanying events will shed light on the impact of the Heidelberg Catechism both at the time when it was written and in the present day.

Heidelberg Castle is of great significance both historically and architecturally and is one of the top visitor attractions in Germany. At the foot of the castle is the historical old quarter that captivates visitors with its narrow winding lanes and charming atmosphere.