The city of Hamburg celebrates its Dom funfair not once but three times a year, holding spring, summer and winter editions of the event. The Hamburg Dom is the biggest funfair in northern Germany, and the 2013 Sommerdom fair runs from 19 July to 18 August.

For 30 days the bright lights of the Dom entice millions of visitors to the Heiligengeistfeld in Hamburg
where the aromas of roasted almonds and fresh doughnuts waft between colourful carousels. There are lots of different fairground attractions and stalls spanning three kilometres, with choices ranging from the classic merry-go-round to high-tech, white-knuckle rides. One major highlight is the huge firework display – a firm family favourite.

Now in its 31st year, the Zelt-Musik Festival – one of Europe's longest-running tent festivals – will be taking place in Freiburg im Breisgau from 26 June to 14 July 2013. Visitors flock to the unique setting that combines spectacular tents, nature and culture with a varied programme featuring an unparalleled line-up of acts from the worlds of jazz, classical, blues and rock. Numerous musicians from around the world, stars and newcomers will be performing. This village of tents set amid the green rolling hills just outside Freiburg, next door to the Mundenhof wildlife park, has its own distinctive charm that guarantees festival-goers an unforgettable experience.

The 26th Tour de Ländle, hosted by broadcaster SWR 4 Baden-Württemberg and energy company EnBW AG, is set to be a 'tour of nature'. Enthusiasts will be tackling Baden-Württemberg's biggest amateur cycling tour between 27 July and 2 August 2013, pedalling their way through Odenwald forest and the Neckar valley, crossing the Tauber valley and the Hohenlohe plain, climbing the Swabian Alb and winding through Upper Swabia towards Lake Constance and into the Hegau region.

To remind participants of the importance of nature, the route is lined with lots of activities and events exploring the topics of nature, the environment, culture and sustainability. The many different landscapes in close proximity provide an impressive insight into the botanical diversity of Baden-Württemberg.

Welcoming 200,000 visitors a year, Kaiserburg Castle is the cultural and historical highlight of Nuremberg alongside the Germanic National Museum. From July 2013 the main castle building will feature exciting room installations, 3D animations about the building's history, audio guides and themed guided tours – offering a variety of ways to explore the Kaiserburg. The new exhibition gives visitors a unique opportunity to discover the significance of this structure and its eventful history – all from within the castle walls.

Destination Germany is famed for its wide variety of castles, palaces and churches that offer every visitor a fascinating insight into the depths of Germany's extensive tradition and history.

This year's Splash! Festival – so called because of its waterside location – will be taking place on the Ferropolis peninsula near Gräfenhainichen, east of Dessau, from 12 to 14 July 2013. The predominant styles of music are hip-hop, reggae and drum 'n' bass. In addition to a large stage, there are also tents offering dancehall music.

A highlight is the annual 'sound clash' when two or more sound systems are used to measure who fires up the crowds the most in the hip-hop after-show party tent. The Splash! Festival also alternates as the venue for the preliminary rounds and finals of the ITF DJ World Championships and offers visitors a wide-ranging programme right by the water.

'Dreamcatcher' is the theme for this year's Cologne Lights, which is taking place on the banks of the river Rhine between Hohenzollern Bridge and Zoo Bridge on Saturday 13 July. Fireworks, Bengal fire, waterfalls and hundreds of thousands of sparklers will transform Cologne into a dazzling sea of colour. The spectacle will be accompanied by a convoy of fifty illuminated riverboats that will play music all along this section of the Rhine.

The highlight of the evening will be several grand firework displays along the river. Held annually since 2001, this fireworks event set to music is expected to attract thousands of visitors again this year.

Travemünde Week is a series of sailing regattas that is taking place this year from 19 to 28 July at Lübeck Bay off the coast of Travemünde. Organised by Lübeck Yacht Club and other sailing clubs in northern Germany, it is the second-largest international regatta in the world.

The high-calibre programme of entertainment, the Festival Mile with culinary specialities and the thrilling close-up action of the sailing competitions is a unique combination offered only at Travemünde Week. Around a million visitors are expected to attend this top maritime event to see the impressive sailing ships from all around the world.

And if this sporting spectacle is not enough, you can set out on a breathtaking walking tour from Travemünde along the E9 European long-distance walking route.

After a two-year break, the Fairytale Festival returns to the mill park at Neukirchen near Duisburg on 6 and 7 July 2013. At this event, now in its seventh edition, some of the best German-speaking storytellers around will capture the imagination of their listeners with their engaging style of narration. Among them are 'old friends' as well as a hand-picked selection of new storytellers from Germany and Austria, who will bring to life tales of ghouls, witches and princesses.

The park surrounding the Old Mill in Neukirchen-Vluyn is a wonderful setting and will again provide a fairytale backdrop for the festival. You can switch from one storyteller to the next in order to enjoy all their wonderful tales being narrated in a lively, animated fashion.

Picturesque villages, old harbours and fascinating marshland scenery are the hallmarks of the 250-kilometre German Ferries Route. For the tenth anniversary of this popular scenic route, which runs from Kiel to Bremervörde along the Oste and Elbe rivers and the Kiel Canal, there is lots to discover particularly for families and a great combination of nature and culture by the water. Germany's youngest scenic route is already an established feature in the holiday landscape of northern Germany. Whether you're travelling by ferry, bike or on foot, this is a place where you can enjoy idyllic scenery and captivating days out.

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.