The 5th North Rhine-Westphalia Cycle Tour (NRW Radtour) gets under way in Düren on 25 July 2013. It's a 225-kilometre route in total and continues via Eschweiler to Aachen, then on to Mönchengladbach for the second leg. The destination on day 3 is Düsseldorf and the sporting event finally comes to a close in Solingen.

The tour is also a way of raising awareness of cultural and conservation projects such as the restored Shrine of the Virgin Mary in Aachen Cathedral, the Neanderthal Museum and other attractions.

As well as discovering unspoilt scenery and picturesque towns in the Rhineland region, you can also enjoy musical accompaniment as well as a fantastic programme of entertainment at the stopover destinations.

In May this year, the top 100 sights in Germany were revealed: Neuschwanstein Castle took the top spot in 2013, closely followed by Europa-Park in the town of Rust in south-west Germany. The German capital Berlin had no fewer than three entries in the top 10: Brandenburg Gate, the Berlin Wall and Berlin Museum Island.

This is the second time that the German National Tourist Board (GNTB) has conducted the survey of over 15,000 international visitors. People were able to vote online for their favourite sights in Germany at www.germany.travel/top100 between July 2012 and the end of March 2013. The results can also be accessed using the GNTB's Top 100 app, which also contains detailed information, opening times and pictures for each individual attraction.

Every August, youth symphony orchestras from all over the world captivate audiences at the Konzerthaus concert hall on Gendarmenmarkt square as part of the Berlin Summer of Classical Music. The festival is all about promoting European orchestras in every continent of the world.

From 26 July to 11 August 2013, the first group performances by the Young Euro Classic Orchestra Brazil-Germany, which consists of 70 musicians from the two countries, will mark the official start of 'Germany Year' in Brazil. Afterwards, eleven of the young musicians will head off on tour together to perform works by the greats of classical music from both countries. You can experience their exceptional talent at the festival concert and enjoy works by German and international classical composers.

Europe's largest mobile water extravaganza will be making two stops in Germany this summer: you can catch this breathtaking event at the Commerzbank Arena in Frankfurt on 26 and 27 July and at the Zentraler Festplatz in Berlin from 16 to 25 August.

This unique spectacle offers audiences a perfect fusion of water, fire, music and poetry. The talented performers and professionally synchronised sets featuring fountains, columns of fire and pyrotechnic effects make this event an unforgettable experience for all the family.

Culture will be big in Lübeck this summer, with three of the leading museums in the Hanseatic city hosting fascinating exhibitions on a variety of subjects. Buddenbrooks House is offering an insight into the life of Heinrich Mann and his connection to France, while the Günther Grass House and Behnhaus-Drägerhaus Museum are presenting art works and murals by Goethe and Ringelnatz, among others.

Aside from the exhibitions, visitors might like to visit the old quarter of Lübeck with the famous Holsten Gate, which has been awarded World Heritage status by UNESCO, or sample some of the delicious specialities of the region.

Calling all fans of golden oldies! On 28 and 29 June 2013 you can expect to see brightly coloured costumes, sunglasses and wigs, and a number of stars from the German golden oldies scene at the Schlagermove festival at Heiligengeistfeld in Hamburg.

The 17th edition of the event sees the return of the hugely popular truck parade, featuring a total of 45 colourful trucks, which will make its way from the festival grounds across the Landungsbrücken jetties to Millerntorplatz square and back again. There will, of course, be plenty of singing along, and after the event, visitors can head to the gargantuan Aftermove Party and dance the night away to classic German pop songs.

Every year in late summer and early autumn, artists from all parts of the world explore topical themes and interpret them in the context of our modern times along the Charlemagne Route in Aachen city centre. Visitors to the festival can see all kinds of unusual art projects, installations and performances. The focus last year was on dance, fashion and art. This innovative arts festival, which transcends borders and genres, offers unconventional performances and artistic presentations at various locations in Aachen.

This year you too can take a tour of discovery 'across the borders' of European culture from 8 to 25 August 2013!

For 16 years now, a group of friends and jazz enthusiasts in Schleswig-Holstein have been organising an international festival that attracts big names from the jazz world. 'Jazz goes Föhr' has become a leading event for the jazz scene and will be taking place on the island of Föhr from 31 July to 4 August 2013. The island location and friendly atmosphere make the festival a truly memorable experience. A highlight besides the workshops for up-and-coming jazz musicians and nightly jam sessions featuring the festival musicians is the close level of personal interaction between performers and the audiences.

Jazz fans who enjoy the great outdoors might like to combine their visit with a walking or cycling tour on another of the North Frisian islands or in the Schleswig-Holstein Wadden Sea National Park.

The annual Bayreuth Festival, also known as the Richard Wagner Festival, is taking place this year from 25 July to 28 August. During the festival season, operas composed by Richard Wagner, such as 'Siegfried' and 'Lohengrin', will be performed at the festival theatre, which was built specially to host this magnificent event. As in previous years, celebrated artists will be taking to the stage and delighting their audiences with the timeless works of this influential German composer.

The opera house in Bayreuth is another fine attraction and was awarded World Heritage status by UNESCO in 2012. A visit to the Upper Franconian town would also not be complete without sampling the food and wine from the region.

The World Heritage Völklingen Ironworks is hosting a biennial dedicated to urban art until 1 November 2013. Over 30 artists from Europe and America have been showcasing their work in an exhibition space of 10,000 square metres since 24 March.

Urban art, which has its origins in graffiti culture, is still a new trend in the international art scene. The European Centre for Art and Industrial Culture in Völklingen is now providing a regular forum for this new contemporary art form every two years. Art museums and galleries are including works by the post-graffiti generation in their collections, and works on canvas by urban artists command high prices at auction.

The event organisers aim to make the Urban Art Biennale in Völklingen a major showcase for this new art genre of the 21st century.