A new attraction in Hamburg: January 11 marks the official opening of the Elbphilharmonie concert hall - after nearly ten years of construction. The concerts for January and February are already sold out, but the city of Hamburg is still worth a visit. Highlights include the HafenCity urban waterfront regeneration project, the Speicherstadt warehouse district, and the St. Pauli district.

You can celebrate Carnival season in many European cities. The Venice Carnival is famous for the elaborate masks and baroque costumes worn by revellers. This year's celebrations will run from February 11 - 28. But watch out: many Venice hotels raise their rates ahead of Carnival season. You may want to consider less-expensive Carnival options in German cities like Cologne, Düsseldorf, or Mainz.

The Danish city of Aarhus is celebrating its status as a 2017 European Capital of Culture - with a year-long program of exhibitions, operas, dance performances, and concerts. These include the "Festival of the Century - Europe 1950-2000," which starts on March 3. It will take a look at the second half of the last century from rock 'n' roll to the Cold War, peace, punk and porn.

Fans of contemporary art are filled with anticipation: the renowned art exhibition is taking place for the 14th time, and for the first time, in two locations. It opens on April 8th in Athens and on June 10th in Kassel. In both cities, the exhibition lasts for 100 days. From April until June, Aegean Airlines will offer direct flights twice a week between Kassel and Athens.

In 2017, numerous events throughout Germany will mark the beginning of the Protestant Reformation, 500 years after Martin Luther posted his 95 theses on the door of the commonly called Castle Church in Wittenberg. On May 13, one of three major Luther exhibitions will open in Wittenberg: "Luther! 95 Treasures, 95 People." will include some of Luther's personal items, including his own Bible.

The Kiel Week maritime festival is the largest of its kind in the world. An estimated three-million people visit the festival every year. The highlights include the Tall Ships Parade, regattas, and a series of concerts featuring folk, pop, rock, and classical music. Kiel Week 2017 begins on June 17, and ends on June 25 with a magnificent fireworks display at the harbor.

Paphos, in the Greek part of Cyprus, is also a 2017 Capital of Culture. All year long, Greek ruins and ancient villas will serve as venues for more than 300 events. Most will be held outdoors - in keeping with the concept of an "Open Air Factory." On July 1st, the "Summer Highlight" event at Paphos harbor will include a "fire in the sea" display, fleets of boats, light shows, and music.

Summer is the outdoor concert season. The highlights in August: rock out at Poland's Woodstock Festival, held August 3 - 8 in Kostrzyn. If you prefer heavy metal, Wacken Open Air will take place in northern Germany that same weekend. For techno fans, Croatia's Sonus Festival on Pag Island is well worth a trip. The lineup includes such greats such as Richie Hawtin.

Every year, one million visitors from around the world travel to Munich for the Oktoberfest - which actually starts in September, and runs until the first weekend in October. Visitors can enjoy a number of amusement-park rides and sample traditional Bavarian cuisine and beer. The huge tents will fill up fast - so make your reservations now.

In Autumn, the deciduous forests of Central Europe display a beautiful blend of of red, yellow, green and brown. The fall foliage season is perfect for long hikes - for example, in Hainich National Park in the state of Thuringia. It's Germany's largest continuous area of deciduous woodland - and from its treetop trail, you can view the spectacular foliage of age-old beeches.

Bordeaux is Lonely Planet's number one city destination for 2017 - and that's a good reason for a day trip. Stroll along the revitalized quayside on the Garonne River, visit the futuristic new "Cité du Vin" wine theme-park - or stop by a number of small designer boutiques, and affordable modern bistros. The weather is usually nice: November temperatures are a mild 13 degrees Celsius.

Finland's rugged natural beauty makes it a classic travel destination for outdoor enthusiasts, but there’s culture as well. In 2017, Finland will celebrate 100 years of independence. Each region is planning its own events - from concerts to cookery to sauna evenings. To mark the centenary, Finland will open its 40th national park. Winter is also a good time to view the "Northern Lights."