More and more travellers are looking for city break holidays that tie in with fun, cultural or sporting events and festivals. Here are our top picks of fabulous event breaks around the world

Brits are increasingly coordinating their holidays with local festivities to make the most of their short break. Last year, for example, bookings to Munich and New York increased by over 100 per cent for the period over Oktoberfest and the New York Marathon. Other events that saw visitor figures soar were the likes of the Cannes Film Festival, Rome's White Night and Milan's Fashion Week.

'Britons travel extensively and events are great excuses to either go back and spend time in places they have been to before or discover new destinations,' said John Bevan, managing director at Lastminute.com. 'Holidays are more than ever about the experience and have to offer something extra.'

La Tomatina in Bunol, near Valencia, Spain

A more light-hearted and vibrant alternative to the running of the bulls festival in Northern Spain's Pamplona, La Tomatina is the mother of all food fights, where thousands of revellers gather in the small town of Bunol in Valencia to hurl ripe tomatoes at each other, just for fun!

La Tomatina takes place on the last Wednesday of August and attracts more than 40,000 people each year, who gather in and around the Plaza del Pueblo in Bunol, where a greasy pole with a ham hanging from the top will have been set. Tradition states that the fight cannot begin until someone has managed to climb up the pole and released the ham.

Then a shot is fired to signal the beginning of the battle, as big trucks packed with around 120 tons of ripe tomatoes roll into town. The one rule: you must crush the tomatoes before hurling them. Another shot is eventually fired to signal the end of the battle. Then the clean up operation begins, helped by the powerful water hoses of the fire brigade.

Top tips: Make sure you bring goggles, old clothes and only waterproof cameras, and don't wear slip-on shoes you could lose in a sea of tomato puree! Visit www.latomatina.es

Rio De Janeiro Carnival, Brazil

Rio has a reputation for laidback living and knowing how to party, and its carnival is the biggest and most famous in the world, with over 500,000 foreign travellers alone attending each year.

It's a wild and colourful four-day celebration before the start of sober Lent, and is all about excess, opulence and the pleasures of the flesh. Think sizzling temperatures, delicious food, festive parades, colour and sequins, and music and dancing that goes on all day and night.

From the iconic statue of Christ perched atop Corcovado Mountain looking out across the sprawling city, to the bronzed and beautiful bodies on Copacabana Beach, nowhere says Latin America more than Rio de Janeiro.

Burning Man, Nevada Desert, USA

A massive and legendary eight-day festival that takes place in Black Rock City is a temporary settlement in the Black Rock Desert of Nevada, USA, including theme camps, villages and art installations.

Expect crazy happenings, mad art everywhere, and an array of mutant cars, from giant motorised muffins to Yellow Submarines to mechanical spiders. There's even a Department of Mutant Vehicles that inspects all cars and rejects those that are unsafe or not creative enough.

The madness and festivities culminate in the famous burning of a massive 40-foot wooden man. It's increasingly becoming hugely popular - last year almost 50,000 people attended, and the event has sparked a number of traditions, including the burning of a temple.

One word of warning though: the event is clothing-optional so you'll see your fair share of nudity, but it's not compulsory and not practiced by the majority. This year's theme is American Dream. Visit www.burningman.com

2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, China

It's the most important sporting event the world's seen in four years, and it's no longer just for hardcore athletics enthusiasts. Wall climbing, volleyball, bridge, golf, roller skating and surfing are all recognised by the International Olympic Committee, and with more action-packed events than ever before it's a major draw for any sport enthusiast.

Beijing is the capital city of China and is host to most of the country's most popular sights, including the Temple of Heaven Park, the Lama Temple, Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City, the former Chinese Imperial Palace, home to 24 emperors who reigned over the country for over 500 years. The Great Wall of China is also near the city.

Semana Santa, Spain

Spain's baroque Easter Holy week celebrations are fascinating, vibrant and surreal. It takes place in cities all over Spain, but the best well known fiestas are in Seville, Malaga, Granada and Cordoba.

Over the Easter week the cities are transformed by processions marching slowly like spiky noisy snakes through the streets, a constant parade of penitentes in robes with long pointed hoods, slipping and straining men carrying the tronos, insignia'd Spanish Legion troops, and marching bands.

The air hums with gold and silver, incense, drumming, high trumpeting and excited watchers applauding the moving altarpieces that never stop all night. It's an Andalusian celebration that is all about grandeur, where candlelight and ancient robes with pointy tips like stiff wizard caps meet neon lighting and designer shopping outlets. The crowds cluster at the roadside or books coveted places in the rows of chairs that line the streets, chatted and waving at the procession.

Over the week, about 85 tronos will wind their way through the city; a Virgin and a Christ for each of its religious fraternities. It takes about 270 men to carry each one, some of which weigh almost four tonnes.

It's a complex manoeuvre to direct and move the floats, and as they pass you can see the sweat and strain - a trip snaking around the city takes about seven hours without a rest. The most coveted positions are inside the float, where the sweat, heat and claustrophobia are reserved for devoutly religious veterans.

Venice Carnival, Italy

Everything about Venice, from the unforgettable Grand Canal lined with palazzos, to the golden masked balls and the decadent Italian food and culture, is ridiculously beautiful. Think barges and gondoliers, opulent festivities, crumbling palaces, cobbled streets, a maize of canals, lavish Venetian style buildings and the gold mosaics of St Mark's Square and Cathedral.

And there's no better time to visit than at Carnival when the whole city is alive and buzzing with music, costumes and events. Both children and adults join in the festivities come carnival time, with lots of face painting, street theatre and confetti throwing. The overall effect is somewhat surreal as you wind your way through the ancient streets filled with people dressed in highly ornate costumes.

There is a wide variety of traditional masked balls to choose from that cater for every budget. Another great way to soak up the atmosphere is to visit the famous cafe Florian on Saint Marco's Square. Many people congregate here during Carnival to sit in costumes and take tea within the beautiful, historic surroundings.

Bog Snorkelling in Llanwrtyd Wells, Wales In the timely tradition of eccentric British events, Llanwrtyd Wells in Mid Wales, the UK's smallest town, hosts the annual World Bog Snorkelling championship every August.

In the dense Waen Rhydd Peat bog on the southern outskirts of the Powys town, you'll find the home of the internationally acclaimed, dirtiest and most exhilarating sport ever. The Bog Snorkelling event originated out of some idle banter at the Neuadd Arms Hotel in Llanwrtyd Wells about what to do with the garden, which seemed to be nothing but bog. So it was decided to dig a 60 yard trench and get people snorkelling down it.

To qualify for the World Bog Snorkelling Championships you simply need to turn up, be over 14 and have access to a mask and snorkel. You'll also need top quality bog-off skills to beat current World Champion, Leeds' Haydn Pitchford. The event is open to anyone who wants to have a go, and involves swimming two lengths of the trench using only doggy paddle.

The current world record was set in 2004 by Philip John of Bridgend in an impressive time of 1 min 38.65 seconds. Entry fee is £12 per person. Last year's event was a huge success, with over a hundred participants and several hundred more spectators. Entries included snorkellers from as far afield as Russia, Australia and New Zealand.

Christmas Markets in Prague, Czech Republic

Prague is one of the most popular Christmas market destinations for UK holidaymakers, possibly thanks to the special charm of this beautifully traditional cobbled city. The main markets are at the Old Town Square and Wenceslas Square, with smaller ones at Namesti Republiky & Havelske Trziste.

Expect rows of brightly decorated wooden huts selling Czech handicrafts from local artists. Start at Charles Bridge, which connects the two historic sides of the Vltava River bank, lined with beautiful statues and craftsmen selling jewellery, paintings and more.

The old town is a cramped maze of cobbled streets, delicious pavement cafes and massive, beautiful buildings. The spectacular Old Town Square is surrounded by massive brightly coloured Baroque buildings, cafes and performers. You can also find the Old Town Hall with the massive Astronomical Clock around the corner, its moving characters and complex golden points indicating Babylonian and Bohemian time as well as the standard version.

Don't miss your chance to see the fascinating old Jewish ghetto close by, where you can find the Franz Kafka museum - the famous writer spent most of his life in the area.

Out on the town you can buy local beers (including Pilsner Urquell and Budweiser!) for less than a pound and fabulous cocktails for not much more in the trendy nightspots in fashionable areas, and for much less than that if you venture into the more seedy stag night haunts on the outskirts.

St Patrick's Day, Ireland

Where better to celebrate St Patrick's Day than the Emerald Isle? Be a part of the festivities and see Ireland truly come alive with an explosion of fun and entertainment that rivals any carnival street party with lavish parades, street theatre and music galore.

St Patrick's Day in Dublin has a phenomenal five days and five nights of celebrations to contend with, starting from 13th March until the actual day on 17th March. From the opening night celebrations to the parade on the last day, there is certainly a lot to keep punters amused in between. On Monday 17th March dust off your dancing shoes for the Ceili Mor - a great opportunity to dance along to the sounds of the Kilfenora Ceili Band.

Or try your luck in the wild west of Galway - this seaside city will this year be hosting its 105th St Patrick's Day Parade. Featuring performers from all over the world, the carnival atmosphere always draws strong crowds.

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