Be in a city for its big festival

Being in a city for its big festival means timing a trip to the days when the whole place turns out: Oktoberfest in Munich, Carnival in Rio, Songkran's water fights in Thailand, the Day of the Dead in Mexico. You see the city at full volume, with its music, food and costumes out in the street.

Where to do it

Oktoberfest, Munich, Germany

Beer tents, brass bands and fairground rides on the Theresienwiese for about two weeks, ending in early October. Entry is free, but reserved tables are booked months ahead; weekday afternoons are the easy time to walk in. Late September is the time to be in Munich, Germany.

Rio Carnival, Brazil

The samba school parades in the Sambadrome are ticketed and run through the night; the street parties, called blocos, are free and everywhere. Book a bed in Brazil early and expect high prices all week.

Songkran, Thailand

The Thai New Year, 13 to 15 April, when streets turn into a nationwide water fight. Chiang Mai's old city moat and Bangkok's Silom Road are popular places to join in. In Thailand, put your phone in a waterproof pouch and expect to be soaked.

Day of the Dead, Mexico

On 1 and 2 November, families build altars with marigolds, candles and photos, and visit cemeteries to remember the dead. Oaxaca and Pátzcuaro are known for their traditional celebrations. UNESCO lists the festivity as intangible heritage of Mexico.

San Fermín, Pamplona, Spain

From 6 to 14 July, Pamplona dresses in white and red. The bull runs start at 8 a.m. each day from 7 July. You don't have to run: balcony places along the route in Spain are booked ahead.

Venice Carnival, Italy

Two and a half weeks of masks, costumes and balls before Lent, centered on St Mark's Square. Weekdays are calmer, and hotels in this corner of Italy fill fast.

Edinburgh Festival Fringe, United Kingdom

Three and a half weeks every August when thousands of shows, from comedy to theater, fill every room in the city. Beds in this corner of the United Kingdom go a year ahead; staying in Glasgow is a common fix.

Mardi Gras, New Orleans, United States

Weeks of parades along St. Charles Avenue and Canal Street build to Fat Tuesday, with beads thrown from the floats, while the French Quarter is the party. Uptown along St. Charles is the calmer, family crowd in this corner of the United States.

The rest of the calendar

Also on the list: La Tomatina in Buñol, Spain; Glastonbury in England; Tomorrowland in Boom, Belgium; Coachella in California; Burning Man in Nevada's Black Rock Desert; the Eurovision Song Contest, in a different host city each year; and New Year's Eve in Times Square, on Sydney Harbour and on Copacabana (see our new year abroad line).

When to go

The next dates of the 17 festivals this line counts:

How to make it happen

• Book the bed first. Rooms go months ahead and prices rise; staying just outside the city is cheaper.
• Travel light and watch your things. Big crowds draw pickpockets.
• Take photos out in the streets on the festival days, with camera location on.