Paris

Fashion Tea Time at the Bristol

7 Jan / monthly 2012

Le Bristol

Sat 3.30pm-5pm

On the first Saturday of the month join fashion lovers at Paris's Le Bristol palace hotel for the Fashion Tea Time (Thés à la Mode) - a gourmet afternoon tea combined with a luxury fashion show by a Parisian designer.

It's in the bar that you enjoy the Fashion Tea Time. And for the occasion, the hotel's pastry chef (part of a three-Michelin-star team headed by chef extraordinaire Eric Fréchon) creates a cake to match the designer - your chance to tuck into a gooey chocolate caramel shoe or something equally as fun and delicious.

Paris Fashion Week

18 - 26 Jan 2012 (annual)

Carrousel du Louvre

The annual fashion weeks send buyers around the globe to catch all the latest catwalk trends. The last stop after New York, London and Milan is Paris Fashion Week, at the Carrousel du Louvre.

For the first part of the week, the event is given over to menswear, while haute couture takes centre stage in the second part. With just one day's break between each show, for once the fashion glitterati may have an excuse for being late!

Rétromobile

1 - 5 Feb 2012 (annual)

Porte de Versailles

Wed 11am-10pm; Thu, Sat 10am-7pm; Fri 10am-10pm

The Rétromobile Fair at the Paris Expo gives you the chance to discover a century of racing machines plus more than 300 cars, motorbikes, boats, accessories and collectors' toys. Everything is here from 19th-century steam-powered miniature cars to customized MGs.

Paris Antiques Book Fair

Feb 2012 (annual)

Halle Freyssinet

11am-7pm

Antique dealers congregate at Paris's Halle Freyssinet and the surrounding streets for the annual Antique Books Fair (Brocante de Livres Anciens). Browse illustrated Jules Verne novels, search for rare literary treasures among hundreds of stalls - and don't forget to haggle!

Open GDF Suez

Feb 2012 (annual)

Stade Pierre de Coubertin

The Open GDF Suez, played inside Paris's Stade Pierre de Coubertin, attracts some of the world's top female tennis stars to compete for thousands of dollars in prize money. It's a popular event so reserve your tickets in advance.

January Sales

11 Jan - 14 Feb 2012 (annual)

Paris

Plastic at the ready! Over 1000 shops, from boutiques to grands magasins, participate in the January Sales, offering discounts as high as 70 per cent. Sales are standardised in France meaning shops can only open to bargain-hunters on authorised days.

International Agricultural Show

Feb 2012 (annual)

Porte de Versailles

Daily 9am-7pm (25 Feb until 11pm)

The International Agricultural Show at the Porte de Versailles is a real institution in France. Numerous exhibits feature the top models of the animal world, meaty gastronomic delicacies from 22 French regions, leisure, hunting and fishing displays.

Salon du Vintage

Mar 2012 (annual)

Espace d'Animation des Blancs Manteaux

Fri 2pm-7pm; Sat-Sun 10am-7pm

Free your inner retro fiend at Paris's Salon du Vintage, which takes over every inch of space at the Espace des Blancs Manteaux each year. It's the place to get vintage clothes, furniture and even a 60s hairdo.

Looking for an old Chesterfield armchair? Or Fancy sporting a 60s shift dress? Over 60 stalls sell anything pre-1990s that is wearable or attractive enough to make it into your home. For those daring enough there's a vintage tatoo parlour (if a permanent design is too much, you can opt for an 8-day tatoo painted with Japanese ink); or you can just sit back and let the Pompadours (fresh off the Eurostar from London) create you a retro hair style.

Foire de Paris

Apr - May 2012 (annual)

Porte de Versailles

Daily 10am-7pm (late-night on some days until 9pm, until 11pm Fri 6 May)

Whether you want to travel the globe or discover the latest interior design trends, the mammoth Foire de Paris at the Porte de Versailles comes up with the goods. Three sections make up the event: Home, Leisure and World Culture.

French Wine Fair

May 2012 (annual)

Palais de la Bourse/Palais Brongniart

Sat-Sun 10am-7pm

Paris' Palais Brongniart is the setting for the Salon de la Revue du Vin de France (French Wine Fair). Professionals and enthusiasts gather over two days to sample around 1000 of the country's best wines and some 250 winemakers attend.

Bastille Antiques Fair

May 2012 (various dates)

La Place de la Bastille

Daily 11am-7pm

Antiques dealers from all over France congregate on Paris' Place de la Bastille, along the Arsénal (port area)  for its biannual Brocante antiques fair. Visitors can browse bric-a-brac, hunt for serious atniques and pick up souvenirs among hundreds of stalls.

Carré Rive Gauche Fair

May 2012 (annual)

Rue du Bac

Browse all manner of precious objects at the Carré Rive Gauche Fair, held in the exclusive Parisian quarter of the same name. Antique dealers set up stalls around the Rue du Bac, offering everything from rare pottery to medieval furniture.

Flowers line the streets and red carpets direct visitors along the route. Purse permitting, you could be splashing out on jewellery, wood carvings, busts, calligraphy, lamps or suits of armour.

The name Carré (square) itself refers to the shape made by the streets that the participating galleries reside in - a square-shaped network between Rues du Bac, des Saints Pères, Jacob and quai Voltaire.

Vienna

Ferien Messe Wien

12 - 15 Jan 2012 (annual)

Messe Wien

10am-6pm (til 7pm Thu)

Ferien Messe Wien should definitely get the whole family in the holiday spirit. Come along for inspiration on all kinds of holiday from camping to cruises, Christmas to spa breaks. Check out the last-minute winter holidays on offer at Messe Wien.

Vienna Autoshow

12 - 15 Jan 2012 (annual)

Messe Wien

9am-6pm (til 7pm Thu)

Thousands pass through the doors of Messe Wien looking for their their next new car at Vienna Autoshow. Around 400 new cars from 40 manufacturers are on show for visitors from diehard car fans to those who want the newest technology.

Vienna Restaurant Week

Feb 2012 (various dates)

Vienna

Austria rustles up its finest dishes for thousands of hungry gourmands during Vienna Restaurant Week. Restaurants all over town offer two-course lunches and three-course dinners at bargain prices. Make a reservation on the Vienna Restaurant Week website a month in advance.

Life Ball

May 2012 (annual)

Rathaus

International VIPs strut their stuff for the Life Ball AIDS fundraiser at Vienna's Rathaus. A prominent figure usually opens the proceedings and models and celebrities arrive in outrageous fancy dress costumes.  Live music, DJs and other activities fill several grand rooms.

For those who can't get through on the ticket lines when tickets go on sale about one month before the Life Ball, there are auctions and lotteries to distribute a limited number afterwards.

Modepalast

May 2012 (annual)

MAK (Museum of Applied Arts)

Young Austrian and international fashion designers present street wear and high couture at Vienna's MAK (Museum of Applied Arts). Described as the biggest boutique in the city, around 4000 fashionistas rummage for the latest trends. Fashion shows, awards and parties complete the look.

Sand in the City

Apr - Sep 2012 (annual)

Vienna

Daily 2pm-12am

Pack your bucket and spade and head to Vienna's summertime Sand in the City, a beach-like area set up next to central Lothringerstrasse street. Jacuzzis, a swimming pool, cocktail bars and even a massage lounge bring Hawaii that little bit closer.

Barcelona

Sa Pobla

Jan 2012 (annual)

Gràcia

During the last weekend of January, residents in Barcelona's Mallorcan district, Gràcia, celebrate Sa Pobla. Gathering in the streets, they hail the passing drummers, costumed singers and red devils in a tribute to the patron saint of animals, San Antoni.

Festival-goers at Sa Pobla take the opportunity to gather around open fires and indulge in traditional Majorcan fare - a notable example is sobresada, being a harmless-looking large flat pastry like brioche - bite through the pastry and you'll discover a raw rich meat filling that gives this delicacy a totally different edge. Bonfires are lit in the streets and festive onlookers make way for riotous processions of dancing devils and drummers. The residents are known for their raucousness during Sa Pobla and essentially anything goes.

Milan

Antiques Market

Every month 2012

Antiques Market

Last Sun of every month (not July) 9am-2.30pm

This Antiques Market stretches along the canal in Navigli for about two kilometres. Over 400 merchants set up stalls, while quality controls ensure merchandise is in good condition. Practise your haggling by picking up anything from furniture to postage stamps.

Designer Sales in Milan

6 Jan - 5 Feb 2012 (annual)

Milan

During the Designer Sales in Milan, the city's premier designer shops empty their storefronts in a storm of ridiculously underpriced quality gear, as they prepare to take in the new collections. Get there early!

Identita' Golose

5 - 7 Feb 2012 (annual)

Milan Convention Centre

Milan Convention Centre (MIC) hosts Identita' Golose, a three-day event founded and curated by food expert Paolo Marchi. A different theme every year ensures that the latest issues and food trends are discussed.

Moda In

7 - 9 Feb 2012 (various dates)

Fieramilanocity

Daily 9am-6.30pm

Part of Milano Unica, Moda In is an international exhibition of textiles and accessories. Held twice a year at the Fieramilanocity, it ushers in the new fabrics and colours for the forthcoming season.

Top-level European producers of clothing textiles and accessories exhibit their fabrics to buyers, designers, the trade press and invited fashion schools, of which there are a fair few based in Milan.

Milano Pret-a-Porter

24 - 27 Feb 2012 (various dates)

Fieramilanocity

Daily 9.30am-6.30pm (until 4.30pm Mon)

Models shimmy down the catwalk at Fieramilanocity, revealing the latest hot trends for the coming season. With staple exhibitors like Versace, Armani and Dolce & Gabbana, Milano Pret-a-Porter is one of the most prestigious shows in Italy's fashion capital.

Milan Fashion Week

22 - 28 Feb 2012 (various dates)

Milano Fashion Center

Recently extended to include an increasing number of catwalk shows, Milan Fashion Week reinforces the city's importance in the global fashion industry. Hot new styles are sent down the catwalk twice a year at the Milano Fashion Center.

At Milan Fashion Week, Gucci, Armani, D&G, Prada and many other top international designers offer a preview of trends to come. Although you do need an invitation to see the catwalk shows, this is nonetheless a good time to visit the city, which is booming with fashion tourists and glamorous parties throughout the week.

Hobby Show

Mar 2012 (various dates)

Fieramilanocity

Held twice a year at Milan's Fieramilanocity, the Hobby Show is a real draw for lovers of arts and crafts. A wide range of exhibitors, from manufacturing companies to art institutions, inspire visitors with fresh ideas.

The Hobby Show's labs and workshops are set up by experts to give guidance on new products and techniques, while Runer Arte & Hobby runs a special fun programme to stimulate children's creativity.

Ludica

Mar 2012 (annual)

Fieramilanocity

Daily 9.30am-8pm

Ludica is a festival of table games held at Milan's Fieramilanocity. A meeting point for tradition and creativity, play and education, the event offers tournaments, workshops, demonstrations and exciting new products. Fun and challenging activities occupy both adults and children.

Milano-Sanremo Cup

Mar 2012 (annual)

Piazza Duomo

2.15pm in Piazza Duomo

Milan's Piazza Duomo, framed by the iconic Gothic cathedral, fills with collectors' cars, which parade before setting off for the Milano-Sanremo Cup. The classic race heads for the Ligurian Sea in an historic revival.

Car owners also get the chance to test-drive their vehicles (and have their specs tested and verified by a technical team) at the world-renowned Autodromo Nazionale di Monza racetrack, home to the Scuderia Ferrari.

Fiori e Sapori

Apr 2012 (annual)

Naviglio Grande

Beautiful flower displays transform Milan's historical Naviglio Grande into a carnival of fragrances and colours during Fiori e Sapori (Flowers And Taste). The annual flower and gardening show attracts cultivators and retailers from all over the country.

Exhibitors take great pride in decorating and arranging their stalls to the greatest effect, so stroll around and peruse them all at your leisure, as this is a great chance to take a break from the hectic rhythm of bustling Milan.

Salone Internazionale del Mobile

Apr 2012 (annual)

Fiera Milano

Daily 9.30am-6.30pm

Held at the recently revamped Fiera Milano exhibition centre, the Salone Internazionale del Mobile is the biggest exhibition in the Milanese design calendar. It showcases the hottest and most influential figures in the world.

The Salone Internazionale del Mobile groups exhibitions according to product category and styles (furnishing accessories, kitchen appliances, bathroom accessories etc), a system that is supposed to minimise confusion and guide visitors around the fair.

Rome

La Soffitta Sotto i Portici

Monthly 2012; Sun only (various dates)

Piazza Augusto Imperatore

La Soffitta Sotto i Portici is Rome's bargain market, held twice a month in Piazza Augusto Imperatore. More than 100 exhibitors display their wares, which range from collectors' items and antiques to not-so-old objects like watches and furniture.

AltaRoma

28 - 31 Jan 2012 (various dates)

Complesso monumentale Santo Spirito in Saxia

AltaRoma is held twice a year at Rome's Complesso monumentale Santo Spirito in Saxia. It combines elements of traditional fashion shows with a series of unconventional events and experimental performances, designed to intertwine garments with art and spectacle.

The catwalks feature classic collections by established designers along with more daring creations by young talent, hoping to make an impact on both visitors and major fashion houses. There are also photographic exhibitions relating to fashion, talks, conferences and the recently launched Who's On Next? contest, a project by AltaRoma in collaboration with Vogue Italia, dedicated to discovering tomorrow's big names.

Roma Wine Festival

May 2012 (annual)

Citta' del Gusto

Roma Wine Festival, held at Citta's del Gusto, brings two days of meetings, presentations and workshops to the eternal city. With an impressive list of professional attendees, visitors can learn all about the fascinating science behind a good bottle.

Ian D'Agata and Massimo Claudio Comparini, director and vice director of the International Wine Academy of Rome, Charles Metcalfe, successful wine critic and co-chairman of the London International Wine Challenge, and journalist Bernard Burtschy have all attended in previous years.

Moa Casa

Apr - May 2012 (various dates)

Fiera di Roma

See the latest furniture and design trends, then plan a new look for your home with architects, interior designers and decorators at Moa Casa. The show is held at Fiera di Roma and attracts thousands of visitors twice a year.

Florence

Pitti Immagine Filati

25 - 27 Jan 2012 (various dates)

Fortezza da Basso

Held at Florence's Fortezza da Basso, Pitti Immagine Filati is a fashion fair showcasing the latest in fabric and knitwear products. Popular with the general public as well as major international fashion houses, the fair attracts thousands twice a year.

Particularly successful is the Spazio Ricerca, a research area whose findings have caught the attention of world-renowned fashion leaders like Armani, Gucci and Ralph Lauren.

Artisan Chocolate Fair

Feb 2012 (annual)

Piazza della Repubblica

Daily 10am-10pm

Florence's Artisan Chocolate Fair is held every year in Piazza della Repubblica, where Tuscany's top chocolatiers display the art of chocolate making. The programme includes sampling, games, shows, workshops and other curious installations on the history of chocolate.

Salone del Mobile

Mar 2012 (annual)

Fortezza da Basso

Mon-Sat 3pm-11pm; Sun 10.30am-9pm

Following Milan's footsteps, Florence organises its own Salone del Mobile at Fortezza da Basso. Presenting products and ideas from around 200 exhibitors that specialise in home-furnishing solutions, this is a good one-stop shop for home renovation.

Pitti Immagine Taste

Mar 2012 (annual)

Stazione Leopolda

Sat & Sun 10am-10pm; Mon 9.30am-4.30pm

The youngest of all the Pitti Immagine events, Taste is an exhibition about the pleasures of the table, exploring the cultural and biological diversity of food. It attracts both food professionals and amateurs at Florence's Stazione Leopolda.

See what food journalists recommend at Taste Press, then fill your belly with samples on the Taste Tour. The Taste Ring is an arena for debate, and you can visit the Taste Shop for epicurean souvenirs.

B.A.C.I

Mar 2012 (annual)

Fortezza da Basso

B.A.C.I, the Balloon Arts Convention International, organises a large-sculpture competition at Florence's Fortezza da Basso. While teams of artists unleash their creativity to win the contest, courses and conventions at Palaffari introduce the public to balloon art.

ART

Apr - May 2012 (annual)

Fortezza da Basso

Tradition and innovation come together each year at the Fortezza da Basso in Florence for ART, one of the most prominent European arts and crafts fairs. Several themed areas showcase a wide range of products in a tidy format.

The spaces include Visions, offering innovative handicrafts, Territories, featuring collective national and international exhibits, and Interiors, which showcases everything for the home.

International Iris Competition

May 2012 (annual)

Iris Garden

Daily 10am-12.30pm & 3pm-7pm

In May, gardeners from all over the world flock to Florence to admire stunning blooms, as the renowned Iris Garden opens its gates to the public for the International Iris Competition. The closing prize-giving ceremony is held at Palazzo Vecchio.

Flowers are judged on the basis of their colour, shape, aroma and resistance to disease. A special prize, Fiorino D'oro, goes to the specimen which most closely resembles the iris in the coat of arms of the city itself.

Artisans and the Palace

May 2012 (annual)

Palazzo Corsini

Daily 10am-8.30pm

Artisans and the Palace is an arts and crafts fair held at Florence's Palazzo Corsini. Artisans from all over Europe use their stands as open-air workshops, showcasing their skills in pottery, glass cutting, furniture restoration and more.

The great success of this exhibition is due to the fact that it is not just a fair or bazaar, but a continuous demonstration of the skills of each craftsman.

Boboli's Fragrances

May 2012 (annual)

Boboli Gardens

Daily 10am-8pm

Scents, essential oils, herbs and other nature-inspired products revive Florence's Renaissance tradition of perfumery at Boboli's Fragrances, offering visitors a pleasant olfactory experience. Held in the Boboli Gardens, the event is complemented by an exhibition on the study of plants.

Flower Display

May 2012 (annual)

Piazza della Signoria

With its annual Flower Display, Florence sees a carpet of flowers covering the main square, Piazza della Signoria, and the area around the neighbouring Uffizi. Perfectly arranged and meticulously tended, the display provides a riot of colour.

Porto

Critérium International Cycling Race

Mar 2012 (annual)

Porto Vecchio

The Critérium International Cycling Race has been thrilling cycling fans since the 1930s. The competition, which is held in Porto Vecchio, has three parts: road racing, hill racing and speed racing. Join the jovial crowds cheering on the cyclists.

Porto Cervo Wine Festival

May 2012 (annual)

Hotel Cervo

Daily 10am-1pm & 3pm-8pm

Against a backdrop of white beaches and emerald waters, the Porto Cervo Wine Festival tempts visitors with wines from top wineries. In addition to tastings, there are workshops, talks, fashion shows and food events, all held at Hotel Cervo.

Stockholm

Stockholm Furniture Fair

Feb 2012 (annual)

Stockholmsmässan (Stockholm International Fairs & Congress Centre)

Inject some Swedish style into your home by picking up some cutting-edge pieces at the Stockholm Furniture Fair. Held at the International Fairs & Congress Center, it wows visitors with special exhibits. Big names from the design world make an appearance.

Antikmässan

Feb 2012 (annual)

Stockholmsmässan (Stockholm International Fairs & Congress Centre)

Thu 12pm-8pm; Fri & Sat 10am-6pm; Sun 10am-5pm

Swedish furnishings get a lot more stylish than Ikea. At Stockholm's international antiques fair, held at the Fairs & Congress Center, you can pick up everything from 18th-century, Gustavian-style antiques to decadent Karl Johan-style pieces.

As is customary, the fair returns with a new theme each year, this time being Enchant Your Home. Possibly an allusion to that scene in Disney's Beauty and the Beast where all the furniture comes to life, it's meant to suggest antiques' power to imbue a home with new life and energy and commends their ability to beguile and enchant all those who come into contact with them.

Archipelago Fair

May 2012 (annual)

Worcester Art Museum

Daily 12pm-5pm

Stockholm's annual Archipelago Fair (Skärgårdsmässan) takes place in the former royal hunting grounds on Djurgården. Exhibitors from the countries surrounding the Baltic Sea display and sell handicrafts, provide tourist information about the islands and present entertainment, exhibitions and food.

A Taste of Stockholm

Jun 2012 (annual)

Stockholm

Wed-Sat 11am-11.30pm; Sun 11am-10pm

At A Taste of Stockholm, or Smaka På Stockholm, the city shows off its best food, drink, free live entertainment, culture and sport. Kungsträdgården is the centre of the action. Don't miss The Chef's Theatre which features two exciting daily cook-offs.

Staff Correspondent - Connoisseur Magazine