18-20 February
Carnaval de Binche, Belgium

The most famous and the best of Wallonia's carnivals dating from the 14th century when thousands would get dressed up in clogs, embroidered jackets and masks (to hide the red noses) and start dancing in the towns central square waving sticks about. In the evening they put feathers on their head. Recognised by UNESCO as a Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Patrimony of Humanity, which suggests they must have had a few good Belgium beers as well.

9-20 February
The Venice Carnival

The masked balls of eighteenth century Venice were filled with lust, intrigue and the odd pointy dagger. There is hardly any murder at all now in St Mark's Square but music, theatre, acrobats and dance fills the square and festivities work along the canals, over the bridges and in the palaces all in gorgeous costumes (masks, cloaks and tricorn hats) from when Venice was decadent capital of Europe. It might be too cold for lust though.

10-25 February
Sitges Carnival, Spain

Spain's premiere carnival (and party) is on the beach a mere 30km away from Barcelona. This small fishing village is swamped with 250,000 revellers shaking and shuffling in sand but whereas other carnivals are more drinking, Spain being Spain, produces a marathon of local food to get through. Kitsch is to the fore with a huge drag show and more sequins than Nashville.

26-28 February
Basel Carnival

Too busy eating chocolate? No the Swiss always have time for a party. At 4am on the Monday morning (26 Feb) Basel's electricity is turned off and the city is lit by torchbearers. The next days are spent in banging drums and blowing whistles, brass bands and bands of singers invading restaurants forcing you to listen to their songs in dialect. Tuesday is the kids carnival with face-painting, dressing up and .more chocolate.

20 January - 26 February
Rijeka Carnival, Croatia

Ancient Slav folklore is at work in Rijeka. Besides the usual floats and processions, carnival time brings the Zvonèari, men who dress in animal skins and ring bells to frighten away the darkness or as historians more probably think the invading Turks or possibly these guys have been imbibing in one of the liveliest bar scenes in the country.

15-21 February
Cologne Carnival

Possibly Germany isn't best known for its joie de vivre and sense of rhythm but take a chance with their biggest carnival in Cologne. So beloved it's known as the "fifth season" here and the climax are the "Three Mad Days". As you'd expect a lot of beer drinking takes place (kölsch, Colognes favourite tipple, is a deceptively light but strong beer) but this is more about music (130 bands), costumes (balls are everywhere) and huge floats throwing out sweets (40 tons of chocolates), tiny bunches of flowers and, naturally, bottled eau de cologne.

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