Top 5: Hitting the literary trail at our top five book festivals

What? Sydney Writers' Festival, 16-22 May.
Where? Australia
Packed with blue-chip literary names, the Sydney Writers' Festival is stuffed with people to see including 2010 Man Booker prize winner Howard Jacoboson, Pulitzer Prize winner Michael Cunningham, restaurant critic AA Gill and expand your knowledge of Australian authors Robert Manne, Sonya Hartnett and Jon Bauer. Combine it with a visit to one of the world’s most beautiful cities. There’s a mix of free and paid-for events and different themes – from scriptwriting to crime – and venues around Sydney.

What? Göteborg Book Fair, 22-25 September.
Where? Sweden

With Scandinavia surfing a wave of international excitement over its literature, restaurants and design, what better place to get a grip on the latest Scandi up and comers? Göteborg Book Fair is the biggest Scandinavian book festival and fair, attracting visitors from across Europe. Lots of small group discussions in lots of languages. Attendees come from across the world. This year don’t miss Nobel Prize Laureate Mario Vargas Llosa and Romanian-born German author Herta Müller, the 2009 Nobel Prize Laureate. Last year there were more than 3,000 different programmes and 2,000 speakers. It really packs in the crowds. Nearby is the beautiful Southern Gothenburg Archipelago, and the city is packed with sights including the pretty Haga districts.

What? Edinburgh International Book Festival, 13-29 August.
Where? Scotland

One of the biggest book festivals in the UK, jostling with competitor Hay, the Edinburgh International Book Festival attracts big, big literary names as well as offering classes and workshops. Anne Fine and Roddy Doyle are on the list for this year as well as Scottish favourites Val McDermid and Liz Lochhead. Rock up to this festival, but take the opportunity to see some of the other festivals in Edinburgh at the same time, including the famous Fringe, and take in some of the city sights. Great atmosphere, and entry to this book festival is free.

What? Aspen Summer Words, 19-24 June.
Where? Colorado, USA

Aspen Summer Words is one of the big name literary festivals in the United States. Combine a great infusion of book events and workshops, with opportunities to listen to authors and to get feedback if you are a budding author yourself. In a very unusual twist to the literary festival set up, if you have a ticket to the event, you can also bid for some time with a big name editor or agent to gain feedback on your manuscript. Authors attending the literary festival this year include The Kite Runner writer Khaled Hosseni and Middle Eastern journalist Mona Eltahawy. While you are in town for the festival, hit the shopping, star spot (everyone from Goldie Hawn to Hunter S Thompson lives in the neighbourhood) or go for a hike in the Colorado mountains.

What? Hay Festival, 26 May - 5 June.
Where? Wales

The big one. When it comes to literary festivals, Hay in Wales is the one where you find presidents rubbing shoulders with Hollywood stars. Tickets sell as fast as a Ferrari on a track. This year there is a handful of Nobels, a huddle of historians and a glitter of glitterati including Ralph Fiennes and Vanessa Redgrave. There’s usually a surprise guest or two of international fame, in fact so famous no one knows about them in advance. Hay is so famous it has spawned a set of mini fests all over the world, Hay Kerala and Hay Nairobi to name but two. While you are there, take the chance to spend an hour or three in the many bookshops and a squeeze in a woodland walk in the nearby Forest of Dean.