Strasbourg is generally dry, warm and sunny. In July the average temperature is around 19 degrees Celsius (67 degrees Fahrenheit) and the average amount of precipitation is 76 mm. In January the average temperature is 1 degree Celsius (35 degrees Fahrenheit) and the average precipitation is 35 mm.

American Chamber of Commerce 76, rue de la Plaine des Bouchers; Tel.: +33 (0)3 88 39 66 67 ; www.amchamfrance.org/regional

Chambre de Commerce et d'Industrie de Strasbourg et du Bas-Rhin 10, place Gutenberg; Tel.: +33 3 88 75 25 25

Japan 20 pl Halles 67000 Strasbourg; Tel.: +33 (0)3 88 52 85 00

Mexico 8 bd Prés Edwards 67000 Strasbourg; Tel.: + 33 (0)3 88 24 07 72

U.K. 18, rue Gottfried; Tel.: +33 (0)3 88 35 00 78

U.S. 15, avenue d'Alsace; Tel.: +33 (0)3 88 35 31 04

Netherlands 12 rue Wimpheling 67000 Strasbourg; Tel. : 03 88 61 00 29

Chambre de Commerce et d'Industrie de Strasbourg et du Bas-Rhin 10, place Gutenberg ; Tel: +33 3 88 75 25 25

Most large hotels also have business centers that offer many of the same services that independent centers provide.

Centre Delta bleu 9, Place Kléber; Tel.: + 33 (0)3 88 14 38 88

IB Your Office 2 rue Faisanderie 67380 Lingolsheim Tel.: 03 90 20 21 22

Telexal Buro Services , 2 rue Thomas 67450 Mundolsheim Tel.: 03 88 18 37 37

Athena Business Center 10, avenue Molière (entrance: 2, rue Thomas Mann); Tel.: +33 (0)3 88 27 99 50

World Trade Center Strasbourg, Maison du Commerce International 4, quai Kléber; Tel.: + 33 (3) 88 76 42 24

Regus Strasbourg Tour Sebastopol 3 quai Kléber Strasbourg Cedex 3 67 080 Strasbourg; Tel : +33 3 88 23 70 70 Fax : +33 (0) 3 88 23 70 00

Major hotels also offer conference and exhibition facilities.

Palais des Congres de Strasbourg (Strasbourg Music and Conference Center) Place de Bordeaux-Wacken; Tel.: +33 (0)3 88 37 67 67

A Propos Traduction 4, rue La Fayette, BP 941; Tel.: +33 (0)3 88 79 89 00

Alphatrad Building Le Mathis, 204 avenue de Colmar, 67000, Strasbourg; Tel.: +33 (0)8 25 33 25 25

Transalex 30, rue Tilleuls 67400 Illkirch Graffenstaden, Tel.: 03 88 67 19 82

DHL Parc Activités les Découvertes 1, rue Mickael Faraday 67450 Mundolsheim; Tel.:+33 ( 0)820 20 25 25 (toll-free within France)

FedEx Tel.: +33 (0)8 00 12 38 00 (toll-free within France)

UPS rue de Rochefort 67100 Strasbourg; Tel.: +33 (0)8 00 87 78 77 (toll-free within France)

All upper-range and most medium-priced hotels are equipped with dataports that allow guests to use laptop computers. Many hotels also offer business centers equipped with computers and Internet access. Outside hotels, cyber cafes are available including:

Cybercafé L' Utopie 21 rue Fossé des Tanneurs 67000 Strasbourg; Tel.: 03 88 23 89 21

Net.Sur.Cour 18 quai Pêcheurs 67000 Strasbourg, Tel. : +33 3 88 35 66 76

Citizens of Brazil, Czech Republic, Germany, the Republic of Korea, Italy, Japan, Mexico, the U.K., and the U.S. do not need a visa to enter France. Citizens of the People's Republic of China must apply for a visa.

Duty-free allowances are 200 cigarettes or 100 cigarillos or 50 cigars or 250g of tobacco; 1 liter of spirits with an alcohol content exceeding 22% by volume or 2 liter of spirits or liquors with an alcohol content not exceeding 22% by volume; 50g of perfume and 250ml of eau de toilette and personal goods up to the value of 183 EUR. However, there are now no limits imposed on tobaccos and alcohol from one EU country to another.

The International Dialing Code for France is 33. The city code for Strasbourg is (0)3.

Police 17

Fire 18

Ambulance 15

SOS Help (English-language crisis line) Tel.: +33 (0)1 46 21 46 46

When making calls within France, you need to add "0" in front of the area code. You do not need to dial "0" when calling Strasbourg from abroad. Directory assistance is 12. Toll-free numbers begin with "800," while premium numbers begin with "08". Public phones are widely available, and most public phones accept only calling cards.

Cellular numbers start with "06". GSM is the cellular standard in France. SFR, Orange France, and Bouygues Telecom are the main cellular providers. If you choose to bring your cellular phone into France, be sure to check with your home cellular service provider to establish compatibility of your phone with systems abroad. Rent a locally compatible cellular phone before you arrive to obtain reasonable rates and reliable service.

As of January 1, 2002, Euro became the official currency. Euro notes are available in denominations of 5 EUR, 10 EUR, 20 EUR, 50 EUR, 100 EUR, 200 EUR, and 500 EUR, while coins are in 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50 cents, and 1 EUR and 2 EUR. The euro is divided into 100 cents. Foreign currency can be exchanged at banks, hotels, airports, train stations, and authorized foreign currency exchange offices. ATMs are available throughout the country. Traveler's checks are accepted widely. Most businesses accept Visa, MasterCard and American Express. Diners Club is less common. You may be required to enter your four-digit PIN number, so you should be sure to have this information.

Restaurants A 15 percent service charge is usually added to the bill, unless the menu says service non compris or service en sus when you should add your own 15 percent; an additional small tip for good service is always welcome

Bars Service is usually included, but it's customary to leave a euro or two or just round up the charge

Airport skycap/porter 1 EUR to 1.5 EUR per piece of luggage

Taxis 10 percent of the fare

Hotel bell desk 1.5 EUR per piece of luggage

Hotel housekeeping 1.5 EUR per night

Hotel room service Service charge is usually included, but round it up or leave another 1 EUR

Parking attendant/valet 1 EUR to 1.5 EUR

Haircare/personal services 10 percent of the charge

France is in the Western European Time Zone, which is Greenwich Mean Time plus one hour. It observes Daylight Savings Time from the last Sunday in March to the last Sunday in October.

VAT is 19.6% and is always included in the posted price.

Electricity is 220-240V AC, 50Hz. Plugs are round with either two or three pins.

Strasbourg has an efficient public transportation network, and there is no need to rent a car. In particular, its high tech tram system is clean, reliable, and convenient. CTS is the main public bus service provider. Réseau 67 serves areas north, west and south of Strasbourg, but Sunday and holiday service is quite limited. Taxis can be best found at taxi stands or ordered by phone.

France requires no special immunizations or health precautions. France has one of world's top healthcare systems, and the emergency rooms are well equipped. Pharmacies in Strasbourg take turns staying open after hours - lists are posted in the pharmacy windows. Access to prescription and over-the-counter drugs in France are excellent.

• New Year's Day January 1

• Good Friday Friday before Easter (not official but widely observed)

• Easter Sunday in mid-March or early April

• Easter Monday Monday after Easter

• Ascension Day Sixth Thursday after Easter

• Labor Day May 1

• 1945 Victory Day May 8

• Bastille Day July 14

• Assumption August 15

• All Saints Day November 1

• Remembrance Day November 11

• Christmas December 25

Chef Emile Jung combines his love of haute cuisine and regional cooking at his top Strasbourg restaurant, Au Crocodile, blessed with two Michelin stars. Le P'ti Max, a Strasbourg institution, specializes in traditional Alsatian flavors. Julien offers sumptuous French dishes and impeccable service, as well as a stunning view on the Ill River. Popular among Strasbourg's power players, the Chef Antoine Westermann's restaurant, Buerehiesel, situated in l'Orangerie, serves refined and regional modern cuisine. Particularly popular with businesspeople, L'Ami Schutz is one of Strasbourg's most picturesque Bierstubs, with a wooden beamed interior. At Zimmer Sengel, fusion is defined by a skilful blending of Alsatian and Southeast Asian influences. Favourite with Strasbourg's jet set and business community Le Pont des Vosges is a trendy Parisian-style brasserie with a menu based on the region's best seasonal produce.

Strasbourg is a great place to shop for antique objects, in particular Louis XV and Louis XVI period furniture and decorative items and 18th and 19th century tureens and other ceramics. For more moderately priced gifts, the region is known for Soufflenheim tureens and dinnerware and a range of textile goods such as tablecloths, napkins and aprons. Beer is also a popular local gift.

Dating from the Middle Ages, the Cathedral of Notre Dame is one of Strasbourg's most prominent monuments. Strasbourg's many cultural institutions include the Historical Museum, Beaux Arts Museum, Modern Arts Museum and Decorative Arts Museum. UNESCO counts the city's Petite France district, with its striking specimens of medieval architecture, among its World Heritage Sites. Structures built in the German neo-Gothic style can be seen at the Place de la République.

Among Europe's most distinguished intellectual centers, the University of Strasbourg is the alma mater of such historical heavyweights as Napoleon, Goethe and Pasteur. This area is also home to the European Parliament, the Palais de l'Europe, and Europe's Court of Human Rights.

L'Orangerie is a park that also hosts exhibitions and concerts. To know more about Strasbourg's beer-related history, take a day trip to Schiltigheim.