Toronto experiences mild spring and autumn seasons. Summers tend to be hot and humid. Average temperatures for spring and summer vary between 15 C (60 F) and 25 C (80 F). Although winter conditions can be severe, temperatures are generally not as cold as those of other Canadian regions. Average daytime temperature in winter (except for January) hovers just below freezing level. Average snowfall is no more than 10 cm.

Brazil-Canada Chamber of Commerce

British Canadian Chamber of Trade and Commerce

Toronto Chinese Business Association

China (People's Republic of) Consulate

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

Telsec Business Centre

FedEx

UPS

The International Courier

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:

Kinko's

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

Duty-free allowances are 200 cigarettes or 50 cigars or 200g of tobacco, or 400g of tobacco sticks; 1.1 liter of distilled spirits or wine and 24 bottles or cans of beer, and; a small quantity of perfume for personal use only.

The country code for Canada is 1. The codes for Toronto City are 416 and 647, and the code for the greater Toronto area is 905.

Dial 911 for all police, fire, accident, and medical emergencies.

If you wish to speak to an operator, dial 0. For telephone information, dial 411. For inquiries on long distance calls dial 1, then the area code, then 555-1212. Most public telephones are coin operated, although calling card phones are becoming increasingly popular. Coin phones cost C$0.35 per local call.

The cellular standards in Canada are AMPS for analog format and CDMA and TDMA for digital format. If you choose to bring your cellular phone into Canada, 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.

The Canadian dollar is the official local currency. There are 100 cents to the Canadian dollar. Notes are available in denominations of C$1000, 500, 100, 50, 20, 10 and 5, while coins come in denominations of C$1, C$2, and 50, 25, 10, 5 and 1 cents. U.S. dollars are accepted and a premium is often given to make up the difference between the two rates. Currency can be exchanged at banks and at many hotels. Currency exchange bureaus are located at airports, train and bus stations, and in most major towns and cities. ATMs allowing access to a traveler's own account are widely available across the country. Most major credit cards are accepted nationwide.

• Restaurants
15 to 20 percent of bill
• Bars
15 percent
• Airport Skycap/Porter
C$1per piece of luggage
• Hotel Bellhop
C$1 per piece of luggage
• Taxi Drivers
15 percent of the fare
• Hotel Housekeeping
C$1per person per day
• Hotel Room Service
15 percent of bill
• Parking Attendant/Valet
C$1 to C$2
• Haircare/Personal Services
About 15 percent

Toronto lies in the Eastern Time Zone (Greenwich Mean Time minus five hours). The city observes Daylight Savings Time during the summer, starting from the last Sunday in April and ending the last Sunday in October.

There is a Goods and Services Tax (GST) of 7% on all goods and services. In addition, a provincial sales tax of 8% is added to the listed price of most purchases

Canada uses 110-volt electric power. Flat, two-pin plugs are used.

Driving around Toronto is relatively easy, if you want to rent a car. You should remember that seat-belt use is mandatory in Ontario and fines can be stiff. Taxis are a relatively cheap option when it comes to getting around Toronto. The meter starts at C$2.50 and each quarter of a kilometer increases by twenty-five cents (as is each passenger in excess of four). A cab across town would be around C$9, although waiting time during busy times can make it add up to a lot more. You can hail a cab most main streets and there are always plenty waiting in the rank outside the central rail station. The Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) network is the city's efficient public-transport system, which includes buses, subways, and streetcars. Buses are reliable and widely available. There are two subway lines: Bloor/Danforth, which runs east to west; and Yonge/University, which loops north to south. Streetcars on major routes run 24 hours, and the subway stops at 2am.

No specific vaccinations are required to enter Canada. In Toronto, there is easy access to excellent healthcare, emergency-health facilities, and prescription and over-the-counter drugs. However, it can cost non-residents anywhere from C$50 to C$1,000 per day, so it is always advisable to travel with some sort of medical travel insurance or to sign up with a medical-assistance company.

Avalon is considered one of Toronto's best restaurants for its fresh, seasonally changing menu. The Jamie Kennedy Wine Bar serves artisanal cheeses and foie gras terrine with fine wines by the half-glass. Located on the top floor of a skyscraper in the financial area, Canoe serves tender caribou loin and tourtiere meat pies. Attracting a regular clientele from the financial services sector, Al Frisco's offers a wide selection of Continental, Mediterranean and Italian dishes. Nami, voted Toronto's best Japanese restaurant, specializes in seafood. La Palette is a bistro that serves French café classics such as grilled wild boar in red wine mustard and a daily changing three-course prix-fixe menu. Local superstar chefs like Sam Gassira, Susur Lee and Greg Couillard shake the foundations of Toronto's old-guard dining scene at Focaccia.

With over 20 000 shops, Toronto offers an extensive range of styles and goods. Toronto's most famous shopping center is the Eaton Centre, counting over 320 stores and restaurants. Yorkville is home to numerous high-end designer boutiques. Yonge Street is a unique, diverse shopping area. College and Queen streets are packed with trendy shops selling hard-to-find brands. Toronto's many ethnic neighborhoods also offer unique shopping. These areas include Queen Street West, Little Italy, Little Portugal, Gerrard India Bazaar, St. Lawrence Market, Kensington Market, and five Chinatown areas.

The CN Tower is the tallest freestanding structure worldwide and also a Toronto symbol. Some of the city's most popular cultural attractions include the Royal Ontario Museum, the Art Gallery of Ontario (among Canada's top three) and the medieval-style Casa Loma castle. The city's dynamic Harbour Front area, extremely popular in summer, is worth a visit. The largest venue of performing arts in the country is the Hummingbird Center for Performing Arts, offering a year-round program of events.

Toronto is dotted with parks, and the Toronto Islands, featuring large public park/recreation areas, are just a 10-minute ferry ride across the harbor. Another favorite activity is watching ice hockey. During the season, you can watch the Toronto Maple Leafs play, if you can get tickets.

Niagara Falls, the largest waterfalls in the world, is at a distance of about 1.5 hours from the city. Approximately 2.5 hours north of Toronto is Algonquin Provincial Park, a re-creation of Toronto's colonial settlement. Another historical simulation is Black Creek Pioneer Village, about 30 minutes away, which recreates what an Ontario village resembled one hundred years ago.