Toronto - Prepare

Toronto has four very distinct seasons. You'll want light and breezy garments for the middle of summer, and a heavy winter jacket if you're visiting in the dead of winter. Bring also a neat, polite and outdoorsy aura.

Join the procession in June as Toronto hosts its huge Pride parade, and dance along Queen Street East during the Beaches International Jazz Festival in July. Mingle with a million partygoers in August to celebrate the Caribana carnival, and enjoy the waterfront festivities at August's Canadian National Exhibition. In September, get among a smorgasbord of gala parties, films and Hollywood stars at the Toronto International Film Festival. Visit the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair in November, complete with carriage races and performing dogs.

New Year's Day (1 Jan), Good Friday (Mar/Apr), Easter Monday (Mar/Apr), Victoria Day (May), Canada Day (1 Jul), Civic Holiday (Aug), Labour Day (Sep), Thanksgiving (Oct), Remembrance Day (Nov), Christmas Day (25 Dec), Boxing Day (26 Dec).

You may encounter temperatures that soar well above 30˚C with humidity in summer, and dip below -30°C in January and February. Summer average highs range between 17°C and 26°C, making finding some shade or taking a dip very attractive prospects. Winter average highs are between -2°C and 6°C, when ice skating outdoors becomes the activity of choice for the locals.

120v ac, 60 Hz, two flat–pin parallel plugs are standard.

+1 (Canada), +416 (Toronto) + seven-digit number.

The Canadian dollar (C$) is the currency.

GMT -5.

Toronto Tourism website.

Torontonians look businesslike during the working week. On Bay Street sport a suit or dress, but for the gay Village area at night pull on your club wear. The look uptown is smart casual, while at the beach it's laid-back – or nothing at all.