Population—Metropolitan Philadelphia: 5,959,301. Philadelphia proper:1,524,249.

                        County—Philadelphia County. 

                        Weather—Climate modified by proximity of the Atlantic Ocean;
                        occasional high humidity in summer; frequent high winds in winter. Clear
                        skies 25% of the time; partly cloudy skies 31%; cloudy skies 44%.
                        Annual rainfall: 40 in/100 cm; heaviest rain in July and August. Annual
                        snowfall: 20 in/50 cm. Average temperatures: Jan 26-40 Fahrenheit/-3
                        to 4 Celsius; Feb 27-41 F/-3 to 5 C; Mar 33-49 F/ 1-9 C; Apr 43-61 F/6-16
                        C; May 54-72 F/12-22 C; Jun 62-80 F/ 17-27 C; Jul 68-85 F/ 20-29 C;
                        Aug 67-83 F/19-28 C; Sep 60-76 F/16-24 C; Oct 50-66 F/ 10-19 C; Nov
                        39-53 F/4-12 C; Dec 30-43 F/-1 to 6 C. 

                        City Holidays—1998: 11 Nov, Veterans Day; 26 Nov, Thanksgiving; 25
                        Dec, Christmas. 

                        1999: 1 Jan, New Year’s; 18 Jan, Martin Luther King Day; 15 Feb,
                        Presidents’ Day; 31 May, Memorial Day; 4 Jul, Independence Day; 6 Sep,
                        Labor Day; 11 Oct, Columbus Day; 11 Nov, Veterans Day; 25 Nov,
                        Thanksgiving; 25 Dec, Christmas. 

                        Sales or Use Tax—City sales tax 7%. Hotel occupancy tax 13%. 

                        Passport/Visa Requirements—Australians need a passport, visa and
                        proof of onward passage. Canadians need to show proof of citizenship
                        (including a photo ID) to enter the U.S. and reenter Canada; a passport is
                        recommended. Travelers from the U.K. need a passport and proof of
                        onward passage. Reconfirm travel document requirements with carrier
                        before departing. 

                        Crime—Philadelphia has been ranked as one of the safest of the nation’s
                        large metropolitan areas. Crime in the major shopping and tourist areas is
                        largely confined to pickpocketing and purse snatching. However, as in any
                        large U.S. city, visitors are advised to be cautious. Exercise your “street
                        smarts” after dark in South Philadelphia, where excellent Italian
                        restaurants abound, in North Philadelphia and near the University of
                        Pennsylvania in West Philadelphia, where you’ll find many charming and
                        inexpensive ethnic restaurants. Ask your hotel’s concierge or at the front
                        desk for advice about the specific areas you wish to visit. 

                        Note: Many visitors hesitate to use the subway system despite the fact
                        that the Center-City subway is relatively safe, even at night. After business
                        hours, you’ll find fewer riders, so head for the well-populated cars. The
                        subway is the fastest and most direct way to reach the Sports Complex.
                        Stops that fans frequent are well policed. In addition to the subways, many
                        buses and local trains run regularly throughout the city and outlying areas
                        of Philadelphia. The main concern about riding public transportation at
                        night is exiting in a neighborhood that’s less safe when it’s deserted. 

                        Emergency Number—911. 

                        Telephone Codes—Area codes 215 and 267; 610 and 484 for some
                        nearby suburbs; and 609 for South Jersey suburbs. 

                        Time/Temperature—For the time, call 215-846-1212. For the weather,
                        call 215-936-1212. 

                        Time Zone—Eastern; five hours behind Greenwich Mean Time. Daylight
                        Saving Time is observed from the first Sunday in April to the last Sunday in
                        October. 

                        Business Attire—Many Philadelphia companies have instituted casual
                        dress policies. However, some segments of Philadelphia’s business
                        community still adhere to a more conservative dress code—suits or sports
                        jackets and ties and their counterparts for women. On a first visit to a firm,
                        you may want to wear more conservative business attire. A more formal
                        dress code also applies in some finer restaurants, where men are required
                        to wear a jacket and tie. 

                        When to Go 

                        Philadelphia is hot, humid and crowded in the summer months. If you go
                        then, expect temperatures to range 66-84 F/17-28 C, with some days in
                        the 90s F/32+ C. Humidity at 54 percent or more can make sightseeing
                        tiring. Thunderstorms are frequently predicted in the summer months but
                        often do not materialize. 

                        It’s clearest in September and October, with lower humidities and
                        temperatures ranging 46-77 F/6-24 C. Winter can be variable—rain and
                        snow, often in different parts of the city at the same time. January
                        temperatures run 23-38 F/-5-3 C. Spring can have frequent rainy days, but
                        cool to mild temperatures, usually 42-63 F/5-16 C in April and 52-73
                        F/11-22 C in May. Though most attractions are open year round, spring
                        and fall are the best times to go. 

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