Everything tourists should know before visiting Atlanta, Georgia — weather advisories, what to pack, and more

• If you're planning a trip to Atlanta, be aware of COVID-19- and weather-related advisories.
• Atlanta is typically warm with mild winters and can get extremely humid over the summer.

In Atlanta, COVID-19 restrictions have eased throughout the city. Depending on the time of year, weather can be temperamental and sometimes extreme, so it's good to dress properly. Here are the latest guidelines and things you should know.

COVID-19 advisories

Georgia has relaxed COVID-19 restrictions, though local rules vary and can depend on business owners and management. I've seen some businesses with "masks, please" signs posted, but it's not very common.

Some performance venues may request that you wear a mask, but those are few and far between now. Fewer still require proof of vaccination.

If you're arriving in Atlanta from an international location, you would follow the US federal travel guidelines. Masks are also not required on public transportation or in hubs.

COVID-19 testing is available through urgent-care centers, drug stores, and clinics.

Weather advisories

As a humid subtropical climate, Atlanta is mostly warm but can get oppressively muggy in the summer.

The weather can be fickle. The sky can be cloudless in the morning, then black out with rolling clouds and sudden thunderstorms in the late afternoon, then return to sun as if nothing ever happened. By the late evening, temperatures can be 20 degrees lower than that day's high. I find it to be a wild ride.

We have all four seasons, though for more than half of the year you can expect highs in the 70s to high 80s and lows between 50 and 70. Winter doesn't usually kick in until late November, and it's a short visit, with days warming up significantly by the end of March (though the evenings are sporadically cold through the early May). It's as chilly as it gets by January, when temperatures can dip to the 20s. Snow is rare.

If you're coming in the winter, bring a good coat and pack sweaters and thick jeans. In the spring and fall, wear layers and don't forget your jacket at night.

In the summer, don't be shy about dressing light. Breathable fabrics and activewear are your friends, and so is sun protection — sunscreen, sunglasses, and hats are musts. Don't forget bug spray if you plan to venture to some of the greener spaces.