Want to turn a Paris winter day into a Nordic interlude? Renting cross-country skis in Paris is the ideal way to enjoy the pleasures of sliding, as soon as the capital and its large parks are powdered with snow. The Bois de Vincennes, the Bois de Boulogne, the Parc de Saint-Cloud and the forêt de Meudon offer lovely paths for gentle initiation during the rare snowy spells.

The weather in Paris remains cool and often damp, with occasional snowfalls between December and February. The best times to slide: just after a fall, early in the morning when the layer is intact and the alleys are calm. Keep an eye on the forecasts and set off as soon as a cold snap sets in; bright, windless, anticyclonic days make for a particularly pleasant experience.