Last Updated on January 19, 2026 by Martina McKeough

If you are wondering what footwear to pack for Europe then hopefully I have you covered. I’ve picked some of the most comfortable and stylish walking shoes for Europe trips that will hopefully be perfect for any trips or vacations that you are planning this year. My picks have taken into account the diversity of terrains and weather as well as seasonal changes that will impact what you wear on your feet.

Over my lifetime I’ve visited a huge range of European destinations from the very hot to the colder spots so I know how important packing the right clothing and shoes can be. Here’s what you need to consider before even opening your suitcase plus some of the best footwear choices to pack for your visit.

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What Footwear Should You Choose?

So before I discuss individual styles of shoes and sandals you need to consider a few things before you make your choices.

What Are You Going To Do On Your Holiday?

Clearly a person who is planning to do a walking tour around the Alps in Switzerland is going to need a different type of footwear than a person planning a two week all inclusive trip to a hotel in Spain.

The activities you are going to be doing are going to dictate what you will wear on your feet. For serious walking in wilder hills and mountains you are going to need sturdier closed toe boots and shoes. Whilst those of you who are just doing some sightseeing around a city can get away with less professional footwear.

Where Are You Visiting?

Europe is a huge diverse continent and the places you visit also matter. London for example has decent pavements to walk around however in many French and Italian towns and cities the streets may be made from cobblestones which are harder to walk on.

If you are planning a beach holiday then shoes and sandals that can cope with water and sand will be important. Whilst colder climates in winter will need warm boots.

What is the Season?

Most of central and southern Europe is very hot in summer which means that you will want breathable and lightweight footwear if you are visiting at that time of year.

Whilst Scandanavian countries in the winter are likely to have heavy snow and ice meaning you will need footwear with good traction.

Come to London at any point in the year and expect some rain! Yes even in summer. So closed toe shoes or sneakers make sense to wear if you are out all day sightseeing. Every location will be different.

Thinking About What is Comfortable?

Whatever you do before you travel make sure you have broken in the shoes you are planning to wear. New shoes and significant walking are never a great combination on a holiday.

I always choose comfortable footwear because I get a serious amount of steps in on most of my holidays visiting sights, walking around museums and galleries or just roaming around my destination.

Yes you can always bring a pair of more stylish shoes for the evening with heels if you have the room but for day time flats with cushioing are your friend.

How Bulky or Heavy are they?

Many European airlines have strict weight limits and rules about baggage allowances and cabin bag sizes. This means you can end up paying a significant amount in excess luggage if you haven’t planned ahead.

Wear your bulkiest or heaviest shoes on the plane (if possible) and try and choose lightweight and compact styles to save on space and those extra fees.

Pay particular attention on winter destinations where your footwear is likely to take up more room.

Can You Clean Them?

Finally don’t forget to think about bringing shoes and sandals that you can easily clean. It doesn’t matter where you go there is always a possibility that your footwear will get dirty. This is why I tend to avoid canvas shoes where possible on holiday as they are harder to keep looking good.

Remember sunscreen can spill on leather, dirt tracks and rain can make your shoes look filthy and not wearing the right shoes in snow means tide marks. Choose something that is easy to maintain whilst you are away and you can thank me later.

Stylish Walking Shoes For Europe

So what would I choose to pack for my holidays in Europe. Well here are my top picks which I have categorized by footwear type and weather. This should give you a better idea of what to bring with you on any trip.

Sneakers For Sightseeing

Sneakers are always in my travel kit as I tend to wear them on the plane and also for long days of sightseeing. Obviously these need to be really comfortable and breathable especially for warmer climates. I also like to make sure they are made from leather rather than mesh so they are easier to clean when I am away.

For summer holidays I do love a white trainer as they go with everything.

 

 

 

 

These Veja sneakers are a personal favorite of mine as they are the perfect comfortable walking shoes for Europe. They go with just about everything because of the neutral color and I love to wear mine with floaty skits and dresses when I am traveling. You can also wear them with jeans or trousers on the plane.

For those of you that use orthotics they also have a removable insole which is useful if you want to switch it our for something that gives you even more comfort or support.

SOREL Women’s Kinetic Impact ll Wonder Lace Sneaker

 

 

 

For something more trend led then you can’t go wrong with Sorel footwear.

These have a really stylish and modern look and are probably better suited for city break destinations. I love to wear mine in autumn and winter (apart from in heavy snow or rain) as they go well with colder weather looks.

I find them really comfortable however be careful if you have wide feet as they can run narrow.

Cushioned Ballet Flats

My next choice of walking shoes for Europe trips is a pair of comfy cushioned ballet flats. I don’t tend to wear these for all day sightseeing expeditions but I do love them for shorter jaunts and to use as evening wear.

However be warned ordinary thin soled flats aren’t great in many European locations because of the uneven footpaths and cobbles that you find in many towns and cities. So if you are going to choose something to wear pick pairs that have great cushioning like these.

FitFlop Women’s Allegro Bow Leather Ballerinas Ballet Flat

I love my FitFlops because they are one of the only pair of shoes that I have been able to wear without doing some breaking in first. This is because of the cushioned insoles and also because they are made with soft leather with doesn’t cut your feet.

You can buy these with a bow or without depending on your taste and they come in a number of different colors. I have a pair in black but this neutral taupe pair also looks great.

Vionic Women’s Alameda Mary Jane Flat

 

 

As an alternative to ballet flats you could try Mary-Jane shoes. These work well if you want your shoes to feel more secure on your feet when you are walking around.

This pair is from Vionic another one of my go-to brands. They have a huge range or orthopedic footwear that is more stylish than most which is why I buy from them again and again. They also have great arch support in the shoes which helps when you are walking around all day.

Sandals and Beach Wear

Summer vacations in European destinations are hugely popular especially at beach resorts and locations. Think Italy, the south of France, Spain and Greece to name a few places that draw in hundreds of thousands of tourists each year.

These types of holidays or trips tend to be less about the sightseeing and more about lounging around the pool or beach or wandering around the old towns doing a spot of shopping.

If this is what you are planning to do this year then sandals and beach shoes are essential for your packing.

Tory Burch Women’s Kira Two Band Sport Sandals

I’m not a fan of mules and slides for walking around it as they tend to slip off my feet so this year I’ll be wearing a pair of sports sandals like these instead.

These Tory Burch sandals have great cushioning for comfort and enough straps to make them fit securely on my feet. If these are too expensive there are plenty of dupes that you can buy which cost less.

Birkenstock Women’s Arizona EVA Sandals

 

 

 

 

 

Whilst I don’t love mules and slides for walking I make an exception for pool shoes as they need to be easy to get on and off. Birkenstocks EVA are the perfect ones to bring as they are stylish, come in a range of different vibrant colors and can cope with sand and water.

I know plenty of people will swear by these to walk in but personally if you can stick to more supportive shoes and sandals instead for your foot health and use these just around the pool.

Loafers For Autumn Travel

Cushioned loafers are a great type of footwear to pack if you are planning to visit many European destinations in Autumn. Just remember that every country has very different temperatures between September and November.

London for example starts to cool considerably once you are in late September and October whilst countries like Spain or Italy are still relatively warm at that time of year so loafers many not be so suitable.

Northern Europe such as the Scandanavian countries, Holland, Belgium, the UK, Ireland and Northern France are generally perfect for loafers in mid to late Autumn.

Sam Edelman Women’s Denise Loafer

My view is that you can’t go wrong with a classic and these black penny loafers from Sam Edelman are perfect for trips to Europe. They aren’t too bulky so they won’t weigh down your suitcase and they go with everything because of the classic design.

Ankle Boots for Rain 

Waterproof boots become an essential when you are visiting Europe when it is more likely to rain. In the UK and Ireland that can be most of the year apart from the summer months!

This is where I recommend wearing ankle boots for your general day to day walking around town. Make sure they are waterproof and breathable and you should be fine.

Just note that these are for wet weather but not hiking which I’ll talk about next. Think about wearing these when sightseeing on normal sidewalks rather than wearing in fields or uneven ground.

Cole Haan Women’s Greenwich Chelsea Waterproof Bootie Boot

These are the perfect boots for walking around in wetter conditions. They will keep your feet dry and they look good as well.

As an added bonuse these have arch support and a padded sock liner which means they will keep your feet comfortable as you explore the sights.

 

 

Hiking Boots For Rougher Terrain

Columbia Women’s Transverse Hike Waterproof Boot

For those of you planning on doing more serious walks and hikes on your travels then you need a decent pair of hiking boots to wear.

These boots by Columbia are perfect for rougher terrain and are waterproof so you can deal with rain and snow. Whilst these aren’t built for serious cold weather treks they are great for normal hikes and have great grip.

They are also breathable, cushioned and come in wide fit sizes which means you are going to get a better fit for your feet.

Cold Weather Footwear For Winter Destinations

Finally if you are planning your trip in Winter and are going to one of the colder destinations you are going to need footwear with traction and which can keep your feet warm when you are walking in snow or ice.

I’ve travelled extensively in Norway, Iceland, Russia and Finland and the temperatures can get cold and the ground can be treacherous if you are not wearinf the right boots.

I’m a big fan of Sorel for these situations unless you are planning on doing mountaineering or adventurous pursuits.

SOREL Women’s Kinetic Impact Sport Waterproof Boot

These look great, keep your feet warm because of the insulating material and have decent treads for low to moderate snow.

Don’t Forget to Bring These Shoe Accessories

Once you have your bags packed with your comfortable and stylish walking shoes for Europe don’t forget to bring these accessories as well. They can make all the difference

Cushioned Insoles and Orthotics

If you wear orthotics then make sure you pack them or wear them in your plane footwear. I also tend to bring cushioned insoles with me. This is because I tend to do much more walking when I am on a vacation so shoes which under normal circumstances can be comfortable may hurt a little more. Cushioned insoles help to protect my feet and keep them comfortable when I am walking all those extra steps.

 

 

Blister Pads

That extra walking can also mean blisters so having a small pack of blister pads or plasters mean that you will always be prepared to stop the problem in its tracks.

 

Socks

I bring a number of socks with me of different thicknesses and shapes to wear depending on on what shoes I’ve put on.

Thick socks are going to be really important for colder climates whilst I like to bring no show socks to wear in sneakers to wick away moisture in the hotter weather.

Blister Stick

Blister sticks are only small and fit in my bag. These are use on areas of your feet where you may feel any rubbing. These products help to minimize friction and prevent shoe bites.

 

Shoe Bags

Finally last but not least I bring a number of shoe bags to use in my case along with my packing cubes. Shoe bags help to protect my shoes and keep any dirt or debris from getting onto my clothes in the case.

 

 

So hopefully with this information you’ll be able to make the right footwear choices.

Whether you’re strolling through cobblestone streets in Rome, climbing castle steps in Edinburgh, or wandering open-air markets in Barcelona, the right pair of shoes can make all the difference.  Make sure you prioritize comfort and support with your footwear choices so you spend less time worrying about sore feet or incorrect shoes and more time soaking in the sights.

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