Hi everyone,

I will be going on a trip to Italy in the beginning of August. It will be a jam packed 10 days, visiting Rome, Florence and Venice. I need some advice on good shoes for sight seeing and lots of walking.

I am not a fashion person at all and am most comfortable wearing a pair of Chacos (I know the horror! ) in the summer. I know I will stick out as a tourist but was hoping to find a pair or two of non ugly shoes to wear. I need something with good arch support which eliminates flats and hopefully that is somewhat breathable.

Any suggestions? I've gone through many pages of Zappos since my options are somewhat limited living in IA.

Thanks!

What is your budget? And I have to tell you – is it not your shoes but outfit that will give you away. As for the shoes, get something with rubber soles. Something like that http://www.shoesontheweb.com/store/product.asp?Itemnumber=W87552
Get some sort of backpack that opens from the back so the access to the content is guarded by your body (yes, I know it sounds crazy but it is very effective for keeping your stuff safe), Italy is infamous for purse snatchers on scooters. Never happened to me but my sister is till mourning a great purse lost that way. Do not buy anything outside a shop. Try to pick up few phrases because the airports are a nightmare and no one speaks any English (or they pretend not to).

I'm off to italy this year at the same time too :) Rome is beautiful but HOT, so i would avoid completely closed shoes and opt for sandles. Also the floors are mostly stone which can be hard on the feet walking all day. everything is relativiely close to each other in the city but personally i wouldn't wear anything above 2" purely because your on your feet all day in the blistering heat, and whilst there are plenty of bendy buses you would be lucky to find a seat in the summer so you would still be standing anyway.

I hope you enjoy it, its one of the most beautiful cities in the world :)

I agree about getting sandals w/ rubber soles which will give you more cushioning than leather soles esp when you're pounding cobblestones. Also it's best if you change shoes every other day so that you give them a rest and allow them to dry out.

I usually wear Mephisto sandals and flats on my Europe trips. Comfort is key when you want to focus on the beautiful sights. What about these:

Mephisto Violette - The flower detailing makes it less Birkenstock-like but you'll still get the comfort and support.
http://www.zappos.com/mephisto-violette-purple-perle-patent?zfcTest=fw:1

Mephisto Aurore
http://www.zappos.com/mephisto-auror...t?zfcTest=fw:1

timberlands:
http://shop.timberland.com/family/in...goryId=4200470

Clarks:
http://www.clarksusa.com/eng/categories/womens/sandals

Rockports:
http://www.rockport.com/womens-shoes...efault,sc.html

I think these three companies make the best walking shoes. As to whether they are ugly, well, they can't ALL be.

Thanks everyone! I was hoping to spend under $100 but will spend more on the right pair of shoes or sandals.

I will take a look at all the links!

Since you're going to Italy my advice is to take a pair of sneakers or mocasins and buy shoes THERE! :)) their craftmanship is amazing and not just the high end brands!

I would buy some Nike Free TR Fits if you're going for comfort. I have the TR Fits and they are very light and comfy. They come in a lot of nice fun colors and look good with skinny jeans too. You can easily squish them into your luggage as well because they are bendy. They are in your price range and when your trip it over you can still use them all the time!

The streets in Italy are really uneven because of the cobblestones. You definitely want to wear something that's comfortable and cushioned. And, like others have said, it will be HOT in August. I went three years ago around that time and even my feet got sun tanned.

I was going to suggest sandals or cute flats from Cole Haan with the Nike Air cushions. You can probably find a pair on sale right now online or at department stores.


Cole Haan Air Monica flats - http://shop.nordstrom.com/s/cole-haa...rigin=category
Cole Haan Air Bacara flats - http://shop.nordstrom.com/s/maria-sh...&BaseUrl=Shoes

Munro - They are really light! http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/munro-ta...281%22-2%22%29

I was in Italy 10 days ago and everyone was wearing flat shoes. You sholud pack your ballet flats, loafers, maybe open toe flat sandals.
Have a nice vacation!

Flats seem like a good choice but they don't provide enough arch support for me. I can't wear flats for very long stretches because my arches start to ache!

What about open toed sandals? Would they be impractical because of the streets and crowds? I like the look of the Mephisto sandals that HiromiT posted.

Originally Posted by runner22

Hi everyone, I will be going on a trip to Italy in the beginning of August. It will be a jam packed 10 days, visiting Rome, Florence and Venice. I need some advice on good shoes for sight seeing and lots of walking. I am not a fashion person at all and am most comfortable wearing a pair of Chacos (I know the horror! ) in the summer. I know I will stick out as a tourist but was hoping to find a pair or two of non ugly shoes to wear. I need something with good arch support which eliminates flats and hopefully that is somewhat breathable. Any suggestions? I've gone through many pages of Zappos since my options are somewhat limited living in IA. Thanks!

What about a great pair of tennis shoe's? your going to want a good pair of walking shoe's and maybe a nice pair or flats or heels for a romantic dinner or going out in the evening?

Originally Posted by runner22

Flats seem like a good choice but they don't provide enough arch support for me. I can't wear flats for very long stretches because my arches start to ache! What about open toed sandals? Would they be impractical because of the streets and crowds? I like the look of the Mephisto sandals that HiromiT posted.

I think those Mephistos would be fine. I alternated between Camper flat sandals, Toms, and Converse during my recent trip to Rome, but you do need to be careful not to stub your toe on uneven cobblestones if you wear open-toed shoes.

I didn't even try to wear the wedges I brought, but I was very impressed one night watching a young woman walk on cobblestones in sky-high heels. She wasn't even looking where she was walking (she was texting and talking to friends) but she somehow managed to avoid all of the holes and cracks in the cobblestone street!

runner22, I have another suggestion but I’ll probably get shot by the stylish people on TPF for suggesting it.

These Crocs Cleo sandals: http://www.crocs.com/crocs-cleo/10043,default,pd.html.

I've worn them (along w/ Mephistos) on multiple trips to Europe. Last year, I wore them all over Turkey to navigate ruins, country roads, and even the broken/uneven sidewalks in major cities.

These sandals have plenty of support and airflow, and they’re super light.

No, they’re not stylish and some people will flat out refuse to wear anything by Crocs, but these can be a back-up pair of sandals, especially if you need to give your feet and other sandals a break. And they can double as flipflops for the beach or pool!

As for a closed-toe flat shoe, the Italians love their loafers. You might see Europeans wearing trainers/tennis shoes/runners but it's usually the very young and hip wearing Diesel, Converse, or Isabel Marant's wedge sneakers (although maybe not in the August heat).

If you have time to shop in Rome, see if you can get a lovely pair of Tod’s suede loafers there!

Good luck! Whatever you end up buying, be sure to break them in before your tip. I've made the mistake of bringing brand new shoes on a trip...baaaaad move.

Originally Posted by runner22

Flats seem like a good choice but they don't provide enough arch support for me. I can't wear flats for very long stretches because my arches start to ache! What about open toed sandals? Would they be impractical because of the streets and crowds? I like the look of the Mephisto sandals that HiromiT posted.

oh boy, I don't know if I could wear Crocs!

I guess the only thing that worries me about Mephistos is the leather footbed. Wouldn't they make my feet really sweaty? Otherwise I would probably buy them!

I can't wear Toms (no arch support) and same goes for Converse.

Would most people recommend closed or open toe shoes/sandals? What about something like this?
http://www.zappos.com/merrell-mimosa-emme-aluminum

Since we have some people here, can we talk dress code? I'm thinking lots of tanks, skirts and light dresses. I'll probably bring a pair of shorts or two but skirts and dresses will be cooler.