The best shoes for Italy: how to pick + best buys

Our selection of the best shoes for Italy travel to be comfortable, stylish and appropriate in all situations.

One of the hardest decisions when it comes to packing for Italy is about what shoes to bring.

Picking comfortable travel shoes is never easy, but finding great travel shoes for Italy adds extra stress as the demands placed on the perfect shoe for Italy travel seem endless.

If you were to believe the web, you’d think the best shoes for Italy are comfortable, stylish, cool for summer, warm for winter, not too sporty, not too dressy and always appropriate no matter what.

Thankfully, the worries I see associated with what shoes to pack for Italy are vastly unfounded.

All you need for Italy is shoes you can walk in, no one will give any thought to what you are wearing!

That said, if you are curious about the style of shoes local wear and you have occasions where you may want to ‘fit it’, some guidelines about what shoes to pack for an Italy trip can come in handy.

No matter your plans for Italy, you know you will be walking a lot, so you will need shoes that can support you while sightseeing.

You also probably want to look pretty and appropriate for aperitivo and nicer dinners out.

Last but not least, you need to consider the weather, which may throw some curveballs when it comes to packing essentials.

If you are stressing out about what shoes to pack for Italy, this guide is for you!

After many years living in Italy and many trips up and down the Italian boot, I know very well what shoes work for Italy and what shoes are a waste of luggage space.

This is my guide to the best shoes for Italy travel, chosen for comfort and style.

If you are traveling with kids, find here >>> our guide to the best kids’ shoes for Italy.

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The Best shoes for Italy Travel Chart

Type of shoe	Type of shoe	Suitable for destination / season
Teva Sandals Tirra Woman	Walking sandals/ everyday sandals	All/Summer
Teva Katavi Sandals Men	Walking sandals/everyday sandals	All/Summer
Blondo ankle boot woman	City ankle boot	All/Fall, winter, early spring
Ecco soft woman	City shoe	All/ Fall, winter, spring
Ecco soft men	City shoe	All/ Fall, winter, spring
Timberland Kendrick	Men city boot	All/ Fall, winter
Ecco Byway Tred	Men urban sneaker	All
Sketchers Cali	Woman sandal wedges	All/Summer
Dream Pairs ballerina	Walking Ballerina flats	All /summer, fall, spring
Merrel Hiking shoes (several models)	Hiking shoes	All / Dolomites, Alps, CInque Terre Trails, Amalfi Coast trails, Abruzzo trails

The best shoes for Italy travel : how to pick

When picking shoes for Italy travel, you need to look at three main things:

Season of your trip – rain is possible in all seasons except summer.

If you are traveling to Italy between September and May, you need shoes that can take the rain and, ideally, a second pair, should one get soaked.

Activities – if you plan on hiking, you need proper walking shoes.

This applies to trails on the Dolomites and if you want to see the trails on the Amalfi Coast or Cinque Terre, where inappropriate footwear on the trails will also make you incur a pricey fine!

Comfort – the best shoes for Italy travel are comfortable.

This may sound like an obvious point but I have seen so much incorrect advice out there, it is a point I need to make!

We love a stylish look in Italy, but we are practical. Do not believe people who tell you Italians do not wear sneakers: of course we do!

In Italy, we do not wear sneakers in the office but we do wear them if we travel, if we are sightseeing and in any informal situation.

Do not go for a less comfortable shoe out of this misconception, sneakers are perfect for Italy (see below for tips on stylish ones).

In this guide, I give tons of recommendations about shoes for Italy that are both comfortable and stylish but if you need to choose only one of the two things, please choose comfort!

Your feet will thank you and no, no one will judge you!

Picking the best shoes for Italy: our top tips

Whether you are buying new shoes for Italy or going through your shoe wardrobe to pick the best ones for your Italian adventure, I recommend the following:

Choose rubber soles

The best shoes for Italy’s cobbles and city pavements are cushioned and with flexible rubber soles.

Italians are fond of stylish sneakers (see below some of our favorite sneakers for Italy) and they are the perfect choice if you want to walk without looking like a tourist – which is not a problem, but something I know many want to try to avoid!

Top tip! The best walking shoes have soles that bend at the ball of your foot, not at the arch. Arch support is crucial to avoid injury and tiredness and checking where the natural fold of the shoe falls is a quick way to test it.

Avoid heels

High heels are terrible on cobbles and steps, two things you will often encounter in Italy.

Unless you have a special event you need to go to or you know you will be able to taxi from your hotel to a restaurant, you can safely leave your heels at home.

Wedges, a pair of pretty ballerinas or decorated sandals are a perfect alternative.

Save flip flops for the beach

Flip flops are beachwear in Italy and I recommend avoiding them in cities and towns, other than in coastal areas.

Flip flops do not offer sufficient support or protection to keep you safe on city pavement and the rubber ones (I am thinking Hawaiana style – other types such as leather ones are fine) may not pass the dress code rules of more stylish terraces and restaurants in cities like Rome.

Sandals in leather are, style-wise and comfort-wise, preferable and more versatile.

While I do recommend packing rubber flip-flops for the beach and the pool, they are not a versatile item for Italy and I don’t recommend them as everyday shoe.

Pick running shoes carefully if you want a versatile look

Sneakers and running shoes are great walking shoes for Italy and I recommend them for long strolls and everyday sightseeing.

They are also super versatile for kids and can be your children’s only pair of shoes during the trip.

These are our shoes! Mine are the rose pink ones and the others are my kids.

However, for adults and elderly visitors, it can be good to know that they are not super common and are considered very casual.

This is not a problem in the vast majority of places but if you have plans to go to a nicer restaurant, you may want to have a pair that is sober in colors and opt for a fashion runner mote than a full-on sports one.

This is not a rule, just something you may want to consider if going to a nicer dinner.

If you go for one pair of sneakers to wear exclusively, I recommend you opt for sober colors and a less sporty look, Although fashion is changing so quickly, this tip may get outdated fast!

Fashion sneakers are very common and versatile – fashion shoes such as Stan Smith by Adidad, Veja or some New Balance are popular in Italy, especially with the under 50 crowd.

You will find below some of my top picks.

The best shoes for Italy in summer and the best sandals for walking in Italy

Comfortable walking sandals are the best type of shoe for Italy in summer.

Finding comfortable sandals can be a challenge: pretty ones often have many straps and laces, and while they may do look very ‘Italian’ due to the gladiator mental association, they can also cut into your skin and become a pain to wear.

The best ones to pack are those that come with a rubber sole and cushioning for walking.

If you prefer to keep your feet covered, closed-toe sandals light summer sneakers are also a good choice; however, make sure they are truly breathable as the temperatures in Italy can be scorching!

Woman feet and child feet on cobbles wearing sandals — My feet in my Teva sandals in Rome and my daughter’s feet in yellow sandals beside me

Good to know! Good quality walking sandals are appropriate for men and women. It is however important to know that sandals are not often as versatile for men as they are for women. More upscale restaurants may not allow them: for gentlemen, it is safer to opt for closed-toe shoes in the evening. I say this from experience as my very casual husband was refused entry to a nice terrace due to open shoes! Not an absolute rule but worth knowing if you have upscale plans!

My favorite sandals for Italy and shoes for Italy in the summer are:

Teva Sandals – my go-to sandals for Italy, you can choose between a leather model (my personal favorite) or a more sporty-looking water-resistant one.

The water-resistant one is perfect if you want to use these sandals also for hot springs and the beach.

A good Teva sandal for men is Teva Men’s M Katavi 2, comfortable for walking and in a stylish brown tone.

Ecco Damara sandals are a good, versatile choice for walking in Italy. The black and tan color make them very versatile and a good pick if you are looking for sandals you can wear day – to – night. Check models and prices here

Birkenstock are not to everyone’s taste but they are excellent walking shoes and are popular in Italy with tourists and locals alike. You can check colors and models, with or without a backstrap here.

Ahnu sandals are super cute and excellent for walking. I particularly like the ones with cages’ toes for their look and extra protection. You can check prices and models here.

Plaka makes great travel sandals. Comfortable and versatile, they are the best to go from city to beach and come in various colors and shapes to suit most feet. Check them here.

Sketchers Cali Wedges are my go-to wedge sandal for dinners out in Italy. Unless you are very used to walking in wedges, I do not find them great for prolonged day wear but more than comfortable for an evening walk to the restaurant or a night out. Check price and colors here.

The best shoes for Italy in winter

The best shoes for Italy travel in the coldest months are those that keep you warm and dry as well as comfortable.

Italy sees rain in the winter, sometimes very heavy, and especially in the North, you will be happy to have boots that can keep your feet and calves warm.

My favorite shoe models for Italy in winter are brogue-style shoes, ankle boots, tall boots and sneakers.

The best men’s shoes for winter in Italy are brogue-style shoes, boots and sober sneakers for sightseeing.

Blondo Ankle Boots – Comfortable and stylish, Blondo ankle boots are great for walking all day and come in several models. Check their selection of materials, shapes and heel height here.

Ankle boots for men are also a stylish choice: we like these by Ecco, which are both comfortable and versatile, but the same brand offers several styles, including ankle boot sneakers.

Tall boots – Tall boots are a great choice for winter in Italy.

For sightseeing in cities and towns, you will not need them lined; however, a rubber sole and waterproof material are a must.

Stylish sneakers are trendy in Italy.

I personally love them and find them the best shoe to walk all day and go sightseeing.

They are the go-to shoe for the young and are now widely accepted as footwear for pretty much all generations in the appropriate colors and shapes.

The ones to go for are the fashionable ones rather than running ones: Ecc Soft are cute walking shoes with a versatile look and New Balance, Stan Smith by Adidas are also good examples of stylish sneakers.

In winter, favor those that will keep you warm and avoid those made of material that can get ruined in the rain.

Runners are brilliant on Italy’s hard cobbles, but they do not usually stand the rain, so in winter, it is wise to bring a second pair should you find yourself soaked or facing a full day of rain showers.

When it comes to winter sneakers, we like Ecco Soft shoes for women and Ecco Soft men’s fashion sneakers.

They are perfect for a casual look that goes day to night and they come in black and brown color to suit most styles

Among our favorite men shoes for Italy in the winter are Ecco Byword, a comfortable and versatile slip-on sneaker

The best shoes to travel to Italy in spring and fall.

Spring and fall give you a broader scope in terms of shoe fashion.

The temperatures at these times are usually mild and despite the chance of rain, especially in April and November, you can expect a reasonable amount of dry days.

These are my go-to shoes for Italy in spring and autumn.

Adidas breathable sneakers – I love how breathable and lightweight Adidas summer sneakers are.

While they have a sporty look that will not work with all outfits, they are so comfortable that I often travel with them as my only pair of shoes.

Ecco Soft are also excellent mid-season walking shoes for men and women: see here Ecco Soft for women (several colors) and Ecco Soft for men (several colors).

Sketchers walking slip-on shoes are also a good compromise between the comfort of a sneaker and a more ‘together’ look.

Try Sketchers sports fashion sneaker or their ‘Go walk‘ shoe range for the most comfortable experience.

Barefoot shoes for Italy: what you need to know

I love barefoot shoes: I wear them all year round and I have several pairs in different models that bring me from winter to summer.

However, barefoot shoes are not for everyone and even I find they can be hard for Italy. In Rome, I found the uneven terrain and the cobbles very tiring with a barefoot sole, and I am very used to them!

If you are thinking of bringing barefoot shoes to Italy, make sure you are very well used to them: Italian pavements are not the place to experiment with them!

For the same reason, I recommend caution with very flat shoes such as Superga and Converse: I find their flat sole and lack of breathability a problem: only pack them if you are already used to them at home.