In today’s post, we’ll introduce you to the best shoes for travel that are comfortable, stylish, and will help you walk for miles. Stylish walking shoes for travel aren’t always easy to come by. Often practical and comfortable, but sometimes a little ugly… Or maybe it’s cute and stylish, but you end up with blisters and sore feet!
If you want to pack light, finding shoes that are suitable for traveling can be even more difficult as they need to be multi-functional.
The best tip when it comes to packing light is to avoid carrying more than one pair of shoes. Shoes are the bulkiest and heaviest item in your luggage, so if you can avoid them all together, your bag will be much lighter. It’s a good idea to wear one pair of bulky shoes when traveling and then bring one pair of smaller, lighter shoes.
Therefore, this time we will introduce the best travel shoes for women. I’ve split it the best way:
- Comfortable sandals – Keen Elle Sandal
- Stylish sandals – Barbour Gabbie Sandal
- Stylish walking shoes that don’t look tacky – Northface Exploris Leatherboot
- Trainer – About Cloudnova
- Evening Shoes – Office Macie Twist Front Mules
- Warm winter boots – Dr. Martens
- Air travel shoes – Classic Vans
- Flip flops – Havianas
- Best water shoes – KEEN Astoria West
- Best shoes for traveling to Europe – too many answers as it depends on the season
- And if you can only bring one pair, these are the best shoes! – Dr. Martens Chelsea boots
Keep scrolling to see more information about each pair and options for each category.
Finally, we answered some FAQs about women’s travel shoes. There seems to be a lot of questions and confusion about what kind of shoes you can and should take on your trip!
The best sandals for travel
If you’re traveling to a warm place, comfortable travel sandals are the way to go.
Look for shoes with thick soles. This will make you more comfortable and you won’t feel any stones or road bumps!
It’s also best to buy ones with ankle straps rather than slip-ons, as they’re easier to walk on uneven ground.
Here are three of my favorite travel sandals.
Barbour gabby sandals
Best for: Style + Comfort
We love these stylish travel sandals because they’re super comfortable and look great. It can easily take you from a walk around town to a night out.
The leather is buttery soft, so you won’t get any cuts or blisters. It also has a very thick base, making it cushioned and soft so it’s great for all day walking.
I recently tried them on in Rome (below!) and they were great. The area around the Colosseum is very smooth, stony and rocky so there were some slippery moments, but I think most people should have been careful here anyway.
keen el sandals
Best for: Casual comfort
I wore these comfortable sandals almost every day during last summer. Soft, stretchy straps hug your foot snugly, ensuring no slipping or chafing. It’s also very easy to put on and take off, making it perfect for the beach or poolside. This is why I wore them so much last year. There were a lot of shoes lined up at the door, but these were so comfortable that I almost always chose them!
teva universal
Perfect for: Fun style
They come in a variety of colors, but I love the bright, retro style. The straps are all soft and adjustable, so you can actually wear them pretty tight if you need extra support on uneven ground.
The best stylish walking shoes for travel
Stylish walking shoes for travel are always a matter of personal preference. For most of my walking, I prefer to wear grippy, comfortable trainers whenever possible.
But sometimes you need comfortable, practical, and waterproof walking shoes for your trip.
When you start considering stylish walking shoes, you’ll notice that they’re actually all very similar. So I highly recommend going to a store and trying them on, or ordering a few online with the intention of returning most of them.
Teva Ridge View Mid
Best for: Comfort
Trainers or boots? I’m not sure, but it seems very comfortable.
This is the closest thing to the Teva Arrowood Lux that I reviewed on the blog a few years ago. Although they are no longer on sale, I still wear them all the time because they are very comfortable. Perfect for hiking or casual mud walks. I really like this tan color, so check out Teva’s website to see if anything else comes back!
danner boots
Best for: Hiking style
I wrote a detailed review of Danner boots here and I absolutely love these boots. They are quite heavy so they may take a little getting used to, but once I put them on they are very comfortable and I love the style and this gorgeous tanned leather. I always get comments every time I wear them, and they really stand out among the standard hiking boots out there.
danner jug quilt
Best for: comfort and style
In addition to classic leather boots, Danner has softer, lighter, and more affordable options. They have a few on their website, but I love Jag Quilt.
north face exploris leather boots
Best for: Soft and stylish ankle support
If you’re looking for a shoe or boot with a little ankle support, but don’t want heavy leather boots, these from NorthFace could be a great option. It has a very modern design with lots of technical features that make it perfect for hiking.
The best trainers for travel
About Cloudnova
Best for: comfort and style
There’s a reason these travel trainers are called Cloudnova. Because it’s like walking on clouds. Honestly, it’s very comfortable. You have to try it to believe it.
On Trainers also has some seriously gorgeous running shoes, so if you’re a runner looking for a new pair of trainers, check them out!
sketchers
Best for: Light and comfortable
To be honest, I don’t own a pair of Skechers, but when I asked on Instagram who their favorite comfortable travel trainers were, about 50 people said Skechers, so I had to add them to the list did!
van
Perfect for: Classic style
Vans are a popular travel shoe for many people. Many of my friends have reordered the same Vans every few years since they were teenagers. These classic trainers will never go out of style and look equally great with jeans, skirts, leggings, and dresses!
nike blazer low platform
Best for: Style
For the less “trainer-y” type, my favorite is the Nike Blazer Low platform shoe. The low platform gives it a shoe-like feel and makes it comfortable for shorter women (like me!) to lift!
The best evening shoes for travel
Ugg Tuolumne Leather Beach Sandals
Best for: Light packaging
If you don’t mind wearing flat shoes for a night out, we highly recommend slim and flat flip-flops made of leather, which are simple and stylish. These are elegant little apartments that take up very little space in the case and are perfect for a casual night out.
stiletto sandals with straps
Best for: High heels + anything goes
If you like high heels as evening shoes while traveling, we recommend strappy stiletto sandals. Even though the heel comes off, it’s still a slim shoe, so if you pack it correctly it won’t take up too much space or weight in your case. Lay it down on the bottom of the case and pack all the small items around it.
slip-on mules
Best use: goes with everything
I love these slip-on mules! How wonderful! These mules are perfect for traveling because they go with so many outfits, whether you dress them up with jeans or a flowing dress or short skirt. They look comfortable and the chunky heel makes them easy to walk in.
The best warm winter boots for travel
Dr. Martens
Best for: Current Style
Nothing beats Dr. Martens. So far, it’s comfortable, warm, and very stylish. You can walk miles in these and your feet will stay warm and comfortable!
emu okabu boots
Best for: Classic style + waterproof
I’ve been wearing these Emu Okab boots all winter and I love them. I can see this being a boot that I will continue to wear for years. It is waterproof and lined with the softest wool, making it extremely comfortable and warm. It provides excellent grip even on slippery pavement and uneven icy surfaces.
TOMS CHELSEA BOOTS
Best for: Stylish + Waterproof
You can’t go wrong with classic Cheresy boots. I love this one of her TOMS. There is also a tanned one with a leopard skin effect, which is very beautiful!
The best travel slipper or shoes for air travel
birkenstock gilmat slippers
Best for: Air travel shoes
I’m a big fan of slippers that you can wear in public. OK, if someone looks closely they might notice that you’re wearing slippers, but this Birkenstock His Jill Mat on the plane is definitely fine as long as he wears slippers!
My feet swell during long-haul flights, so I like to wear loose-fitting shoes or take them off completely. It’s helpful to have shoes that are easy to put on and take off when you need to go to the bathroom or stretch your legs.
Classic TOMS
Best for: Simple comfort with easy on and off
If you don’t feel like wearing slippers while traveling, I highly recommend the simple Classic TOMS. Easy to put on and take off, comfortable, and doesn’t take up much space in your case!
The best flip flop for travel
Havaianas
Best for: Simplicity
Classic Havaianas will take you from the airport to the beach, pool, and strolls around town. Simple, easy, and long-lasting!
fit flop
Best for: Comfort
Again, this is a brand I haven’t personally tried, but my Instagram followers were raving about these when they asked me. Everyone said it was super comfortable thanks to the impact pillow and contoured arch!
Best shoes for travel in Europe
If you’re traveling in Europe, you’ll probably visit many stylish cities and do a lot of walking along cobblestones and uneven ground.
For a trip to Europe, you need shoes that are flat, comfortable, and stylish.
My choice of shoes for Europe is the same as if I could only choose one pair listed below. Choose Chelsea boots for winter, comfortable and stylish sandals for summer, and white trainers for spring and summer.
Best water shoes
If you plan on doing water sports while you’re out and about, it’s a good idea to add suitable water shoes to your packing list.
Keene Astoria West
Best for: Walking or when wet
I have KEEN’s Astoria West sandals and they are very comfortable. After a fun day of hiking, you can walk along the river or coast.
aqua shoes
Best Use: Water Sports
The Astoria West Sandals have a thick base, so I wouldn’t wear them for things like paddleboarding or surfing. Whenever possible, I like to do these sports barefoot, but if it’s cold enough to do so, I wear really simple aqua shoes. The thinner the sole, the better.
The best shoes for travel if you can only take one pair
Ah, this is a difficult question. Which shoes should you bring if you can only take one pair on your trip? If you are traveling with only small hand luggage, this can be a dilemma as there is no space for shoes in your bag!
There are three options depending on the season and purpose.
best shoes for winter travel
chelsea boots
For winter trips, you’ll probably wear classic Chelsea boots. It’s comfortable, stylish, waterproof, and warm, so it wouldn’t look out of place in a fancy restaurant.
perfect shoes for summer travel
barbour sandals
The most comfortable sandals ever and will take you from the beach to long walks to nights out with no problem!
Perfect shoes for warm weather and a lot of walking
classic white sneakers
We didn’t specify a specific brand here because there are too many options, but you can’t go wrong with a classic white sweatshirt. Adidas Gazelles are super comfortable and have a classic style that you can wear for years. Choose an off-white color like these gorgeous Vejas because they won’t look dirty after a day of walking!
FAQs about travel shoes for women
Can I travel with Birkenstocks?
yes! absolutely. I love Birkenstocks and always travel in them. I didn’t list them in this very long article about what shoes to bring on holiday, but many people have trouble walking long distances in Birkenstocks, and they can be uncomfortable if they slip off your feet. Because I know how you feel.
Personally, I can walk around all day in these, so if you feel the same way, then yes, take them!
Should you travel with hiking boots?
We recommend traveling with hiking boots only if you are planning a very long hike. If you’re going for a 1-2 hour walk or just wandering around town all day, you don’t need hiking boots.
Hiking boots are heavy and bulky, making them difficult to match with other clothing.
If you don’t have any mobility or issues with your feet, ankles, back, or legs, wearing comfortable trainers should be fine.
Stylish walking shoes are a great alternative to hiking boots. Even if I’m planning a long hike, I always try to wear comfortable walking shoes or more casual walking boots. I’ve linked some casual walking boots above, but I really love the soft Danner boots.
How to choose the best shoes for travel: buying advice
My main advice when buying travel shoes is to make sure you buy quality ones. I know there are lots of cheap luxury stores selling trainers for £15 and flip flops for £2.50. And you might wonder why he spends 10 times that amount on the same product?
In my experience, it’s actually much cheaper to buy a quality product in the long run.
High-quality travel shoes are not only more valuable, but also more comfortable. There’s nothing worse than buying new shoes to go on vacation. My feet were chafing from the moment I arrived. Or somewhere you get wet and cold and you don’t want to go outside because your feet are wet and freezing. Not only will it ruin your trip, but you won’t get as much out of it as you would if you were wearing comfortable shoes!
Whenever possible, try to buy classic styles like Chelsea boots or Birkenstock-style sandals. These have been around for years and don’t seem to be going anywhere!
Best brands to look at for travel shoes
My favorite brands for travel shoes for women are:
- Teva
- Barber
- Dr. Martens
- Running
- Veja
- sharp
- van
- Danner
- adidas
Should I apply a blister bandage?
If you don’t have time to wear shoes, it’s a good idea to have a few blister bandages on hand just in case. If you notice that your shoes are starting to rub, apply a band-aid immediately. No need to wait for blisters!
Compeed’s blister bandages are the best because they have good cushioning and don’t rub easily. I recommend buying it in advance, as it can be very expensive at the pharmacy (my leg is bleeding and I would pay any amount for a band-aid!)