One shoe for two extremes?

Whoa, that's hard!!! I guess I would wear my hiking boots and when I hit Venice and would look for pair of nice ballerina flats to get me thru the art thing, restaurants and sights, etc, (unless it's pouring rain, I which case a pair of rubber boots would work, as that has happened:(). I packed very carefully my footwear but in the end, when you are in Europe, you want a nice pair of shoes for the evening , no matter where you are and ballet flats will work. Go to H and M, even if you wear them and throw them away, will be worth it. My 2 cents.

Are you sure that you can't fit in your bag a comfy pair of nice sandals? Or Mary Janes? (Or the above mentioned ballet flats?)
Your feet will thank you if you can switch your shoes once in a while while traveling.

Interesting idea I had not thought of since my feet are pretty fussy so those flats would have to be $$ with quality fat soles. I will look into it though. Thanks.

Fussy feet here too! I usually just take out my lining and pop in my own orthodontic insole.

Check out Blundstones. They aren't 'hiking' boots per se, but very comfortable, ankle support, and look great with jeans (or even casual pants/khakis - not super dressy obviously). I've had the original (510) and have the leather lined ones right now (I can't rem the number - maybe 560). They are almost worn out, so will probably get another pair of 510. I wear them pretty much 9 mos of the year (too hot for summer). They have been thru spring rains and slushy cold winters and I've never had a leak. They last me about 4-5 years of moderate use.

And - bonus - easy on and off thru airport security! And they won't set off the alarm if you keep them on (some airports I can keep them on, others require all footwear to come off).

http://www.blundstone.com/international-products/style-510

"Clean up real good?" I once was channel changing and came upon something where "Redneck Woman" Gretchen Wilson was singing about "the boys say I clean up good" and wondered what the heck that means as I quickly flipped to another channel. What does it mean? I would dress nicely for the Venice Art Bidennale and other events and for me that would mean a designer dress and beautiful shoes. I wouldn't want to look like Gretchen Wilson for any event other than mucking out a stable. Just check a bag with your boots instead of just a carry-on. Hiking boots really are not for style but for protection.

Here Terri Lynn...

http://onlineslangdictionary.com/meaning-definition-of/clean-up-good

eg...I spend my days at home in comfy yoga pants or jeans and oversize t-shirts or sweatshirts, but I can fix up my hair, slap on some makeup and put on my fancy clothes and I would call that...'cleaning up real good' ...I'm guessing lynndiana means she doesn't want to attend the biennale wearing lace up hiking boots, cargo pants and flannel shirts ;)

The Bienniale is not a specific event like a concert or opera. It is an ongoing exhibition spread over a large area of pavilions. You buy a ticket to the grounds and wander around. People do not dress up for this, they just wear their regular Venice clothes.

However, you wouldn't want to wander around Venice in hiking boots. You aren't thinking of bringing just one pair of shoes, are you? Bad plan. Your feet need a break, especially from heavy boots. There are lots and lots of cute and supportive ladies' shoes out there---check the walking shoe forum and brands like Keen, Merrell, Privo, Jambu, Munro, etc. Sneakers can work too. I recently bought a pair of Bzees which are comfy as sneakers and light as a feather.

Some Bzees examples.

http://shop.nordstrom.com/c/womens-shoes/bzees~11010

Sasha is right on..........lots of venues and lots of activities make up the event. Check out the photos of regular people viewing some of the art:

https://www.bostonglobe.com/news/bigpicture/2015/05/08/venice-biennale/Op5wFa5WJjMtnhZFuaksFM/story.html

You'll see plenty of oh-so-comfy sensible shoes and normal tourist clothing.

Actually, you'd probably look way out of place (for many of the venues) in a designer dress and dressy shoes. My guess is that most people who attend are not going to the high-end dinner events, which (I'd guess) are likely sold out by now.

Merrill has some decent, light-weight shoes that you could pack in your carry-on....they will go smoosh down rather flat and are quick drying in the event of rain. If you get a solid-color, like black, they can be very low-maintenance and go with most anything.

Have a great trip. Let us all know how you like Venice....it's on our list.

I know you are talking about women's shoes but I was just researching the same thing yesterday for men's shoes and I have to say Merrell seem to have the widest selection of travel shoes that work well but don't look like you are ready to conquer Everest for both men and women. Or course there is always compromises and these might not be the best hiking boots but if you are not climbing a volcano you should be fine:

http://www.zappos.com/merrell-dassie-ankle-black
http://www.zappos.com/merrell-shiloh-pull-oak

But then again, I am a man and my opinion on shoes should be taken as such.

DJ

My carry-on sized bag has never restricted me from carrying a second pair of shoes (although weight restrictions for carry-ons can also come into play). A supportive sport sandal or slip-on shoe has always been part of the mix.

October in Iceland: cold, wet and windy. I've been there in early September and it was the same. The terrain is rough, and will likely be muddy.

My recommendation for boots is the Ahnu Montara. They are high-topped and come in several colors. Try them on locally and order them online if the color you want is not available.

This is my go-to "shoe" for extensive time on my feet on any terrain. I wore them every day on our trip to Istanbul and Greece in the fall.

October in Venice: cooler than you might expect. Average highs in the mid-60's. Average lows around 50. Average of 10 days with rain. If they are comfortable and supportive you might find your boots useful there, too.

I do think you need a 2nd pair of shoes to give your feet a break in either location. I'd choose flats over sandals. Abeo, available from the Walking Company, has lots of cute and comfortable options.

I have tried every shoe brand that has ever been mentioned on the Forum. Ahnu and Abeo are the only ones that work for me.

Thanks everyone for giving me some solid advice. I will pack a pair of flats and settle on my good old Merrill slip-ons for the heavy lifting in Iceland and the rainy days in Venice. Much appreciated!

The comment about Ahnu sandals reminded me: wear whatever option you're considering for some substantial walking before considering them for your trip. I purchased a pair of Ahnu sandals with nice soles after recommendations on a previous Forum topic (and they're cuter than my typical Keens). I wore them one weekend, and they felt good. So, I wore them as my casual shoe for a work trip to walk from the hotel to the site. Bad mistake! After two days, I had a huge blister on the bottom of the ball of each foot. Luckily, Amazon delivers quickly, so I ordered a pair of Keens on-line and was out of pain quickly....and have a new pair of turquoise shoes! : )

Venice is wonderful! Enjoy your trip!