Walking Shoes

Not to be snarky....but the ones that work best for your feet.

Edit: what are your concerns?

There is a Rick Steves forum on Best Walking Shoes for Travel.

I agree with Bruce. Whatever you'd wear walking around your own town should work. If you don't have any, buy a pair, break them in, and ensure they work for you. Don't wait until you get overseas to try them out. I tried multiple pairs before I found a pair that really worked. Also, while tennis shoes/sneakers are worn overseas, they are not as popular as leather shoes.

Since my comment lead to additional comments, I'll clarify it by saying that sneakers are popular for the younger generations, but for those my age, they are not.

Because of all the time spent on hard surfaces (standing in museums as well as walking everywhere), I take only shoes with thick soles. I took thin-soled sandals on my first trip, and that was a monumental error.

My trips inevitably involve a lot of cobblestones in historic neighborhoods (don't think this is an issue in Madrid), so I stick with lace-up shoes that provide good stability. Some others can manage with something not quite so clunky, but I like that I get through 10-mile days without foot and lower-back pain.

Tennis shoes and sneakers are extremely popular in Europe. Please don't fall for the myth that they aren't. They are just as popular here as in N. America.

Wear what ever shoe you are comfortable walking in for multiples miles. Not high heels and not flip-flops.

... I didn't know there was a myth, Ms Jo :)))

... what you'll find are customs, mores or social habits, call it as you prefer, and these depend on the city -not even the country!- and also on your circles so to speak (or using a modern word: your tribe, lol!). It's the same than clothing, sometimes is all right to wear this or that, sometimes can be 'less' appropriate or even plainly wrong. That's that. And then again there is one's willingness to follow the local mores (or not), or not minding and liking to stand out... sometimes can be called boldness, other times excentricity and sometimes tackiness... Unfortunately, in some cultures, that independence might cause offence. Again, not judging, just stating.

I know, I'm skewing, this wasn't the original topic, sorry!... but this is always a very interesting subject that pops up often in the travel forums: what to wear? And it's fascinating because there's no general answer as it depends on many factors as mentioned above. If anything, it's interesting to see that some cultures are much less worried about their public appearance and how they're perceived than others. This, however, is not as innocent as it might sound as the perception by others is an important human social enabler in any culture in the world and one is bound to be treated one way or another depending on that perception by others.

Then, of course, there are the more practical and mundane reasons, like, for example, in Madrid (or Paris, or Barcelona) you are likely to find sometimes that, oops, 'sorry, the restaurant is fully booked' when you're wearing shorts and a t-shirt. Yes, of course, I know, it depends on the restaurant, the season, etc... but contrary to one might think, we're not talking here only about the upmarket places. Same goes with tennis shoes and nightclubs.

'nuf rambling, sorry :))

I find that anywhere in Europe, you can wear smart looking athletic shoes and not be out of place. Look for ones in a dark color as they look a little "dressier." Toms has good options, or look at the New Balance classics. Anything solid or monochrome, without florescent colors! I also always wear walking sandals - Naot brand are my favorite, but there are many others. Look at The Walking Store online for some other brands. I LOVE good sandals - they are thick soled (as mentioned above) and I can wear them day or evening, even in nice restaurants.