Hiking boots needed for Crete, getting to Grecian monuments or the Rick Steves Istanbul tour?

A good pair of sneakers is really all you need unless you plan to hike one of the gorges, and even then sneakers will most likely suffice.

I agree that sneakers are fine. I went on the RS Turkey trip several years ago and there was walking 'Off Road', some hills etc.
I did fine in sneakers with a good tread on the bottom.

Depends what you are comfortable in. I have very wide feet and I do not like bringing more than the shoes I wear on my feet. I opt for good leather walking shoes that can handle a hike, rough cobbled streets, and still look formal enough to wear to a nice restaurant, multitaskers.

If you can find the right shoes, go for it. However, I do recommend you get them well before the trip and wear them regularly...nothing worse than new shoes fitting bad on a trip.

Thanks for the responses so far. Whatever serious walking shoes I get, I will be sure to get them in plenty of time to break them in. Keep the responses coming. I can use all I can get.

Lo, if you're traveling during the warm months (May-September ), a sturdy pair of hiking sandals are another option. Over the past 10 years, I have done serious walking in Istanbul, Ephesus,Cappadocia, Pergamon, Turkey's Mediterranean coast and more than a dozen Greek islands in sturdy Merrell or Ecco sandals, with rubber soles & lots of support.

Thanks for the good words about sandals. We're most likely to take the RS Istanbul tour from 5 October - 11 October and build the rest of the trip around that, before, after or on both sides. I checked the weather and it should be warm enough for sandals (for me anyway), so I will probably take them as one of my 2 pairs of shoes. I do have some excellent ones for walking. If we were going at a slightly warmer time and if I didn't need to wear compression socks at least part of the time, I probably wouldn't have asked the question. This getting old ain't for sissies!

I swear by the Keen brand of shoes. Sandals, light weight hiking boots and "city" shoes. Have used all on RS tours of Florence and Istanbul. The light weight hiking boots and I recently accomplished the Gap of Dunloe in Ireland. The light weight boots are truly light weight. Very comfortable and stable. Also swear by SmartWool socks. Prevents any blisters, wicks away moisture and keeps any foot odor at bay. Enjoy your Istanbul tour. Fabulous city!!!