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We travel because we want to discover new people and places - not because we want spend the evening with our feet in a salt bath. If you’re traveling where the weather is warm or the ground uneven, uncomfortable travel sandals that pinch and rub can ruin your day. (If it’s colder where you’re going, you’ll be looking for closed travel walking shoes, which you’ll find here.)
My top 3 recommendations for the best walking sandals for travel
Why you need comfortable walking sandals
Types of comfortable walking sandals for women
Best women's walking sandals - a comparison chart
Best walking sandals for Europe
Best walking sandals for travel - anywhere
1) Clarks Saylie Moon - for sheer comfort and versatility, especially for urban wear
2) ECCO Yucatans - for lots of wear, in the city but also out in nature
3) Birkenstocks - for all-round comfort and wearability
The best way to see a city is to walk, and you’ll only manage that if you’re wearing really comfortable walking sandals, the kind you can put on and forget you’re wearing.
Because here are some of the challenges your will have to face:
Travel sandals, like any walking shoes, have to be utterly comfortable.
If you have sensitive feet, as I do, the tiniest rub can lead to a major blister - and this may mean cutting your day short - or even shaving several days off your trip.
For years in Africa I used a fantastic pair of Eccos - the best sandals for travel walking EVER. These sandals were so wonderful I could have worn them day and night but like most good things, they were of course discontinued - even worse, they were 'upgraded' to something vastly inferior.
Now spend a few minutes thinking about your regular footwear, and buy accordingly. If you're used to little ankle support, you'll be fine with the flimsiest of sandals, for a while, anyway. If you need solid support, then make sure you get the kind of walking sandal that provides it.
It’s worth knowing what’s actually out there when you’re doing some serious shopping. Here are some of the basic types of walking sandals for women at on this page.
100% fabric top, rubber sole
Rubber sole, Nuckbuck top
Soft woven toe post and foam-lined strap, rubber outsole
Synthetic and leather, with cork mid-sole
Manmade top, synthetic
Leather top, synthetic sole
100% synthetic
100% fabric top, rubber sole
Athletic and sporty, shock-absorbing; good for general walking
Soft woven toe post and foam-lined strap, rubber outsole
Stylish flip-flop with built-in orthotics and maximum cushioning
Synthetic and leather, with cork mid-sole
Unusual look and feel but they grow on you once accustomed - I don't want to take them off
Manmade top, synthetic
Thong but with some arch support and deep heel cup
Leather top, synthetic sole
Slight platform, ortholite footbed, impact cushioning
Why Europe specifically? Because you’ll want to marry two different things on an urban trip: on the one hand you’ll need comfortable travel sandals and on the other, you’ll want stylish walking sandals that are supremely versatile and even dressy.
Europe can be very casual, especially where tourists congregate. But if you happen to want a delicious meal in a lovely restaurant or if you’re staying in a luxurious hotel, you’ll want to look the part (or at least feel it). This might not be the place for your fluorescent lime green flip-flops. (Something like this might be more suitable.)
Let’s not forget that much of Europe is hilly and ancient.
You’ll be heading up and down centuries-old inclines and slipping around shiny cobblestones.
Note to long-term travelers: If you're using your hiking sandals as constant daily footwear, you'll have to clean them regularly. This helps avoid that all-too-common 'sandal stink', and keeps any ridges and grips fresh. (I usually carry a nailbrush with me when I travel, and cleaning sandals is mostly why.)
There are plenty of great women's travel sandals that will do everything you need: keep you supported during your daily sightseeing, manage a bit of light nature walking, and get you out and about in the evening.
Here they are.
These are getting rave reviews in the category of best walking sandals for women - whether hiking in nature or city wear. While a lot of people swear by the Chaco X2s, this is an alternative that seems to satisfy travelers who feel the Chacos are getting more hype than they’re worth. I can’t say; all I know is that I’ve used Tevas for long-term travel before and other than the smell (I believe that’s a problem of the past!) they were comfortable, and far less sophisticated than this Terra model so yes, absolutely worth a try, especially for people like me who need walking sandals for wide feet. That many Teva-lovers can't be wrong.
Even though they stopped making my favorite model, I tried these on in a store and they were a super fit - utterly comfy sandals for walking. I haven’t bought a pair yet though (my closet overfloweth!) but I really like the color varieties, and the smoothness around the toe area, which is where I seem to be most sensitive. My Eccos (the ones they ‘improved’ by making them worse!) lasted me through an entire year of daily wear in Africa, not just in the city but on safari, on dirt roads, crossing rivers… and all sorts of other places I shouldn’t have been wearing them. This is why I personally rate the brand as best sandals for travel - any kind of travel. I'm thoroughly looking forward to trying these out!
Not all of us have perfect feet. In fact, many of us have problem feet - flat, wide, with spurs or plantar fasciitis, with odd arches or even uneven feet. That's why choosing the right sandals for sightseeing is so important - the wrong ones can make or break our holiday.
These have all stood the test of time - they're among the most popular sandals for difficult feet, for good reason.
Like many women of my age who walk a lot, I have a few problems with my feet… not only are they wide, but I’m constantly on the lookout for the best sandals for flat feet, ones that won’t tire me out after a few hours of sightseeing. I actually own a pair of these Clarks and can’t say enough good about them. I think they look good on my feet and help my posture. They’re great for travel because they’re slip-on, so if you’re walking in and out of temples that require you to take your shoes off, you can laugh at everyone else fumbling with shoelaces. The only downside to these is the sole. It grips perfectly when the weather is dry, but I’ve had a few “slippy” problems on cobblestones in the rain. I just have to be a bit careful when I walk. I would definitely rate them among my most comfortable walking sandals.
You can probably tell I like Clarks as a brand. These sandals are light on my feet, flexible, the top is very soft, and they look stylish enough for any occasion. I get a nice cushioned feel underfoot so I'm looking forward to wearing them a lot this summer, especially around Europe's cities. I like to travel light and I'm hoping I can get away with a single pair for a few days' travel - by using these both for sightseeing and to go out in the evening. These are definitely some of the best sandals for walking I've got in my closet.
Some time ago I developed plantar fasciitis in my right heel. I don’t know if you’ve ever suffered from that but it can be torture to just put one foot in front of the other. I was exhausted from walking short distances just from the pain but I refused to give in or become a couch potato. Someone recommended these and I investigated - they sounded like just the thing, and I would have ordered them had my problem not gone away! I know it's difficult for many women to wear flip flops regularly because of the lack of a toe guard and of support, but I'll definitely wear them if the walking is easy, say in a museum where the floors are even and the risks of hurting myself lower.
So while I didn't get the Spencos above, I so have a pair of these. When I see women walking around cities with plastic flip-flops, you know, the kind we wear to the beach, I worry about the damage they can do to themselves. These more supportive sandals have all the benefits of flip-flops but some of the benefits of sandals too - there is some support, the front strap is adjustable and your foot doesn't slide around. Even though I probably shouldn't, I wear these way too often and when I travel, I use them when I'm sightseeing because going in and out of sacred buildings means taking your shoes off umpteen times. That said, remember that with flip flops you get no toe protection or support.
These come in several colors and if you need arch support and have sensitive feet, you’ll get both here, along with a sandal that’s versatile and elegant. It is a flip-flop and you may feel that's not enough support, but it does seem to make up for the lack of a slingback with strong over-foot strap and strong arch support. They're also elegant enough to be used as going out sandals, and work equally well for stylish day-tripping.
These, on the other hand, can be considered a lot of things but stylish isn't quite one of them. I keep wanting to throw mine away because of the way they look but then I wear them to convince myself I don’t like them, and I fall in love all over again - with wide feet I forget I’m even wearing them, they’re that comfortable. Seems strange given the rigidity of the sole but, somehow, they work. Plus - they look great on my feet, they just don't look good sitting on the floor...
I get it - you want the most comfortable sandals but you don’t know where to turn because there are so many things to look for.
Here are some of the characteristics you should look for.
You've probably realized by now that sandals are a bit like travel handbags - you never have enough, and there's always the perfect one for each occasion. I always look with wonder at women who manage to have a single pair for all occasions...
Still, you will need a sturdier, more supportive pair for your walking, and something a bit dressier if you plan on. Just make sure you test them well in advance of your trip and break them in. That's not something you want to be doing in the middle of your vacation.