What footwear for Italian city sightseeing!

[Mw19]

I go to Italy next week and I'm having a panic about suitable footwear. We're doing Milan, Florence, and Rome so we'll be walking a lot and travelling a lot. We've booked several tours and will be standing for long periods.

I already struggle with my feet and would prefer to wear something with good support but what will look fashionable without being too hot!?

Pair of white trainers ?

I walked round Venice in my Salt Water boardwalk sandals. So comfy!

crocs. they are ventilated and to hell with looking fashionable, honestly, there are lots of cobbled pavements, its unbelievable hot, and you will be on your feet all day.. the last thing you want is sore feet.

Its an amazing beautiful city, trust me, nobody will care what you have on your feet, go for comfort over fashion

What do you wear at the moment for things like this in the UK? Is it more about the heat you’re worried about as it’s probably the same as it is here - maybe less! I’ve just come back from Rome and I wore my usual footwear and it was fine, but I’m used to treking around urban areas!

I struggle tbh, the fashion trainers I wore at the weekend for a pride parade gave my unbelievably sore feet the day after. And I was only on my feet a couple of hours. I'm a midwife and on my feet a lot, which has resulted in plantar fasciitis. I need something lightweight and breathable but with good arch support

White supergas - they go with almost anything, are super comfy, can be dressed up or down (also a favourite of the Duchess of C!)

Can't believe someone suggested Crocs - I love mine but they make my feet SO hot and sweaty - that would be a definite no for me!

Take several pairs of shoes and switch them out. I went to Lake Maggiore earlier in the summer and wore Gabor Lanzarotti sandals and sketchers.

I would go to a really decent independent shoe shop and ask for advice. Then put damp newspaper scrunched up tight into the shoes and let them stretch slightly to wear them in.

I have very boring ecco pumps.

Skechers - they have arch support ranges

You’ve probably left it a bit late as wearing any new shoe on holiday for waking a lot is a bad idea.

however.

fitflop would be my go to, Gracie is my favourite. I always size up though, as my feet swell like in the heat which means any shoe that is comfortable at home is tight and causes blisters on holiday.

agree also that rotating shoes is a good idea, even your reg trainers with cotton trainer socks wouldn’t look out of place for sight seeing

Vionics sandles. Comfy as a proper sports walking sandals, proper arch support and have a bit of cushioning on the foot.

That said I do proper love my crocs flip flops. They did Disneyland paris in scorching temperatures. Far from being not good at hot temperatures you can soak your feet complete with shoe! It's quite glorious.

I would probably do a combination of both

I hate supergas, I find them so uncomfortable. I love Birkenstocks for the summer, but I have high arches so need the support. Can’t you just wear what you’re comfortable in, seems silly to buy a new pair of shoes you haven’t tried out and you have foot problems. It’s your holiday, you’ve paid a lot for it, so you want to enjoy it, not get blisters everyday. What would you wear at home?

Get yourself some proper walking shoes (although you could do with more time to break them in). Don’t worry about being fashionable. You’ll be walking miles without realising and it will be very hot. Alternatively a good insert that will fit into your shoes. A good foot cooling lotion for the evening might be an idea too.

Came on to say this . I wore them a lot on recent holiday in ltaly and since. Also have annoying feet. They were so comfortable. I got plain white ones so could wear with dresses. If not walking much l popped sandals on. You need to get some tomorrow so can ease in to them. Bring plasters on holidays for first few days.

Salomon Reelax Slide shoes. Most comfortable things ever. They've done several European cities with me

Sketchers. Bought and first wear was five days walking sightseeing in Italy. No problems, light mesh type ones for me and didn't wear socks

I have same problem and just been walking round European city in my Birkenstocks, wide buckle. If was bit cooler I would have worn my new Nike airs

Yes, nobody will pay a blind bit of notice to what you're wearing in - checks notes - Milan, the fashion capital of Italy...

Tevas with the Hurricane sole.

For Rome especially, comfort>style.

A long hot day walking on cobbles and you will not care what your shoes look like as long as your feet don't hurt.

Plus 90% of the people you see will be tourists anyway and dressed as such.

In Rome the in look was a pair of walking sandals. The walking is a bit easier in Florence, less cobbles and nothing is very far - I did it in a pair of Vejas.

Take a pair of nicer shoes for the evening if you want, however I did this for Rome, wore them once and abandoned them for the sensible shoes as even short walks to a restaurant needed not to be painful, or risk spraining my ankle.

www.fitflop.com/uk/en/shop/rally-canvas-trainers-p-FB8#926

The.most comfortable shoes ever invented.

I really don't have anything. If I'm out walking the dog I'm in hiking trainers which are filthy. If I'm at the supermarket I'm in some flat sandals that aren't supportive. When I'm on shift I'm in black slip on skechers.

The vionics look good, I'll order something today, thanks everyone!