I am going to Paris in July. From what I have read here, tourists in Paris tend to dress a little nicer while touring around. My question: are sandals o.k.? You know the comfortable, athletic, walking type (not very dressy but you can walk for miles!) I am thinking shoes will be very hot.

Where whatever you'd like. What you're describing as footwear would not likely be found an a parisian, but then we're not parisians, so who cares. <BR><BR>Do note, however, the the City of Lights is a city, and a pretty dirty one at that, with millions of dogs and dirt from car exhaust, trash, whatever. A long summer day of walking and travelling the Metro will leave you pretty grimy, your toes particularly so if you're in sandals.

You'll see lots of tourists wearing those kind of sandals for sightseeing in the summer in Paris.

And they will all have filthy looking feet

I think I would wear some kind of mule with a closed toe.The streets really are dirty with all the dog droppings, they wash them in the mornings, but then you have wet streets..better off with something to cover your feet a little.<BR>I read a great travel tip here not long ago, take the little wipes for your hands and use them on your feet after walking around in sandals or open shoes during the day so your feet don't look grubby.

Let's not forget the crowds - on the metro, on the streets, at the sights. Trod-upon toes are to be expected, so closed shoes are de rigeur for me.

wear whatever you like, but mostly understand that you will come home with very dirty shoes. I noticed a lot of people in paris wearing scuffed up, down trodden shoes, esp. on the metro. all that walking and banging around on the metro, people stepping on your feet at rush hour etc will mess up your shoes.<BR><BR>

Strange enough, my feet suffer the most in Paris, of all cities we tour. But then, we walk a lot, from morning to night. When we were coming to the hotel for a break, our legs were steaming. <BR>As much as I hate sneakers and try to wear nice walkable shoes, some of them could become inconvenient at the least be the end of the day.<BR>I do not suggest open shoes, I made bleeding holes on my feet. Use high- sole walking shoes. <BR>Make sure 5 times over before the trip that your shoes will not let you down. And have a spare pair.<BR>It's so frustrating not to be able to walk when you want to be everywhere and see everything.

I wear open-toed Ecco or Clarks shoes in Paris in the summer and don't come home with filthy feet or crushed toes. Nor do I look out of place with those shoes--our Parisian friends also wear sandals in July (if they're still in the city, that is, and not off bronzing themselves in La Baule or Provence). However, we avoid the most crowded touristy parts of town in high season. If you're going to be in the 7th or the 16th, you'll have a little more room to maneuver. In the Latin Quarter and Marais, expect crowds. <BR>BTilke (Brussels)