vipsha what was the name of the shoe brand that you purchased in Lake Como?

Hi floridapugmom, they were made in the store - Quelli della Pelle in Bellagio. The young woman who was also a sales associate sewed shoes when she was not attending to customers. If a size or color was not in stock, they simply made a pair in a few hours. I was surprised that the shoes felt as comfortable as they did because they were very flat and the sole was not cushiony. It is worth mentioning that I found the prices to be reasonable and comparable to some of the brands being discussed here.

I wear Merrells everywhere I go, including cities. My ex-pat daughter, my English son-in-law and my English grandson wore them when they lived in Sydney and when they lived in London and still wear them now that they live in Dorset.. Given the incredible array of footwear you will see in any major world city, I seriously doubt anyone notices.Wear something supportive and comfortable and don't worry about what brand it is.

Thanks Scooterr!

If you are willing to spend a bit, Paul Green shoes and Arche shoes are both good prospects.

I have worn minimalist PG black walking shoes (with short lace up) to walk for miles in Europe. Styles change but give them a look.
The Arche shoes (egads, even more expensive) are attractive, stylish shoes highly suitable for city walking and evenings/aperitif hour/dinner. Ballet flats work for dinner/evening stroll but not for a ton of walking.

Good sandals that fit well (Naot, PG, a few other brands) I wear in warm climates.

Most of my travel is in Italy and they do pay attention to "La Bella Figura" or taking care with your appearance to look good, and I do make the effort there, just as I work to speak Italian. When in the UK, Germany, Austria, Ireland, etc. I am more likely to wear the sneakers/trainers. Even if Italians spot you as a tourist based on other factors (like not wearing fitted clothing), they often appreciate the effort to present a good appearance.

Thanks annw. We will be spending 2 months in Ireland and I know to make sure to have a pair of water resistant shoes for there. lol

A few years ago, when I was getting ready for a trip to Europe, I googled "best shoe for cobblestone streets" and this came up: https://www.keenfootwear.com/p/W-ROSE-SANDAL.html
Great choice - I have two pairs now. I wore them all over Europe, as well as on a month-long trip to India. Very comfortable, and you can actually wear them with a skirt out for dinner, and they look fine.
The other wonderful thing about these shoes is that you can wash them in the washing machine. I discovered this after wearing them in small villages in India - was almost going to toss them out, but after a wash, they look great.
They are durable and last forever.

scdreamer, thanks for the link. I will be checking out more Keens; sandals would not work for this trip as we will be
traveling during Fall.

I LOVE my Keen Rose sandals. I've had them for a couple years and the are still in great shape.

floridapugmom - even in fall, I think the Keen Rose sandals could work. They are closed toe. I would imagine they would be as warm and sturdy as ballet flats ... and a lot more comfortable on uneven ground.

I recently wore my Sketchers on a vacation that included a lot of walking every day and my feet felt the best they ever have after a long day. Mine are slip on. They also got wet one day and were completely dry by morning. They are also super lightweight.

I think it's nice and I do try to dress well when I travel. But I honestly from the bottom of my heart don't believe Italians care if I wear sneakers with my outfit.

Good to see this thread still active. I was in Paris this last April and found repettos, They primarily make ballet shoes, but I find their regular super comfortable and stylish. I found out later that stores in the US sell them too.

Comfort depends on what fits your foot best.
I have to wear Birkenstocks, or my plantar fasciitis flares up.
They aren't my favorite for looks, but I can ignore the aesthetics, in order to keep my feet happy and healthy.

Birkenstock does make a ballet flat:
https://www.lordandtaylor.com/birken...SABEgI0B_D_BwE

I've switched to Keens since they have a wide toe box and decent support, which I need for my very flat feet.

They often have good half-price sales on their own website.

mlgb, I also love Keens. They are not often the best looking, but they offer support and comfort.

I prefer Ecco

Speaking of shoes there is a place called The Walking Company in a mall in Schaumburg. Il. I recently bought a pair of shoes (Abeo brand) with custom inserts and which I find very comfortable. You stand on and step over a pad which gives measurements of your specific pressure point and the analysis was spot on too. I don't know if this store is available where you are but to get a good pair of shoes with custom inserts to your specific pressure pattern should be and I think this is the way to go.
The cost is a bit high for the shoes and the inserts, around $190.00 but they should last a very long time, my wife likes them, a huge intangible, :p and then you have their comfort level too. For me it was worth it.

Abeo is the store brand of The Walking Company. and yes they are very good. I like their sandals even better than their shoes.