Best Shoes for Traveling Europe
Traveling through Europe is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that one should be well-prepared for.
Treading along the European cityscapes, old infrastructures, and cobblestone streets are not easy. You need all the foot support you can get with the right pair of shoes.
You wouldn’t want to waste a second of your trip with the wrong pair of footwear that could cause blisters, foot pain, and ankle injuries. These will ruin the trip of a lifetime, and you could end up regretting not bringing a more comfortable pair of shoes with you.
What Are the Best Shoes for Europe?
The best traveling shoes for Europe bring comfort and durability to a whole new level. Enjoying an epic adventure should always be paired with the right footwear. This is true for all the trips you’re planning to go on.
The best shoes for Europe should be stylish and elegant without compromising quality or comfortability. Since you’ll be walking across various places with different road textures and distances, bringing a compact, moisture-wicking, and durable pair of shoes is a must.
KURU offers the best shoes for walking in Europe with the KURUSOLE and KURUCLOUD technology that caters to various strenuous activities, including constant walking. You’ll also love KURU’s KINETIC and QUANTUM lines, which are specially made for hours of strolling, walking, and even running.
Types of Shoes for Traveling Europe
Don’t let an ill-fitting pair of shoes keep you from seeing some of the world’s most famous landmarks. Learn more about types of shoes for walking in Europe.
Choosing the best shoes for Europe depends entirely on your itinerary and the events you’re planning to go to. If you’re planning to get physical throughout the day and perform athletic activities, then sneakers are your best bet.
On the other hand, if you’re going to a formal or casual event, switch between boots or sandals. Always consider your outfit when picking the right pair.
- BootsThese are your best friends when traveling to Europe. Some of these boots are made of soft wool or waterproof material to protect you during the rainy seasons. Boots also provide full coverage and warmth, so you can trek the coldest places in the continent without feeling uncomfortable.Boots
- SneakersYou can never go wrong with a trusty pair of sneakers when you’re traveling the world. Sneakers are lightweight and comfortable to wear for various activities. Also, they are shock-absorbent and come in diverse styles that you can mix and match with different outfits.Sneakers
- Flats/SandalsSometimes, it’s good to let your feet breathe after a long day of wearing socks and close-toed shoes. Moisture can accumulate in your shoes if you wear it almost 24 hours a day. Relax and wear flats or sandals when the day doesn’t require athletic shoes. Sandals with adjustable straps sound perfect during a day in the sun or a peaceful walk in a park.Flats/Sandals
European Vacation Packing List
Simplify the packing process with these tips from our KURU GURUs.
Packing only a few pairs of shoes during travel can be challenging. It’s difficult to pick from the variety of pairs on your shoe rack. Here are a few tips to help you get through the feat of picking limited pairs of shoes to store in your luggage:
- Pack the most comfortable shoes you own: Since comfortable shoes should be prioritized when packing, pick your favorites. Bring the pairs you like wearing on all occasions and settings. This tip will help prevent blisters and plantar fasciitis.
- Do not bring a lot of shoes: Two to three pairs are enough for the entire trip. Don’t fill up your luggage with several shoes but fewer clothes. You wouldn’t want to run out of clothes to change into during the trip.
- Consider the places and activities you’re planning for: Match the shoes you’re about to pack with the clothes you’re planning to wear. Are you planning to go to a fancy restaurant? Does your itinerary include beaches? Consider these factors when packing the right shoes.
- Check the weather: Bring open or close-toed shoes for various weather conditions. Sometimes, weather forecasts can change. Stay prepared and bring shoes for the current weather conditions in Europe.
- Bring a first aid kit: You’ll never know when you’ll encounter foot injuries regardless of the shoes you’re wearing. It would help to bring a first aid kit with band-aids and disinfectants.
FAQs
What shoes do I pack for Europe?
This will depend on the activities you’re planning to participate in. Also, it’s good to research the places you’ve included in your itinerary. In Europe, where the temperature is cooler, it’s advisable to pack some sneakers or boots. These will protect your feet from the changing weather conditions and various outdoor elements.
KURU offers shoes that can protect your feet at all times. Travel light with our KURUCLOUD technology.
What are the best walking shoes for Europe?
The best walking shoes for Europe are sneakers. The streets of Europe consist of different surface textures such as cobblestones, asphalt, and concrete. If you’re planning to walk around and see beautiful scenery all day, get yourself a trustworthy pair of sneakers and get ready for a walking marathon!
KURU’s footwear is designed to help your feet last through a day of walking around the most beautiful cities in the world.
How is the arch support of KURU shoes?
KURU shoes deliver excellent arch support without the need for thick inserts or expensive, custom orthotics.
Superior arch support starts with our patented KURUSOLE technology, which delivers natural cushioning and dynamically hugs your heel with every step. Every foot is unique, and our ULTIMATE INSOLES adapt to fit your needs by using your own body heat to custom-mold to the shape of your feet over time.
The corrective nature of our superior arch support is designed to neutralize your weight distribution and place your foot in the best anatomical position. This support can take some getting used to. We suggest slowly breaking in your new shoes over the course of 2–3 weeks.
Can I use custom orthotics with KURU shoes?
Due to the anatomical shape of the KURUSOLE, custom orthotics with a rounded heel fit best inside our shoes. If the underside of the custom orthotic (the part that sits on the footbed) is squared off, then it may not fit into our deep heel cup—which is rounded like your foot.
That said, many of our customers tell us theKURUSOLE technology offers better support and stability than they expected, and that they don’t need to wear their custom orthotics with KURU shoes.
I just received a pair of your shoes and my feet are sore/hurt after wearing them. Why is that?
Some customers experience tenderness when they first start wearing a new pair of KURUs. That’s ok! Your body may need time to adjust to the new levels of anatomical support you experience with our patented KURUSOLE technology. Our shoes are also designed to mold to your unique foot shape, which takes a bit of a break-in period.
To help mitigate this, we suggest you follow our break-in procedure, including wearing your KURUs for a couple hours per day around the house in the first couple of weeks as they break in and form to your foot.
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Wondering how to choose the best shoes for Europe travel? Our KURU GURUs outline how to select the perfect pair.
Traveling across the country of your dreams can be an exhilarating and overwhelming experience. You’ll feel overjoyed to the point that you might forget to consider bringing the best pair of shoes you have with you. This is why we’re here to remind you how.
Not sure what pair to bring during your trip to Europe? Below are some tips that can help you navigate through a vast catalog of shoes.
- DurabilityThis should be one of the top considerations when selecting stylish walking shoes for Europe. Check whether the shoes you’re bringing are designed with high-quality materials and able to withstand hours of walking. This pair of shoes should be able to endure various types of roads and streets, especially in Europe where cobblestone streets abound.Durability
- StabilityWalking around Europe could involve uphill or downhill paths. You wouldn’t want to lose your balance as you stroll through the greatest places on the continent. Thus, the best walking shoes for travel in Europe have stable heel support — enough to prevent imbalance in horizontal or vertical foot movement.Stability
- ComfortComfort is always a top priority when purchasing the best shoes for Europe travel. No matter how durable or stylish your shoes are, if they hurt your feet, they are still not worth the suffering. To avoid foot pain and blisters during travel, consider comfort as your top priority when packing shoes.Comfort
- StyleWhile this is the least important priority for packing a pair of footwear, style should still be taken into account. For instance, dining and trekking are two different activities that require different shoe styles. Thus, bring shoes that cater to the activities you’re planning to participate in for various dates.Style
- The Right SizeWearing overly light or loose shoes can hurt your foot in the long run. This can also cause long-term health issues that can be excruciatingly painful. Thus, make sure that you purchase the right size for your feet. There should be adequate room inside the shoes for your toes. As you walk, your foot spreads out by at least one centimeter in all directions. Thus, choose a shoe that’s roomy enough for breathability and comfort.The Right Size
Finding the Right Fit
Once you’ve found the right pair, it’s time to find the right fit. There are some guidelines you can follow in choosing shoes that hug your feet perfectly. Below are some of them:
- Measure Your FeetKnow that the shape and size of your feet can change over time. It is crucial to measure your feet every time you purchase a new pair of shoes.Measure Your Feet
- Don’t Rely on SizeSometimes, there can be size differences between brands. Try the shoes on and observe whether they’re comfortable to wear.Don’t Rely on Size
- Wear SocksSocks can be thick, and your shoes might not fit once you wear socks with them. Try them on with socks before purchasing any shoes.Wear Socks
- Break them inWear your shoes around your house before wearing them during your travels. They might hurt your feet after long hours of walking, and you wouldn’t want to pack them if that’s the case.Break them in
- Match Shoes to ActivityThe right fit won’t matter if you don’t wear the right shoes for certain activities. For instance, when jogging, only wear running shoes. Otherwise, performing this activity can become more challenging.Match Shoes to Activity
Three Layers of Support
At KURU, we pride ourselves on our unique approach to shoe design. We believe that shoes should be shaped to fit the natural contours of your feet, which is why we create every pair in three distinct support layers, not just an insole.
Our revolutionary ergonomic design starts with a curved footbed and adds unparalleled triple-layer support that includes shock-absorbing KURUCLOUD, heel-cupping KURUSOLE, and arch-supporting ULTIMATE INSOLES. The result? Shoes that are so comfortable you’ll stop thinking about your feet.
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KURUSOLE
Our patented KURUSOLE offers dynamic heel support to reduce the impact on your heels and gear your body toward better posture and …Show More
Our patented KURUSOLE offers dynamic heel support to reduce the impact on your heels and gear your body toward better posture and alignment. Your heel’s natural padding needs support to keep it happy and healthy. KURUSOLE’s rounded heel cup design helps protect the heel in every one of KURU’s best shoes for sightseeing in Europe.
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KURUCLOUD
KURUCLOUD is the base layer of every shoe we make, designed with balance and comfort in mind. It’s not so firm that it hurts your …Show More
KURUCLOUD is the base layer of every shoe we make, designed with balance and comfort in mind. It’s not so firm that it hurts your feet, and it’s soft but still maintains support. Its effective cushioning helps absorb shock for backpacking in Europe.
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ULTIMATE INSOLE
Our ULTIMATE INSOLE offers superior arch support and cushion with its premium, dual-density foam. ULTIMATE INSOLES are made with the most durable …Show More
Our ULTIMATE INSOLE offers superior arch support and cushion with its premium, dual-density foam. ULTIMATE INSOLES are made with the most durable polyurethane (PU) foam, making them long-lasting enough to keep you comfortable through all your trips.
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KURUSOLE
Our patented KURUSOLE offers dynamic heel support to reduce the impact on your heels and gear your body toward better posture and alignment. Your heel’s natural padding needs support to keep it happy and healthy. KURUSOLE’s rounded heel cup design helps protect the heel in every one of KURU’s best shoes for sightseeing in Europe.
Our Secret
What makes KURU different? Every KURU shoe comes with built-in patented KURUSOLE tech—a foot health game changer.
While other shoes are flat on the inside, KURUSOLE is shaped like your foot to hug and prevent fatigue and pain.
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