Apart from travel, if there’s one other thing I know really well – it’s shoes!
The big challenge, though, is finding a pair that’s both fashionable and comfy.
We prefer traveling to places where it’s warm – like Europe (when it’s short-sleeves weather) and sun-and-sand destinations (hello Cabo San Lucas!).
And I’m always on the hunt for the best travel sandals for women and men – because your partner should look good too, right?
I’m talking stylish.
But also comfortable sandals for travel you can actually walk in without getting blisters (because sore feet aside, hobbling doesn’t look good).
And in case you can’t tell, it’s me, Janice, writing this post :-).
Best travel sandals for women and men
I shop a lot on Amazon (especially the last few years). It’s a Pandora’s Box for shoeaholics.
I love that you get fast delivery if you’re a Prime member (along with good TV shows!) plus free easy returns – it’s a hassle-free way to shop.
And I’ve checked out literally hundreds of sandals.
You’re sure to love the following 25 stand-out styles of travel sandals. (I regularly update this post with new finds, so you can be confident that the latest styles are covered here.)
You’ll first find our reviews of the best travel sandals for women. Then I cover our picks for the best travel sandals for men.
Here’s to happy traveling – and stylish happy feet!
Pssst! As an Amazon associate, we earn a commission on qualifying purchases (at no extra cost to you).
Hey, looking for cute summer sandals and beach footwear?
Check out the best beach sandals and flip-flops for women!
For footwear you can get wet, here’s our post specifically on the best water sandals for women.
And for guys – see our reviews of the best flip-flops for men.
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Best women’s travel sandals
1) ECCO Flowt Strap Sandal
Great for: City walking
A Danish shoe manufacturer, ECCO makes some of the best walking sandals for women.
It’s my go-to brand, and I’m a great ECCO fan. I have narrow feet, and ECCO is the one brand that usually always fits well. Without fail, I find their shoes and sandals to be comfortable, attractive and long-lasting.
These ECCO Flowt 2 Band sandals come with a combination of soft leather uppers and an extra fiber-wrapped elastic strap, as well as a lightly cushioned footbed. The sole is light and flexible, but thick and durable.
You can easily get in a couple of miles of walking (or more) in these city sandals!
The neutral colors (black-and-sand, gray-rose metallic, misty blue-and-sand, etc.) are versatile and go with most everything.
2) Plaka Seashell Flat Sandals
Great for: Casual wear and the beach
Aren’t these darling? I just love Plaka sandals!
Handwoven, with stretchy braided straps to fit your feet, they scream “summer.”
Go for a walk. Step out for an evening under the stars on a sidewalk café or resto. Hang out by the pool. These Plaka Flat Summer Seashell sandals can take you there.
They’re some of the best sandals for travel to Greece or other warm weather destinations, where you want lightweight pretty sandals for kicking about.
The price is right too. They’re quite inexpensive for what you get!
So go ahead, treat yourself and pick two pairs. Perhaps one in turquoise-and-gray for a bit of sass and the other in solid brown or black?
Pssst! They’re perfect for narrow to medium-size feet. But give these a miss if you have wide feet.
3) Sofft Mirabelle Sandals
Great for: City strolling and dressy occasions
I love the look of these leather Sofft Women’s Mirabelle sandals.
They’re quite elegant!
They’d make great walking sandals for Europe, don’t you think? You could wear them in Paris or Berlin (New York City too!) and not feel out of place.
Color options for these stylish sandals? Metallic silver (called “anthracite metallic”), black, light gray and “luggage” (featured above).
4) Blowfish Granola Fisherman Sandals
Great for: Casual wear
Here’s a youthful-looking sandal that doesn’t break the bank.
These Blowfish Granola sandals have a criss-cross strap design with faux leather uppers and a lightly-cushioned, faux cork sole.
They come in cute colors like pale gray, rose-gold, whiskey and black.
I probably wouldn’t wear them for long walks, however. (They don’t look like they’re designed for that.) Mind you, some women say they can go out in them on long walks.
5) Avarca Pons 510 Sandals
Great for: Casual wear and dressing up
Go from day to night in these Avarca Pons 510 sandals!
They’re hand-crafted on the island of Menorca (near bigger Mallorca) in Spain. Made of top-quality leather, they feature recycled tire soles.
They come in a whole host of colors too. Navy blue. Lilac. Pistachio (like a pale lime green). Even fuchsia!
I love how they’re so feminine-looking.
You can wear them with anything, and they’re the perfect combination of looks and comfort.
6) Teva Tirra Sandals
Great for: Adventure
If you need a pair of waterproof sandals for your trip – for watersports or a “wet” hike – look no further than Teva. They’ve captured the market in sandals for outdoor adventure.
The Teva Tirra sandals have grippy rubber soles (to help prevent slipping when fording streams, for example). The straps around the ankle and across the toes are adjustable and close with velcro.
You can get them in gray-and-white, pale blue, mango and many other colors.
Said to be some of the best walking sandals for travel (especially adventure travel), women just plain love them for getting out and about in the great outdoors. (These Tevas have received umpteen rave reviews!)
7) Clarks Laurieann Kay Sandals
Great for: Getting around town
High quality 100% leather uppers. Timeless style for exploring city streets. A soft supportive footbed. What’s not to love about these Laurieann Kay sandals from Clarks?
Like ECCO (#1), Clarks are another very dependable brand of comfort footwear. Their shoes and sandals are happily worn by millions of women.
These are some of the best sandals for women – not just for travel, but for walking and getting out and about at home in summer. And they manage to look pretty and feminine at the same time!
Pick the red color for a bit of sass. But they also come in navy, black, tan and white.
8) Taos Trulie Sandals
Great for: Casual wear
Taos is another brand known for making super comfortable women’s sandals.
Made in Spain, these Taos Trulie leather sandals have a lightweight polyurethane-cork sole with enhanced arch support. The footbed is lined in suede.
Easy to put on, they feature woven hook straps that close with velcro.
They come in several colors. But because I’m a neutral kind of gal, I’d probably go for the gray or stone color.
Size up if you’re in between sizes, as they run on the shorter not longer side for most women.
9) Vionic Lupe Flat Sandals
Great for: Casual wear and city walking
They may have a minimal look. But these Vionic Lupe sandals pack in maximum comfort.
The Vionic Brand uses a podiatrist-designed footbed that hugs your arches, so they’re a good choice if you suffer from plantar fasciitis. The EVA midsole also absorbs impact to help reduce stress on your feet and ankles.
With a microfiber suede-like covering on the inside of the footbed, they feel nice and soft on your feet too.
Get these in a pale blush, tan, black, blue or other color.
For women who want a comfortable but minimalist style, these are the perfect travel sandal.
10) Birkenstock Gizeh Sandals
Great for: Casual wear
Can you believe it?
I have four pairs of Birkenstock Gizeh sandals in different colors – silver, gray, bronze and brown. Plus I have another pair of Birkenstocks in a pale greenish suede leather. Enough, right?
I get the most use out of the metallic silver ones though, which look great with both casual daytime clothes and dressier capris and skirts.
A German brand, Birkenstock has been making shoes for more than a century. They’re probably the best sandals brand to conform to the shape of your feet.
You see them everywhere. By the pool. In Starbucks’ coffee shops. On the cobblestone streets of Europe.
You simply can’t beat their supremely comfortable cork footbed (with lots of arch support).
One of my pairs is marked “N” for narrow. It fits my narrow feet better than the usual medium (which is most common).
But the narrows are hard to find. Grab a pair if you come across them!
11) Skechers Reggae Slim Sandals
Great for: Adventure and the beach
Skechers is a shoe brand known for making good quality but affordably priced products. And since launching in 1992, their shoes have only gotten better in design, construction and fit.
These Skechers Reggae Slim sandals are lightweight and comfortable for casual walking.
They come in several colors, including taupe-and-aqua, blue, black and a chocolate color with purple-and-peach accents.
They have memory foam so the sole molds to your feet over time. However, these sandals don’t have adjustable straps. So if you have narrow (or very wide) feet, they may not fit you.
12) NAOT Kayla Wedge Sandals
Great for: Walking
The NAOT Kayla Wedge sandal has three straps across the front of the foot and a wedge heel, about 1½ inches high off the ground.
It offers excellent arch support, and the more you wear them, the more the cork footbed conforms to your feet. They come in regular and wide widths.
You can find these comfortable sandals in a host of solid pretty colors, from rose gold to steel gray to a patent black leather. And they’re offered in both narrow-to-medium and wide sizes.
(Hmmm… Now that I see the black patent leather ones, I’m seriously considering ordering a pair of these!)
13) MEGNYA Walking Sandals
Great for: Casual wear
Day tripping? Heading to the beach?
Whatever your plans, these MEGNYA Walking sandals are a perfect fit (pun intended).
The adjustable braided straps are friendly to your skin (i.e. no blisters). And the sandals come in lots of great neutral colors – from gray, white, burgundy and black to two-tone colors like black-and-gray.
As they have a comfy EVA cushioned midsole with arch support, MEGNYA says you can even wear them walking for long distances.
Mind you, I’ve heard that the straps can rub after many hours of walking in them. And I personally prefer more substantial walking sandals for long walks.
But for relaxed sightseeing in light sandals with lots of air flow, these look really good!
14) Aerosoles Thong Sandals
Great for: The city and dressing up
Aerosoles are another dependable brand of comfort footwear.
The cushioned sole with a memory foam footbed offers good support here. And the thong style of these Aerosoles makes them look pretty and feminine at the same time! Just the ticket for summer resort wear – or a tropical winter vacation.
Personally, I love what they call the “tan combo” color. But the sandal with the white leather and back tan-colored heel strap is also really sweet.
And black? Well, you can never go wrong with black.
15) KEEN Whisper Sandals
Great for: Adventure
I’ve never been all that keen (oh, bad joke!) on the looks of the KEEN sandals. I feel like a booby bird with big feet in them.
But I know many people swear by their KEENs. And I have to confess they are indeed extremely comfortable travel sandals for adventurous activities. (Chasing waterfalls in Maui, anyone?)
These KEEN Whisper adventure sandals are water-friendly and machine washable.
You’ll note the covered toe is great for protecting your tootsies. They’re perfect for hiking and kayaking – I’ve never gotten a blister from wearing my KEENs.
I just wish, sigh, they’d look prettier on my feet (they look better on other women whose feet aren’t as narrow as mine).
16) OLUKAI Upena Sandals
Great for: Casual wear
OLUKAI is a Hawaiian brand focusing on durability and comfort. With Hawaiian origins, the sandals are surfer-chic in style.
The straps in these OLUKAI Upena sandals are adjustable via an antiqued metal buckle. Uppers are leather, the footbed is contoured and the outsole is rubber, with a traction grip (to prevent slipping).
They come in a few different colors – from black and coffee to my favorite, charcoal-and-pewter.
17) ECCO Yucatan Sandals
Great for: Walking and hiking
Say goodbye to tired feet after long days of sightseeing!
If you want to be able to walk and walk and walk for miles, check out the ECCO Women’s Yucatan sandals. They’re simply some of the most comfortable walking sandals for travel. Period.
They have a contoured footbed designed to fit your whole sole, ensuring your feet stay secure. The EVA sole is cushioned and shock absorbent. And the durable rubber outsole provides great traction – no worries about slipping on wet streets!
I have these women’s sandals, and I never regret taking them with me when I know I’ll be on my feet a lot.
18) NAOT Verbena Sandals
Great for: Casual wear and city exploration
Rather than looking like a sport sandal, the NAOT Verbena Sandals are more stylish sandals for travel – which is sometimes hard to find when you’re also looking for comfy sandals.
If you’re struggling with plantar fasciitis, give these a try. They offer great arch support and, over time, the cork and latex footbed will mold to the shape of your foot.
There are several color options, including maple brown, a nude pinkish hue, soft black and beige lizard.
Yes, the price point is high. But most women who buy these don’t regret spending the money on them.
19) Viakix Siena Sport Sandals
Great for: Light hiking and adventure
My latest travel sandals purchase is a pair of Viakix Siena Sport sandals.
These versatile sandals have soft stretchy elastic straps so they offer a secure fit. I like the adjustable ankle strap, which I can tighten for a snug fit.
Crafted by hand, they’re extremely comfortable. And the sole is thick and solid enough to offer excellent traction on rocky terrain. Viakix says they’re designed for hiking, water sports and outdoor adventure. But for me, I don’t think they’re sturdy enough for any really rigorous activity.
Besides, I think they’re too cute to get all beaten-up.
20) Chaco Wayfarer Loop Sandals
Great for: Walking and exploring
Made of 100% leather (uppers), the Chaco Wayfarer Loop sandals have a lightly cushioned rubber sole, super comfy suede footbed and antique finish metal buckle.
The toffee is a great neutral summery color, but you can also order them in black, gray and peachy color.
I have a similar model, and I can wear them all day (and night).
These are really good sandals you can truly walk in – definitely tops on my list of best sandals for traveling!
More travel sandals for women
Find many more comfortable women’s travel sandals here on Amazon.
Best sandals for men for travel
Okay, now that we’ve got the ladies covered, let’s move on to the best men’s travel sandals.
And, sorry guys, there aren’t really quite as many options for you!
But we know that you, being manly and all, are really after function over form – and you just want something tried and true.
These five solid styles fit the bill.
1) ECCO Yucatan Sandals
Great for: Walking, the city and adventure
These men’s sandals will take you everywhere – from city sidewalks to mountain trails.
The ECCO Off-Road or Yucatan is a classic, with over 10 million pairs sold. Indeed, if you’re looking for the best men’s sandals for walking, you’d be hard-pressed to find something better.
They offer excellent arch support and cushioning, and the sole is designed for firm traction on all sorts of terrain. The nubuck leather uppers are also lined with neoprene for extra comfort.
They come with an anti-odor system too.
2) KEEN Newport H2 Sandals
Great for: Adventure
Ahhh! The classic adventure water shoe!
It’s airy like a sandal, but with the toe protection of a shoe. Hike, walk, kayak, climb over slippery rocks, kick around on a beach.
Whatever you get up to, the KEEN Men’s Newport H2 sandal will do the job. The toe box gives your tootsies lots of room; the soles are made to grip.
And when they need to be cleaned, just give them a good wash and they’ll look (almost) like new.
My husband George loves his KEENs. He has a nice pair of black ones he wears for dinner and another pair he uses for scuffing about.
Tip: KEEN suggests you buy a half-size up.
3) Birkenstock Milano Sandals
Great for: The city
Guys, if you plan to spend a lot of time on your feet, look at the Birkenstock Milano (Unisex) sandals.
The shape of the contoured cork footbed (with a deep heel cup and bump under the forefoot) is made to distribute your body weight evenly over the whole foot, giving optimal support.
It’s also designed to adjust and mold to the shape of your foot. The upper leather straps can be adjusted individually too.
These are well-crafted, hard-working sandals that look great!
Tip: When buying, “M” refers to Men (not Medium).
4) Dr. Scholl’s Gaston Sandals
Great for: Everyday wear
Made by the famous Dr. Scholl’s footwear company, these are a favorite pick for travel sandals for men. You’re not likely to develop foot pain wearing these!
The upper part is 100% leather with a memory foam insole, while the traction outsole is rubber.
These very comfortable shoes sport a casual fisherman’s sandal style with a closed toe design. No stubbing your toes! And because they’re more shoe-like in appearance, they can take you from day to dinner out on the town, no problem.
5) Dockers Fisherman Sandals
Great for: The beach and city
More than 13,000 Amazon shoppers have given these Dockers Fisherman sandals a 5-star rating. So they kind of sell themselves!
The plush memory foam insole adjusts to your foot shape. And for the perfect fit, they come in both regular and wide sizes.
Guys say they’re “like walking on air” and they don’t need a break-in period.
If you’re looking for a good pair of travel sandals for a beach vacation, these Dockers would make a great choice. (But maybe bring flip-flops too for the actual beach and pool.)
More comfortable men’s sandals
Also see more options for men’s travel sandals here on Amazon.
That’s our hand-picked list of the top travel sandals!
If you buy any of these travel sandals, let us know how they work for you. And if you have suggestions for this list, please pass them along!
You can share your thoughts in the Comments below.
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About the authors
Luxury travel journalists and SATW, NATJA and TMAC “Best Travel Blog” award winners, Janice and George Mucalov are the publishers of Sand In My Suitcase. Between them, they’ve traveled to all 7 continents. See About.
Find destination guides, global food-and-wine stories, luxury hotel reviews, articles on cultural explorations and soft adventure trips, cruise reviews, insanely useful travel tips and more!
Debbi
Saturday 26th of November 2022
I have been given to understand that Birkenstock no longer sells their shoes on Amazon because of the number of fakes being sold as genuine and Amazon refusing to crack down on the situation.
Janice and George
Saturday 26th of November 2022
It's also our understanding that Birkenstock pulled their online store from Amazon. But we also understand there are smaller shoe stores that sell authentic Birkenstock sandals through Amazon :-). So you can still get real Birkenstocks on Amazon. They're just harder to find and may not come in all sizes and colors.
Lois
Friday 24th of June 2022
Hi, which sandals are shown in the main image? Grey / teal. Model wearing white nail polish. Thanks.
Janice and George
Tuesday 28th of June 2022
Those are a version of the Plaka sandals. Plaka makes a few different styles (all quite similar, but still a little different).
Sue
Sunday 18th of July 2021
Hi! Which sandals are shown in the photo just above #1 with the brown crossed buckled straps and white strap across the toe area (model wearing yellow nail polish)? Thank you for the helpful suggestions!
Janice and George
Monday 19th of July 2021
Those sandals are really cute, aren't they!
We couldn't find these on Amazon (or in stores here where we live). So we don't know the brand. They could be European. Sometimes there are great shoes you can only find in Europe and not North America.
Hope there's another pair you like :-).
Pamela
Thursday 18th of March 2021
Very helpful article. Thanks for helping me find some nice sandals for everyday wear.
Mark
Thursday 22nd of October 2020
Great article!
Sandals are really comfortable. That is why I love my Birkenstocks. You don’t have to compromise comfort for style.
Stay safe and healthy! Cheers!