What Shoes to Wear on Holiday
24 June 2026
There’s a knack to finding the right holiday shoes. They need to blend comfort, style and practicality in such a way that you can handle different holiday activities without luggage space being overtaken by footwear.
In this article, we’ll explore considerations for the ideal shoes to wear on holiday. After reading, you’ll know which shoes to take, without the risk of either taking too many or not having the appropriate shoes for what your holiday requires.
Here’s what we’ll cover:
- What shoes to wear to the beach
- What shoes to wear on a cruise
- How many pairs of shoes to pack for a holiday
- Holiday shoes for men
What Shoes to Wear to the Beach
There’s more to beach shoes than grabbing a pair of toe-post flip-flops. The right shoe for a beach holiday depends on the type of beach, what you’re planning to do there, how long you’re staying and more.
What Are Beach Shoes?
Broadly speaking, they’re any type of shoe designed for or particularly well suited to beaches. The term ranges from flip-flops to dedicated water shoes and covers many types in between.
The main qualities to look for in beach shoes are water-resistance, quick drying, sand-shedding soles, easy to take on and off, and minimal detailing that might trap salt.
Best Sandals for the Beach
Although they’ve got a beachy reputation, not all sandals are actually beach-appropriate. Take the wrong pair, and you might face hot straps, damaged leather or other issues.
The best sandals to choose for beaches include:
- Sliders
- Pool slides
- Flat strappy sandals
- Flip-flops
We recommend avoiding leather sandals as the material is prone to damage, along with heeled or wedge styles that are impractical on the sand.
What Shoes to Wear on a Pebbly Beach
Pebbly beaches are a different beast from sandy ones, and walking on them barefoot or even in thin-soled shoes can be painful! Our recommendation for pebbly beach shoes is water shoes with protective soles. You may also find that chunky sandals with their thick soles are an acceptable alternative if the pebbles aren’t too big.
Should You Wear Water Shoes at the Beach?
This depends on the beach and what you plan to do there. For pebbly or rocky beaches, water shoes are a good bet. They’re also great if you plan to do activities like snorkelling, rock pooling, walking out on uneven, rocky surfaces or similar. And if there’s any likelihood of jellyfish or urchins, they’re definitely a good shout.
This type of shoe is functional: if you’re looking for easy-on footwear for a sandy beach day, they might be a bit over the top.
What Shoes to Wear Running on the Beach?
Again, this depends on the beach. Soft dry sand lends itself to barefoot running, or minimal shoes that allow for free foot movement. If you go barefoot, build up to it - running your usual distance on soft sand can cause injuries because different muscles are involved that won’t be used to the distance.
On hard, wet sand your regular running trainers should be able to handle the surface, but bear in mind they may get wet. Rinse them thoroughly afterwards to dislodge salt and sand that may cause damage to materials.
Can You Wear Leather Sandals to the Beach?
It’s not recommended. Salt water can stain and dry out leather, and sand can be abrasive if it gets stuck between the straps and your foot. This means leather sandals can be irreparably damaged fairly quickly on beaches.
What Shoes Should I Wear to Walk on the Beach?
For a short walk on soft sand? Go barefoot. For longer walks or wet sand, choose a sandal with a secure strap. For pebbly beaches, consider a water shoe. And for a coastal path hike, opt for walking sandals or trainers that can handle the uneven terrain.
Can You Wear Trainers on a Cruise?
Yes, in most contexts. For daytimes on deck and excursions, they’re a great fit. For more formal aspects of the cruise - dining venues, formal nights, bars with smarter dress codes - they may be less appropriate.
If you’re set on wearing trainers in the more formal contexts, make sure they’re clean and minimal, ideally white or black leather trainers.
We recommend familiarising yourself with the specific dress code of your cruise, as these can vary significantly between lines.
Smart Shoes for Cruise Restaurants
Most cruise lines have dress codes for their dining rooms and speciality restaurants. Usually smart-casual at a minimum, you may encounter issues if you rock up in something too casual.
For women, heeled or wedged sandals, wedges, or smart flats work well for smart casual, while strappy heels or court shoes are better for formal nights.
For men, loafers or smart shoes are pitched perfectly for cruise dining.
How Many Pairs of Shoes to Pack for a Holiday
This is an age-old question with no definitive answer. It depends on your preferences, the type of holiday, the activities you’ll be doing, and various other factors.
As a guiding rule, it’s better to think about packing for the activities you’ll be doing, rather than the number of days. Each pair of shoes you take should serve a purpose.
How Many Pairs of Shoes for a One-Week Holiday
If you do want to decide based on holiday length, three pairs is a good rule of thumb for a week’s getaway:
- Comfy walking shoes or trainers, for exploring and excursions
- Sandals or sliders for beach, pool, and casual daytime wear
- A smarter pair like a wedge sandal, espadrille, or loafer
This will depend on your holiday, so don’t treat it as definitive. And as a bonus tip: wear your bulkiest pair on the plane to save on luggage space!
Holiday Shoes for Men
Men’s holiday shoes follow a similar logic to holiday shoes for women, but with a narrower scope. Here’s a good core holiday shoe selection for men:
- Casual trainers or canvas shoes: ideal for travel days and daytime wear
- Sandals or sliders: ideal for beaches and time by the pool
- Loafers or smart casual shoes: great for evening dining, smart occasions, or restaurants with a dress code
- Optional extras: espadrilles are a great lightweight middle ground for daytime and casual evenings
We recommend choosing breathable materials like canvas, suede and soft leather over heavy synthetics. Going for neutral colours like white, navy, or tan fits the holiday atmosphere and will pair with lots of different styles elsewhere in your wardrobe.
Whatever Holiday Footwear You Choose…
Remember that holidays are meant to be a relaxing escape from the day-to-day, and that choosing your holiday shoes shouldn’t be a source of stress. Our range of sandals for women and men, and casual trainers for women and men, is a great place to start, but don’t sweat the details too much when you’re deciding which pairs to take - you can always grab a new pair when you get there!
