Hi there!
Comfortable shoes are a must for travel to India!
This is because there is a very good chance that you’ll be doing lots of walking around in India.
There are tons of forts and temples in India to tour, some of which can be expansive which means a good amount of walking around to cover the different areas.
As a tourist, you’ll probably also find yourself doing lots of walking on the streets of India as you browse the market to get some shopping in too.
This means that one of the best things you can do so you don’t end up miserable is to make sure your feet are happy.
And that means wearing comfortable shoes for walking in India!
Side note
If you’ll be traveling around India alone, be sure to see the guide to Agra (with Taj Mahal visit), backpacking 2 weeks in Rajasthan with the best hostels in Rajasthan, as well as backpacking South India.
In short, here are some of the best sandals you may want to wear in India:
And here are some of the best shoes that you may want to wear in India:
And if you’ll be headed to beaches in Goa or Kerala 😉
So…
Should you bring shoes to India?
There’s a chance that you can get by just fine without bringing shoes to India, and instead wear sandals the whole time.
This really depends on:
- What types of activities you’re planning on doing
- What type of activities that you may end up adding into your itinerary
- Whether or not you’ll be in a cold weather destination
But no matter your plans, generally speaking, it’s never a bad idea to have a pair of shoes with you when you travel, just in case!
Side note!
If you'll be snorkeling on your next vacation, consider wearing these types of UV swim shirts. Also see about the best shoes for hiking in Hawaii and what to wear snorkeling in Hawaii! And for Hawaii vacation ideas, see the best things to do in Oahu that will give you Hawaii vibes!
Will you be hiking in India?
While there are plenty of sandals that can be suitable for hiking even long distances like these hiking sandals, you may want to bring along some shoes depending on the type of trails.
If you have plans to go to the Indian Himalayas, good shoes is a good idea.
It’s a good idea for the Meesapulimala Trek to the second highest peak in Kerala too.
Regular hiking shoes like these tend to be a bit heavier (and hiking boots are usually even heavier), but trail running shoes like these can be a good alternative.
They tend to be lighter weight while still giving you the necessary grip and traction on hiking trails with varied terrain.
Are you traveling to India in winter?
Now, “cold weather” might be a bit relative.
But in particular, if you will be traveling to India in the winter months in the northern states, you might find that it gets a bit chilly in the evening.
This isn’t just the far north states of the Himalayas, but it includes Delhi, Rajasthan, and surrounding areas as well.
If you’ll be staying in south India in the winter months, cooler temperatures generally aren’t something you need to consider.
Although, even hill stations in India can get chilly at night in the summer, like if you want to visit tea plantations in Kerala.
Otherwise, if you’ll be traveling in north India, it’ll be worth looking into the average temperatures to determine if you feel it’s still sandal weather, or if you want to cover your feet completely.
Long wool socks like these are also a good travel item to have just in case, even if you don’t expect cold temperatures!
Are you traveling to India in monsoon season?
If you are traveling to India during monsoon season, you may also consider that it will rain a lot.
This means you might end up wet, and there’s a good chance that your footwear will too.
You might find that it’ll be easier to dry sandals than shoes after you’ve walked through puddles.
These are some compact travel umbrellas you may want to pack along if you’ll be in India during monsoon.
Why wear sandals to temples
Many temples require you to enter barefoot.
Some people say that sandals are easier to deal with when you’re planning on going to a lot of temples.
This is more based on your preference because you may not find it such a big deal to take your shoes on and off.
Why you might want shoes in India
The other reason besides trekking that you may want shoes for normal travel in India is because streets can be lined with dirt (and other things), which makes it so your feet get dirtier than if you were walking around at home.
Once again, this is more about your preference.
There are places that don’t have sidewalks.
That might mean that you’re either walking on the same streets that the cars are driving, or it could mean that you’re walking on the dirt shoulder.
And that’s among the times that you might find your feet getting a bit dirty.
Not all streets in India are clean either, which means you could be stepping over different things.
Realistically, you’ll probably find yourself walking around more often on an cleaner asphalt-like surface than dirt, which means your feet will likely manage just fine.
But still, if you are particular to dirt, it may be something to consider.
It’s possible to find hiking sandals that don’t expose the skin as much too.
You could call them a sort of closed-toed sandals.
So you can still get the benefit of wearing footwear that’s more breathable than regular shoes, but not be so concerned about dirty feet.
What type of sandals to wear in India?
Hiking sandals
Despite the name, hiking sandals like these don’t have to be just for hiking.
Even if you have no plans for a trek in India, these types of sandals are versatile so they can make for perfect travel sandals.
You can find hiking sandals that provide more support than regular sandals.
And because they are designed for hikers, they are made to be comfortable to wear over long periods of walking.
Since you will probably be doing lots of walking in India, it’s important to wear some sort of footwear in India that won’t make your feet miserable.
Hiking sandals can give you that support for the extra walking, and they can be more breathable than regular shoes in hot weather.
These are some popular brands for hiking sandals and travel sandals:
What types of shoes to wear in India?
If you decide that you want to take a pair of shoes with you, or if they will be one of the things you wear on your flight to India, you will also want to make sure that they are comfortable.
If you don’t already have a favorite pair of shoes to cover long distances, these types of shoes are specifically designed to be comfortable to wear when you’ll be doing lots of walking:
The walking shoes and running shoes will likely be the best options for shoes to wear in India.
But if you are looking for shoes for a little extra grip in case you do end up on trails in India, you may opt for trail running shoes or hiking shoes.
It also doesn’t hurt to have that extra grip when walking some streets of India in case you end up on loose dry gravel that can make you prone to slip.
Trail running shoes and hiking shoes will both give you that extra grip compared to regular shoes.
The trail running shoes will usually be lighter than hiking shoes.
Regular running shoes are lighter than both trail running shoes and hiking shoes, and they will come in a greater variety of colors and give you support over several miles!
Always break in new shoes
If you do decide to buy new travel sandals or shoes to wear for your trip to India, make sure that you go for more than a few walks in them.
You want to make sure to break them in before you go to India.
It would be the worst if you discover in India that they aren’t comfortable shoes at all!
HAPPY WALKING IN INDIA!
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🐠 Here are things you must consider packing!
- Swimsuit or swimming shirt aka rash guard
- rash guard: swim set for women and swim shirt for men
- Water shoes
- Waterproof phone case (so you can capture pictures of fishies underwater!)
- cheapo phone case OR waterproof camera
- I also have this "camera" wrist float to attach to my cheapo waterproof phone case so my phone won't sink to the bottom of the ocean in case I somehow let go of it. (Mine does stay afloat - test this for yourself before completely trusting it!)
- Swimming goggles or snorkeling mask set
- Reef-safe(r) sunscreen
- lightweight travel towel:
- walking sandals:
I also don't go snorkeling without a personal swim float buoy. Not only does it help to keep me visible, but it makes for a perfect way to rest out in deeper water! Oh, and it also serves as a dry bag so I can take stuff into the water with me.
Another way I have taken valuables into the water with me is to wear a travel money belt that I don't mind getting wet with salt water (it's not waterproof but I have several so I just use one of them) and then I put things in a ziplock freezer bag, and put that freezer bag in the money belt.
There are also designated waterproof waist pouches that you can store your valuables and take into the water with you.
see more:
- What to wear hiking
- What to wear snorkeling
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