Best Shoes for Europe Travel: Are Converse All Star Good for Cobblestone Streets?

When people plan a trip to Europe, they often end up asking the same thing:

What shoes should I bring?

This comes up for a reason.
European trips usually involve a lot of walking. Old towns have cobblestones, train stations are large, and long travel days can put more stress on your feet than expected.

Most guides will tell you to choose running shoes or trekking shoes. From a performance point of view, that advice makes sense. They usually have better cushioning, grip, and support.

But travel is not only about performance.

I spent 7 weeks in Europe during autumn, from September to November, wearing only one pair of Converse All Star. I walked through cities, stations, museums, and cobblestone streets, and while they were not perfect, they were good enough for the kind of trip I was actually doing.

So this article is not about naming one universal “best shoe.”

It is about a more practical question:

Which type of shoe makes sense for your trip?

In this article, I compare Converse All Star, running shoes, and trekking shoes based on actual travel use, including walking comfort, weather, cobblestones, luggage, and how easy they are to live with over a long trip.

Quick Answer

For a city-focused autumn trip, Converse All Star can work better than many people expect.

They are a reasonable choice if:

• your trip is mostly urban
• you are traveling in September, October, or November
• you want to travel with one pair of shoes
• you care about packing light
• you are fine with a trade-off between comfort and versatility

On the other hand, running shoes or trekking shoes make more sense if:

• you are traveling in winter
• you expect heavy rain
• you walk very long distances every day
• you already have foot pain
• your route includes trails, hills, or rough ground

1. The Three Main Choices for Europe Travel Shoes

Most travelers comparing shoes for Europe end up looking at these three types:

Converse All Star

Why people choose them:

• easy to match with clothes
• simple to pack around a long trip
• one pair can cover most casual situations
• lighter and less bulky than many outdoor shoes

Main drawbacks:

• thin sole
• less cushioning
• slippery on some wet surfaces
• not ideal in cold weather

Running Shoes

Why people choose them:

• better cushioning for long walking days
• lower fatigue
• easier on your feet if you walk a lot
• safer choice if comfort is the top priority

Main drawbacks:

• more sporty look
• sometimes less flexible with outfits
• may feel less suited to travelers who want one pair for everything

Trekking or Trail Shoes

Why people choose them:

• stronger grip
• better support on rough or uneven surfaces
• more confidence in rain or bad weather
• useful for trips that mix cities with nature

Main drawbacks:

• heavier
• bulkier
• often more shoe than you need for a city trip

2. Are Converse All Star a Bad Choice for Europe?

Not always.

If you judge only by shoe specs, Converse lose. Running shoes and trekking shoes are stronger in terms of comfort, support, and grip.

Still, that does not automatically mean Converse are the wrong choice.

The better way to think about it is this:
a shoe does not need to be the strongest option overall. It needs to fit the trip you are actually taking.

That was the case for me.

I used Converse All Star for 7 weeks in Europe, and they were fine because my trip had the right conditions for them.

3. Why Converse All Star Worked for My Europe Trip

Autumn made a big difference

Season matters more than people think.

I traveled in autumn, between September and November. That meant I was not dealing with summer heat or deep winter cold. Because of that, the weak points of Converse were easier to manage.

If I had taken the same shoes on a winter trip, I would probably judge them more harshly.

Cobblestones were not the whole trip

A lot of advice makes it sound as if Europe means walking on cobblestones all day.

That was not my experience.

Yes, I walked on cobblestones. But I also spent plenty of time on station floors, normal sidewalks, museum floors, shopping streets, and indoor spaces. In real city travel, the ground changes constantly.

That matters because many travelers imagine the worst surface and use that to judge the whole trip.

Rain was not constant

Wet cobblestones are one of the weaker points of Converse. They can feel less stable, and I would not recommend them as the safest choice for rainy conditions.

But on my trip, rain was not such a constant problem that it changed everything.

If you expect frequent rain, your answer may be different.

One pair made the trip easier

This was one of the biggest advantages.

Traveling with one pair of shoes meant:

• less to carry
• fewer decisions
• easier movement between cities
• less luggage stress on train days
• simpler daily planning

That kind of convenience is easy to underestimate before a long trip.

They matched the kind of trip I was doing

My trip was mostly about moving through cities, sightseeing, visiting museums, taking trains, and walking around town.

For that kind of travel, Converse made sense.
Not because they were the strongest shoe in every category, but because they were good enough while keeping the rest of the trip simpler.

4. When Converse All Star Make Sense for Europe

Converse can be a reasonable option if most of the points below apply to you:

• your trip is mainly in cities
• you are traveling in autumn
• you want to bring only one pair
• you prefer lighter luggage
• you care about how your shoes look with everyday outfits
• your walking days are active but not extreme
• you are not dealing with mountains or rough outdoor routes

In that kind of setup, Converse are not a “perfect” shoe.
They are a practical compromise.

And sometimes that is exactly what travel requires.

5. When You Should Choose Running Shoes Instead

Running shoes are the better option if your main concern is comfort.

They make more sense if:

• you walk long distances every day
• your feet get tired easily
• you want more cushioning
• you want to reduce strain during long sightseeing days
• you care more about comfort than styling flexibility

If you want the safest city-walking choice for your feet, running shoes are usually the stronger answer.

6. When Trekking Shoes Make More Sense

Trekking shoes or trail shoes are a better match when the trip is not limited to normal city travel.

They are more useful if:

• you expect rain often
• you will walk on rough ground
• your route includes hills, trails, or unstable surfaces
• you want stronger grip and support
• weather protection matters more than weight or style

For a normal urban itinerary, they can feel excessive.
But for mixed-terrain travel, they can be the smarter option.

7. The Wrong Way to Choose Europe Travel Shoes

A lot of people choose shoes by looking for the single “best” answer online.

That approach is not very useful.

The better questions are:

• What season am I traveling in?
• How much will I actually walk?
• Is this mostly a city trip or not?
• Do I want one pair or two?
• How much do I care about packing light?
• Will I often deal with rain or rough ground?

Once you answer those, the shoe choice becomes much clearer.

8. My Conclusion After 7 Weeks in Europe

After using Converse All Star for 7 weeks in Europe, my view is straightforward:

They are not the best shoes in terms of pure performance.
Running shoes and trekking shoes are stronger in that sense.

But that does not mean Converse are automatically a bad choice.

For an autumn trip focused on cities, they were good enough. They kept my luggage simple, worked with my clothes, and handled the trip without becoming a major problem.

So if you are asking whether Converse All Star are okay for Europe, the answer is:

Yes, for the right kind of trip.

If your trip is city-based, fairly dry, and built around lighter luggage, they can work.

If your trip is colder, wetter, longer on foot, or rougher underfoot, you should probably choose running shoes or trekking shoes instead.

That is the more realistic answer.