Croatia had been on my travel list for years, and it was even more beautiful than I expected. Brilliant blue water, ancient stone cities, waterfront dinners and views that made us stop constantly for photos. We spent ten days traveling from Split and the surrounding coast to Dubrovnik, all during a summer heat wave.
It was an unforgettable trip—and a serious test for every shoe in my suitcase.
We walked along Split’s sunny promenades, explored Trogir’s narrow stone streets, relaxed by the water in Podstrana and climbed more stairs than I could count in Dubrovnik. There were airport days, ferries, beach afternoons and dinners that began at sunset and continued late into the evening.
I packed four Elizée styles: Gemma, Brigitte, Ametista and Simone. Each one had a purpose, but they all needed to do more than work with a single outfit. When I travel, every pair has to earn its space in my suitcase.
These four did exactly that.
Gemma: The Flat That Went Everywhere
Gemma was easily the hardest-working shoe of the trip.
I wore it through the airport, along waterfront promenades and across the cobblestone streets of Split, Trogir and Dubrovnik. Croatia is made for exploring on foot. You can begin the day walking by the sea, find yourself wandering through a centuries-old passageway and then continue straight to lunch without ever wanting to return to the hotel.
That is exactly why I brought Gemma.
The soft ballet flat felt light on my feet and worked with nearly everything I packed. It was comfortable enough for our longest days but still looked polished with denim, dresses and relaxed linen outfits.
Gemma was also my choice whenever we took ferries, especially around Dubrovnik. Between walking along the docks, boarding the boats and exploring after we arrived, I wanted a flat that felt secure and was easy to wear.
I even wore Gemma for a day by the beach. It was lightweight enough to carry, easy to slip on and off and comfortable for walking between the beach, cafés and the waterfront. By the end of the trip, it had been through almost every part of the itinerary.
Best for: airports, ferries, sightseeing, cobblestone streets, promenades, beach days and hours of walking.
Brigitte: My Favorite Pair for the Croatian Coast
Brigitte felt completely at home in Croatia.
The white shimmer leather looked beautiful against the blue water and sun-washed buildings, while the wedge gave me the height I love without feeling impractical for a day by the coast.
I wore Brigitte when I wanted to feel more dressed but still had plenty of walking ahead. The platform and wedge created a stable base, which made a real difference on waterfront paths and streets where the surface could change without warning.
It became the pair I reached for when the day might include lunch by the water, time exploring and dinner without a full outfit change. That versatility is especially important on vacation. I do not want to plan my entire day around whether my shoes will still feel comfortable several hours later.
Brigitte let me enjoy the day as it unfolded—and in Croatia, that often meant staying out much longer than planned.
Best for: coastal afternoons, waterfront lunches, resort days, casual dinners and vacation outfits that need a comfortable wedge.
Ametista: The Heel Made for Croatian Sunsets
Croatian sunsets deserve a great heel.
Ametista was the pair I packed for the evenings when I wanted the full effect of a high heel: sunset dinners, special reservations and nights when getting dressed was part of the experience.
The platform silhouette looked incredible with my vacation dresses, but this was not a heel that limited the evening to sitting at a table. Its balanced construction and stable heel made it possible to walk to dinner, explore afterward and enjoy the night without constantly thinking about my feet.
That mattered in Croatia, where even a dinner reservation can involve stone streets, stairs and a long walk along the waterfront. I could have the height and presence I wanted without giving up the rest of the evening.
Ametista turned out to be one of my favorite pairs to photograph on the trip. Against Croatia’s historic streets and coastal light, it felt bold, warm and completely right for the destination.
Best for: sunset dinners, special evenings, vacation dresses and nights that deserve a high platform heel.
Simone: Rose Gold for Evenings Out
Simone was my other evening sandal—and the rose gold metallic leather was made for summer nights.
It caught the light beautifully and paired with everything from dresses to more relaxed vacation outfits. The block heel gave me a lower, stable alternative to Ametista, but Simone still had plenty of presence. This was not the quiet option. It brought warmth and shine to every outfit I wore it with.
I liked having two evening heels with different proportions. Ametista gave me the drama of a high platform, while Simone offered a rose gold block heel that felt polished and comfortable for nights with more walking.
Together, they gave me options without filling my suitcase with several pairs that served the same purpose.
Best for: dinner reservations, sunset drinks, evening walks and vacation outfits that call for a metallic block heel.
What Croatia Taught Me About Packing Shoes
Croatia reminded me that the right travel shoes are not simply the pairs that take up the least space. They are the ones that allow you to say yes to more of the trip.
Yes to walking another street because you want to see what is around the corner. Yes to taking the ferry. Yes to dinner without returning to the hotel first. Yes to one more walk along the water after sunset.
I needed shoes that could handle heat, stone streets, stairs, ferries and long days outside—but I also wanted to feel like myself. I was in one of the most beautiful places I had ever visited. I wanted shoes that felt worthy of the setting.
Gemma carried me through the airport, ferries and our longest walking days. Brigitte was made for the coast. Ametista came out for those unforgettable sunset dinners, while Simone brought rose gold shine to evenings that continued well after the sun went down.
The Four Pairs I Would Pack Again
Ten days, several cities and four pairs that covered every part of the trip.
If I were packing for Croatia again tomorrow, I would bring every one of them. Not because they were simply practical, but because they allowed me to experience Croatia exactly as I wanted: walking, exploring, dressing for dinner and staying out until the evening was truly over.
That is what a great travel shoe should do. It should never be the reason you miss part of the experience.
Wherever my next summer trip takes me, Gemma, Brigitte, Ametista and Simone have already earned their places in the suitcase.
Ametista Creme Python Leather Platform Sandal
Gemma Blush Studs Leather Ballet Flat
Simone Rose Gold Metallic Leather Platform Heel
Brigitte White Leather Platform Wedge Sandal