What shoes should I bring to Morocco?

I get asked about shoes more than almost anything, and it's because people underestimate how much they'll walk and how brutal the surfaces are. The medinas of Marrakech and Fes are a maze of worn, uneven cobbles, occasional steps with no logic, mud after rain and the odd mule-deposit you'd rather not feel through a thin sole. Your hero pair should be closed, cushioned and already broken in — trainers, walking shoes or sturdy leather sneakers. The number-one footwear regret I hear is 'I bought new shoes for the trip,' followed by blisters on day two.

I'd bring a second, lighter pair for the times you're not pounding pavement — sandals or slip-ons for the riad courtyard, the pool, a hammam, or a beach day in Essaouira. They're also handy because you'll be slipping shoes on and off at riads and certain interiors, and a slip-on saves the constant lacing. Just don't make sandals your only walking shoe; toes get stubbed on cobbles and they offer no protection in dusty, sometimes grimy lanes.

Hiking boots are situational. If your trip includes a real High Atlas trek — Toubkal, the valleys around Imlil, multi-day routes — bring proper ankle-supporting boots and wear them in beforehand. But if your 'desert' is a camel ride to a luxury camp and a wander over dunes, you don't need boots; trainers are fine and you'll often go barefoot on the sand anyway (it's lovely, and warm). Sand gets everywhere, so closed shoes plus a pair of socks you don't mind sacrificing is the practical combo.

What I'd leave at home: heels of any kind (cobbles are merciless and there's nowhere glamorous enough to justify them), and anything you can't walk five-plus miles in. If you want a Moroccan souvenir, the leather babouche slippers from the souks are gorgeous and genuinely comfortable around a riad — just don't rely on them for serious walking. Pack two functional pairs, keep them comfortable, and your feet will let you actually enjoy the trip.