Train from Italy to Frankfurt - Better From Venice or Milan?

"Better From Venice or Milan?" - where are you actually coming from? Rail timetable sites (for example https://www.bahn.com/en/view/index.shtml ) always find the quickest route, so you should enter the actual station you want to go from and to.

For example, which Frankfurt do you want, Frankfurt (Main) or Frankfurt (Oder)? And, if the former, do you want to go to Frankfurt (Main) Hbf, Frankfurt Flughafen or some other station in the Frankfurt area? And in Venice, I guess you want "Venezia Santa Lucia" (the one on the island).

From Milan, the quickest route is north via Switzerland. From Venice, it may be via Milan, or north from Venice via Austria and Munich. Both are similar in terms of scenery. Make sure you go through the Alps by day. If taking the Swiss route, you will be routed via the new Gotthard base tunnel, which cuts out the slower scenic climb up and down the Alps in order to save time, but you will still see plenty of mountains. You can optionally go over the old route, but it takes longer.

From Venice this is a long run (11 hours+), consider flying.

Choosing between the fastest trains that the schedule link provides, Milan to Frankfurt-am-Main Hbf in 8 hours with 1 connection via Switzerland sounds more attractive than Venice to Frankfurt in 11 hours with 2 connections (whether via Austria or connecting with the same Milan-Switzerland route).

frye,

The best route for a "scenic ride" (IMO) would be to travel from Milan to Frankfurt. As Chris mentioned it would help to have some idea where you plan on going in Frankfurt? I assume you plan on staying there for a day or two, so Frankfurt (Main) Hbf will be your destination.

One of the quickest and easiest journeys on that route will be a departure from Milano Centrale at 07:23, arriving Frankfurt Hbf at 15:08 (time 7H:45M, 1 change in Bern). That gets you to Frankfurt at a reasonable hour to check-in and do a bit of a walkabout. If you choose that train, there's a 41 minute layover in Bern, so that will provide time to stop at one of the food joints to pick up a Panino or beverage for the ongoing trip (or you could have a quick lunch, although 10:30 is a bit early for lunch).

Thanks to all for your comments. I have some flexibility since I am visiting Cinque Terre and Venice, and I could switch the order now depending on the best way to Frankfurt. One other item - I am planning to visit Munich on this trip also. Would it make sense to travel through Munich on the way to Frankfurt. I will be staying in Frankfurt several days and traveling to Frankfurt Main.