Traveling from Barcelona to Italy

The best way would be to fly especially since you have so few days to work with

Train will take all day
I don’t think there are many night trains anymore

Car rental in Spain with drop off in Italy will incur a very expensive drop off fee

The only practical way to travel between Barcelona and Italy, wherever are you going, is by air.
Driving would take forever (more than 12 hours driving) and you would have to pay a leg for the displaced return of the car (basically, a driver would have to drive it back to Spain). Travel by train is probably impossible.

Thanks for the reply!

Flying does make more sense. We are flying into and out of Barcelona! Traveling to Italy in between!

Why not fly into Italy?

If we’re flying from Barcelona to Florence Italy, does it make sense to rent a car or travel by train to Venice, then onto Cortina, then back to Florence to fly back to Barcelona?

Another option, rather than a night train, is to take a ferry with a cabin that takes about 24 hours to Genoa, then train from Genoa. Flying will take less time and probably cost less, but it is an option. May not be sailings every day.

Are you spending time at all in Barcelona?
Flying to Barcelona to then just fly to Italy doesn’t make sense- could you clarify?

From Florence take train to Venice
You might want a car for Cortina, then return it to Venice and fly to Barcelona from there ( or maybe from Bologna, not sure where best flights are)

There are frequent fast trains from Florence to Venice - 2.5 hours - faster than driving and if there's any city you don't want a car in it is Venice. Train it to Venice and then plan your onward travel from Venice by whatever means makes the most sense.

=Tod

"If we’re flying from Barcelona to Florence Italy, does it make sense to rent a car or travel by train to Venice, then onto Cortina, then back to Florence to fly back to Barcelona?"

If flying from Barcelona to Italy - which I agree is what I would do - I would look for a one way to Venice, and a return to Barcelona from Florence (which may be from Pisa airport, depending on what's available). Or the other way around, depending on your preferred route. Check google flights, or try the RyanAir website.
In this case I would fly in to Venice from BCN, then take a train to Cortona, then a train back to Florence, and then fly back to BCN from Florence or Pisa airport. Pisa would be a ~1.5 hour train ride from Florence.

We’re picking up our son in Barcelona. He’s been there for this current semester. Will likely stay there for a couple of days before flying to Italy, likely Florence. I think it does make sense to travel by train between Florence and Venice. Then rent a car in Venice to go north to Cortina. Then return the car in Venice. Fly back home from Venice to the states!

Lots of interesting suggestions I appreciate it. Something to ponder.

Consider
Florence to Cortina then Venice so you don’t have a split stay in Venice

I’m not real familiar with Cortina but maybe train from Florence to Bolzano pick up car drive to Cortina then drive to Venice to drop car

Make sure all drivers have an IDP

Florence should have 3 nighs
Venice should have 3 nights

Look for a late morning departure flight from Venice
The earlier flights are difficult to get to-not impossible just usually require additional transportation expense and time
Lots of threads discussing this issue here

Hello again! After taking the Alilaguna boat ride from Marco Polo Airport to the drop off point (I think the drop off point is called Piazzale Roma)...the best way to get from there to my hotel? (I haven't selected my hotel yet but it will be somewhere near St. Mark's Square). Likely by boat or walking...right? Don't really want to walk with luggage (even though we'll be traveling light). Any specific recommendations would be much appreciated.

Thanks

The alilugunas make stops along Grand Canal
If your hotel is near St Marks you stay on it til there

Which hotel exactly?
We can be more specific
Most Venice hotels have directions to reach them on their website

Oh no hotel yet
Once you book a hotel come back and ask for specific directions

You can fly from Barcelona (BCN)to Venice (VCE) then fly back from Florence (FLR)

Vueling airlines is really the only airline that flies to both non stop.

Ryanair doesn’t fly to FLR or PSA from BCN, only to Bologna (BLQ), which is half way between Florence and Venice.

If you want to visit the Dolomites I would rent a car at the VCE airport when you fly in before visiting Venice, then return the car in Venice at Piazzale Roma and visit Venice.

Florence to Venice is a fast 2h10 min by train. Then after visiting Florence I’d fly back to Barcelona from FLR.

Tante Grazie Roberto e Christine!!!