Scenic Train route, Venice to Frankfurt/ Rotherdam

Let me see if I understand. Are you asking Frankfurt and then Rotterdam or do you mean Frankfurt OR Rotterdam. Venice to Frankfurt might be possible in one long day by train, I'm pretty sure, though, the you could not go all the way to Rotterdam in one day. And either way, Venice to Rotterdam would likely route you through Frankfurt anyway.

Going purely by the green lines (scenic routes) on the Thomas Cook Rail Map, I'd go Venice - Verona - Innsbruck - Feldkirch - Stargans - Zurich - Stuttgart - Mannheim - Darmstadt - Frankfurt. Whether the schedules at bahn.de will tell you that it's possible to do that in one day is, as already stated, a whole other question. It will no doubt be faster to go Venice - Munich - Nurnberg - Frankfurt. The first leg, via Innsbruck, will still be scenic. The Frankfurt to Cologne leg on the way to Rotterdam is really only scenic if you take the slow train.

Thanks, I think I mean Rotherberg au der Tauber, the historic town near Frankfurt. lt looks best to arrive late one night going via the scenic Swiss route and have the next day and a half to look around Frankfurt or district. However I think coming from Australia we may be better staying close to Frankfurt, so we dont miss our plane back.

I'm still confused, please clarify. You want to drive 9 hours (minimum) from Venice, Italy to Frankfurt, Germany. Stay the night. Then, the next day, drive back south 2 hours to go to Rothenburg Ob der Tauber? OR do you want to go from Venice, Italy to Rothenburg odT one day, spend the night, then go to Frankfurt the next day? Either way is scenic, but it'll make a difference on which route to suggest to you.

@Kathy - the title says train, don't think he's driving. But he does seem a bit confused about his ultimate destination.