Venice to Florence - driving
 

I thought it might be nice to rent a care in Venice and drive to Florence.

How long of a drive would this be?

Is this a crazy idea (i.e. should we just take the train)

I've done both. Here are some questions for you to consider. Where will you rent the car in Venice? Is there a dropoff charge in Florence. (In Italy you never know.) What are your plans if any to do w/the car when you get to Florence. Parking and driving in Florence is a nightmare unless you know where you are going and where your car will be parked.

On the other hand, if you want to go to Pisa and Assissi and other nearby places, it's nice to have a car. Of course there are tours you can book and probably public transportation.

I remember that the train I took from V to Fl (some 10-15 years ago) took about 2+ hours and leaves you in the middle of Fl. You can book the train in Fl. If you are going off season there should be no problem getting a seat. I preferred a reserved, first class seat.

Let me no if you need more info.

Hi pamelaca, are you going to stay in Florence? If so I would take the train. Sometimes the drive can get real crowded, especially with trucks etc. And if you are staying in Florence that would be an expense that you really wouldn't get anything out of (car rental, parking etc.) If you are going to tour Tuscany at the end of your stay in Florence I would then pick up a rental car.

If you were not planning on making stops along the way to stay overnight but just want to get from Venice to Florence IMO the train is the way to go. The train will take about 3 hours. Have a fun trip!