Collect luggage and your pre-booked rental car at Venice Marco Polo Airport; you'll drive approximately 2.5–3.5 hours to Cortina d'Ampezzo (Dolomites). This single drive satisfies your plan to only drive between Venice and the Dolomites.
Settle into a comfortable Airbnb base in or near Cortina d'Ampezzo — a calm hub ideal for easy hikes and mountain views; aim for an apartment with parking.
Easy 1–2 hour stroll from town to viewpoints (e.g., Faloria cable car area) to stretch your legs and get your first views of the Dolomites. Cable cars may still be operating — check seasonal hours.
Drive ~1h to the Tre Cime trailhead and do the shorter loop or one-way to Rifugio Auronzo for iconic rock formations and panoramic views; it’s an easy-to-moderate hike for nature lovers.
Have a relaxed rifugio lunch (soup, pasta, local beer) at a mountain hut close to the trail; opening times usually 11:00–16:00 off-season — confirm in advance.
Short ride up a cable car for high-elevation vistas — great if you prefer views without long hiking. Cable car hours vary by season (often 9:00–17:00).
Drive to Mestre/Venezia and park in a long-stay car park; then take the tram/boat into the historic island — you will keep this car until you leave Italy (or return it if more convenient).
Pre-book skip-the-line timed tickets for the Vatican Museums (usually open 9:00–18:00). Plan 2.5–3 hours to see highlights and the Sistine Chapel — early entry minimizes crowds.
Pre-book a morning guided entry for the Colosseum and combined ticket for Forum/Palatine; expect 2–3 hours to explore the ruins and learn their history.
Ease into the afternoon with gelato and a leisurely visit to the Pantheon and nearby squares; Pantheon open typically 9:00–19:00 (check seasonal hours).
Early breakfast and short train/car transfer to Tirano (approx 1h from Varenna area) to catch the Bernina Express panoramic train — timetables vary seasonally so pre-book.
Board the Bernina Express panoramic train for one of Europe's most scenic narrow-gauge alpine railways through UNESCO-listed landscapes; the trip to St. Moritz is ~2.5 hours of dramatic scenery (book seats ahead).
Return by Bernina Express to Tirano and back to your Lake Como base; the entire day is a highlight for nature lovers and a top scenic train experience.
Take regional train to Milan and onward scenic rail via the Brenner Pass/Meran route into Austria — typically 4–5 hours and very scenic through alpine valleys (book longer legs in advance).
Take the Nordkette cable to the alpine zone for panoramic views over Innsbruck and easy high-elevation walks; cable car usually runs 9:00–16:30 (seasonal).
Early breakfast and transfer to the airport for your flight to Barcelona (often 2-stop or 1-stop connections). Flying is the most time-efficient option to reach Spain from the Alps.
Have a relaxed lunch and then transfer to Lisbon airport for your evening long-haul flight back to Singapore (confirm terminal and recommended check-in time 3 hours prior).