Your suitcase might be unpacked, but your Italian doesn’t have to go on holiday. Whether you’ve just returned from Florence or you’re learning from home, watching Italian TV from abroad is one way to keep a little Italy in your day.
But where should you press play? Here’s a guide to RaiPlay, television for international audiences and a few extra resources for practising your Italian.
How to watch RaiPlay outside Italy
RaiPlay is the free streaming platform of Rai, Italy’s public broadcaster, with live television and an on-demand catalogue of series, films, documentaries, entertainment and archive programmes. From abroad, you can watch Rai News 24 live and on-demand programmes for which Rai holds the necessary international distribution rights, but not necessarily the full Italian catalogue.
Being in the EU does not automatically unlock the rest. Under EU portability rules, paid online content services must generally let subscribers access their home-country service during temporary stays in another EU country. For free services such as RaiPlay, participation is optional.
Do you need a RaiPlay account?
You need a free Rai account to watch full on-demand programmes. Live channels do not require registration, although geographical restrictions still apply.
To register, open RaiPlay in your browser or mobile app and select Accedi/Registrati. Complete the registration form and confirm your email using the link Rai sends you. The same account also works on RaiPlay Sound (Rai’s radio and podcast platform), so there’s no need to sign up twice.
Italian TV to watch from abroad
Rai News 24: start with the headlines
Looking for something you can switch on without choosing a series or creating an account? Rai News 24’s live stream is available abroad through RaiPlay, with no registration required.
💡 For a little listening practice, start with a story you already know. Try to follow the main points rather than catch every word, then listen again for a few useful expressions. There’s no need to turn an entire news bulletin into homework.
Rai Italy and Rai Italia: Italian programmes for international audiences
The names are similar, but Rai Italy and Rai Italia offer two different ways to stay connected with Italy. Rai Italy is a section within RaiPlay with on-demand programmes about the country, its culture and Italian communities abroad. Rai Italia is a television channel designed for overseas audiences, combining entertainment, drama, documentaries, news and culture. It is available through authorised television and streaming operators, including in Europe — not just outside the EU.
For regular viewing, Il Globo TV offers subscription packages with Rai Italia and other Italian channels, alongside on-demand content. The channel line-up and available programmes depend on your country. It’s an option to explore if you’d like Italian television to become part of your evenings, rather than an occasional clip between other activities.
💡 Turn on Italian subtitles when available, and note down two or three useful expressions. Then try summarising what you’ve watched in a few sentences, putting vocabulary from your lessons to use.
RaiPlay Sound: take your Italian off-screen
Prefer to give your eyes a break? RaiPlay Sound brings together live radio, podcasts, audiobooks and recorded programmes. Live radio and news bulletins can be heard without signing in; a free Rai account is needed for full on-demand episodes, original podcasts and audiobooks. Your RaiPlay login works here too.
💡 Choose a subject you would enjoy in any language, then try listening to a short passage twice. The first time, follow the story; the second, pick out an expression you could use yourself.
Do you need a VPN to watch Italian TV?
A VPN is not required to use services intended for overseas viewers, such as Rai News 24 or an authorised international television package available in your country.
A VPN, or virtual private network, encrypts your connection and routes it through a server in another location. Connecting to an Italian server gives you an Italian IP address, which can affect the location a website detects. However, it does not grant viewing rights or guarantee access to a particular programme. Streaming services and VPN providers have their own terms, which still apply.
When comparing VPNs, look beyond the headline offer. Consider Italian server locations, compatibility with the device you actually watch on, data limits and the full subscription terms, including renewal and refund conditions. Here are some providers worth comparing, with different features to consider.
| VPN | Features | Worth considering if |
| ExpressVPN | Italian server locations; apps for computers, smartphones and supported smart TVs; router options; round-the-clock live support | you watch on several types of device and would find help with setup useful |
| NordVPN | Servers in several Italian cities; no VPN bandwidth limits; location chosen from a map or country list; apps for the major operating systems | you’re looking for a VPN for everyday browsing as well as streaming |
| CyberGhost | Streaming-optimised servers; lists RaiPlay among its supported platforms; apps for computers, smartphones, Android TV and Amazon Fire TV | you want to compare streaming-specific server options (not a promise that every programme will play) |
| Surfshark | Italian server locations; unlimited simultaneous device connections under one subscription | you regularly switch between your phone, laptop and other supported devices, or need to cover several devices at home |
ExpressVPN tutorial
NordVPN tutorial
CyberGhost tutorial
Surfshark tutorial
Final tips for keeping your Italian fresh
Your course may be over, but your Italian doesn’t have to stop there. Watching Italian TV and listening to podcasts are enjoyable ways to revisit what you’ve learnt at Europass and keep practising once you’re back home.
💬 Turn on Italian subtitles when available.
📝 Note down two or three useful expressions.
🗣️ Try summarising what you’ve watched in a few sentences, putting vocabulary from your lessons to use.
Above all, choose something you genuinely enjoy. A favourite series, a news bulletin or a podcast can turn revision into a regular habit, not another homework assignment.
Let your favourite Italian programmes keep you curious and take that curiosity a step further with our online Italian courses. Whether you’d like to refresh what you learnt at Europass or build on your progress, continue learning with us with our online Italian courses and make Italian part of your everyday life, wherever you are.
You might also need to disable WebRTC. Rai and Mediaset are able to determine your IP with that an still block the connection
Nordvpn does not work for AppleTV
The best thing about Nordvpn provider is that they offer a free trial