If you’re learning Italian, textbooks and flashcards will only get you so far. Trust us. There’s only so much that can be covered by grammar books, and eventually you’ll have to listen to real people talk. The straightforward way would be coming to Italy and talking to people on the streets and in cafés, but we know that’s not always possible.
So, how to do? Obviously watching some really good Italian TV shows (with subtitles, at least at the beginning)! They are a fantastic way to train your ear, absorb new vocabulary and get used to the Italian accent. All while having fun.
And if you’re not feeling like watching a brand new show directly in Italian, there’s a shortcut: you can watch shows you already know, dubbed in Italian. Since you already know the plot, it will be much easier to focus on the language without feeling lost. And it’s safe to say that almost all TV series have been dubbed in Italian. No matter if you want to rewatch (again, seriously?) Friends or if you’re more into Stranger Things, they’re all available in Italian audio on streaming platforms!
But if you’re ready to jump into some original Italian series, you’re in for a treat. From modern comedies to intense dramas full of regional slang, here are our top picks for the best Italian TV shows for learning Italian.
The following shoes are great for learners of every level because they feature clear, mostly accent-neutral Italian that’s easy to follow along. What’s more, the speech is usually at a manageable pace (no confusing dialects or Italian lightning-speed speech).
Ready to find them all out? We've listed them from the easiest to the most challenging, so you can work your way up as your Italian improves!
If you’re looking for an easy, fun way to start watching TV in Italian, Odio il Natale (English title: I Hate Christmas) is a perfect first pick. It came out in 2022, not surprisingly just before Christmas, and quickly became a holiday hit. The story follows Gianna, a nurse in her thirties who tells her family she’s dating someone. The point is: she’s actually very much single. So she has just a few days to find a boyfriend before Christmas dinner. No pressure.
This show is light and charming, with a modern setting and straightforward Italian. People speak at a normal pace, and you’ll hear lots of casual expressions we use in everyday conversations. This makes it perfect for beginners or literally anyone who still has troubles with listening comprehension. You won’t need to pause every five seconds, and you’ll come away with plenty of useful vocabulary you can start to use immediately after!
This second TV show is a little more complex, but still very accessible. Guida astrologica per cuori infranti (English title: An Astrological Guide for Broken Hearts) came out on Netflix between 2021 and 2022, and it’s a mix of romantic comedy, self-help, and workplace drama. The protagonist is 30-years-old Alice, a not-so-willingly single woman working at a TV station who gets a bit obsessed with astrology, especially when it comes to figuring out her love life.
As in Odio il Natale, here too the language is pretty modern and conversational. There are a few odd terms related to horoscopes and zodiac signs, but nothing too tricky (and you’ll get to read your horoscope in Italian with zero troubles afterwards). So, if you’re a beginner-to-intermediate learner it’s just perfect for you! Bonus point if you want to watch something upbeat and full of vocabulary around dating, friendship, feelings.
Based on the popular French show, the Italian version of Call My Agent came out in 2023 and takes place inside a high-powered talent agency in Milan. It’s sharp, funny, and full of behind-the-scenes drama involving actors, publicists, and agency staff all trying to survive in the entertainment industry.
This series is a great option if you’re at an intermediate level. The language is clean and polished (no dialects, no confusing slang, just standard Italian you can hear in any Milanese office). However, you’ll hear a lot of business-related Italian, especially around scheduling and negotiations, and people having mini-meltdowns over the phone. It’s witty but not overwhelming, and perfect if you’re looking to get better at understanding faster-paced but clear Italian.
Set in late 1800s Turin, La legge di Lidia Poët (English title: The law according to Lidia Poët) is a Netflix original series telling the true story of Lidia Poët, Italy’s first female lawyer. But don’t expect something dusty or textbook-ish. It’s a fast-moving period drama, with legal intrigue, courtroom battles, and a touch of romance.
Because of its setting, the characters tend to speak in more formal, well-structured Italian, which actually helps in a sense. You’ll hear every word clearly, and even when legal terms pop up, they’re not too hard to figure out from context. This show is a sweet spot for intermediate learners who want to stretch their vocabulary a bit and hear more elegant, composed Italian without getting lost in complicated slang or regional accents!
Last on the list, I Medici (English title: Medici: Masters of Florence) is about the powerful Medici family and the political and personal dramas that surrounded them during the Renaissance. It aired between 2016 and 2019, and it’s the kind of historical show with beautiful background music, candlelit power plays, and lots of intense stares across long dining tables.
Here’s the thing: it was originally filmed in English and later dubbed into Italian. That actually makes it easier to follow, because dubbed speech is often slightly slower and more deliberate. However, the Italian is formal and sometimes a bit grand, so it’s best for upper-intermediate learners who want to get used to more dramatic vocabulary and sentence structure. It’s not everyday Italian, but it’s very well done and perfect if you like a bit of drama with your language practice.
Think you’re ready to test your skills? These next shows are not beginner material (and honestly, even we Italians sometimes struggle to keep up). They’re packed with regional dialects, fast dialogue, and cultural references but if you’re an advanced learner looking for a real challenge you might want to check them out!
Now we’re moving into advanced territory. Suburra (English title: Suburra: Blood on Rome) is a crime series set in Rome that dives deep into the city’s underworld: politicians, priests, gangsters, and all the messy connections between them. It first came out on Netflix in 2017 and ran for three seasons.
The dialogue here is fast, raw, and full of Romanesco dialect. You’ll hear slang, swearing, and speech that sometimes runs at lightning speed. This one’s definitely not for beginners. But if you’re an advanced learner who wants to hear what Italian sounds like in real life (at least in some neighborhoods of Rome) Suburra is a wild ride.
Mare Fuori (English title: The Sea Beyond) is one of the most talked-about Italian shows in recent years, especially among younger viewers. The story is set inside a juvenile detention center in Naples and follows a group of teenagers as they deal with violence, friendship, love, and loss. All while being locked up.
The show first aired on Rai in 2020 and later became available on Netflix. The language is tough as characters speak in Neapolitan dialect, which can be hard to follow even for Italians from other regions. So if you’re an advanced learner looking to hear a completely different side of Italian this is it. Just make sure to keep the Italian subtitles on.
Last on this list, this is probably the most iconic Italian TV series of all time. Based on the novels by Andrea Camilleri, Il Commissario Montalbano (English title: Inspector Montalbano) ran from 1999 to 2020 and follows a Sicilian police inspector as he solves local crimes, eats amazing food, and occasionally yells at people from his seaside terrace.
The language is a mix of standard Italian and Sicilian dialect, but the pace is slower than most modern shows, which helps a lot. Once again, if you’re at an advanced level and want something rich in regional flavor (and a little less chaotic than crime shows like Suburra), this is a fantastic option. Plus, the episodes are long, so you get a lot of Italian in each one!
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