Danish TV follows you only part of the way abroad. On vacation in Spain or Greece, EU rules let you keep watching, as long as you can prove you live in Denmark. Fly to Thailand or the US, or move abroad for good, and the picture changes. DR1 and DR2 show a notice that they stream only to Denmark, Greenland, and the Faroe Islands, and TV 2 Play stops working too.
That leaves Danes living abroad, and travelers outside the EU, without the evening news, the Superliga, or the next episode of Forræder. For DRTV, a VPN with Danish servers solves the location check, and the steps take a few minutes. TV 2 Play and the other paid services have their own rules. Here’s how it works.
Watch Danish TV Abroad: Quick Steps for October 2026
- Sign up for NordVPN, and add it to the devices you watch on.
- Connect to a server in Denmark, such as Copenhagen.
- Go to DRTV and play DR1 or DR2 live.
- Sign in with a free DR login to watch on-demand shows.
Why Danish TV Doesn’t Work Abroad
Danish broadcasters license most films, foreign series, and sports for viewers in Denmark only, and their apps look up the location of your IP address before each stream. Outside DR’s home region, DRTV’s live channels are simply blocked. EU rules soften this for travelers.
Within the EU, paid services such as TV 2 Play and Viaplay keep working for Danish subscribers. DRTV also unlocks its full catalog once you confirm your Danish residence with MitID. These EU rules cover only people who live in Denmark.
If you’re registered as living in Spain or Germany, or you’re outside the EU, the block stays. A VPN connects you through a server in Denmark first, and DRTV then sees a Danish IP address.
How to Watch Danish TV Abroad With a VPN
Install a VPN, connect to a server in Denmark, then go to the channel’s website or app. NordVPN, Proton VPN, and ExpressVPN offer apps for Windows, macOS, iPhone, Android, Fire TV Stick, and Android TV. Download them from each VPN’s website or your app store. Find Denmark in the app and connect to it.
The app confirms the connection in a few seconds. DRTV’s live channels played on all three VPNs’ Danish servers, with no DR account.
With a free DR login, on-demand shows played too. If the notice still appears, delete DRTV’s cookies in your browser, or restart the app. Old cookies can still show where you are. If that doesn’t help, connect to another Danish server.
Danish Channels and Streaming Services
DRTV is free, while TV 2 Play, Viaplay, and HBO Max are paid. Here’s what each one offers and how it works abroad:
| Service | What’s on it | Price | Travel access |
| DRTV | DR1, DR2, DR Ramasjang, DR’s on-demand archive | Free; on-demand requires a free login | Much of DR’s own archive (free login); live channels blocked |
| TV 2 Play | TV 2 channels, Forræder, TV 2 Sport | From 69 kr. a month | EU travel only |
| Viaplay | TV3 shows, Superliga matches | Paid plans | EU and Norway travel only |
| HBO Max | Kanal 5 and 6’eren on the Premium plan | Paid plans | EU travel rules apply |
Kanal 5 and 6’eren moved to HBO Max after discovery+ closed in Denmark in December 2024. DR3 and DR Ultra no longer air as channels, and their programs stream on DRTV instead. TV 2 Play has three plans:
- Basis: on-demand shows without live TV or sport, 69 kr. a month with ads or 99 kr. without.
- Favorit: adds the live TV 2 channels, 149 kr. a month with ads or 179 kr. without.
- Favorit + Sport: every TV 2 channel, including sport, 219 kr. a month with ads or 249 kr. without.
Where to Watch Forræder (The Traitors Denmark)
Forræder, the Danish version of The Traitors, streams on TV 2 Play. The main series features Danish celebrities and is hosted by Lise Rønne. A spin-off with ordinary contestants, Forræder: Ukendt grund, airs on TV 2.
Forræder requires a TV 2 Play plan. Danish subscribers can watch it on trips within the EU, but TV 2 Play isn’t available outside the EU and EEA.
Watching the Superliga and Denmark’s National Team Abroad
Superliga matches are split between Viaplay and TV 2 through the 2029/30 season. Viaplay shows three live matches each week, and TV 2 shows the rest on its channels and on TV 2 Play’s Favorit + Sport plan. TV 2 also broadcasts the Danish national team’s qualifiers and Nations League games.
Viaplay works for Danish subscribers on trips within the EU and Norway, and TV 2 Play within the EU. Neither has streaming rights outside those areas.
Best VPNs for Danish TV Abroad
1. NordVPN: Best Overall VPN for Danish TV
Pros
- Large server network in Copenhagen
- Threat Protection against malware downloads
- Dark Web Monitor for leaked logins
- Meshnet links your devices at home and abroad
Cons
- Costs more after the first term
NordVPN unblocked DRTV’s live channels on its Copenhagen servers and lost 7.3% of our speed there. It also tops our list of the best VPNs for Denmark, and it works with Netflix in many countries. One plan covers 10 devices. The whole family’s phones and TVs can stay connected to Denmark at once. For everything else it offers, see our NordVPN review.
NordVPN’s Basic plan is $3.49 a month for 27 months, paid as $94.23 up front. Renewal rises to $139.08 a year. Before the term ends, you can stop auto-renewal from your account page and decide then.
2. Proton VPN: Best for Privacy Abroad
Pros
- Yearly independent no-logs audits
- Swiss jurisdiction
- Stealth protocol for networks that block VPNs
- Built-in ad and tracker blocking (NetShield)
Cons
- Missing Smart DNS
- Free plan can’t connect to Denmark
Proton VPN unblocked DRTV’s live channels on its Copenhagen servers. They lost 19.7% of our speed, the biggest drop on our list, though that’s still ample for HD streaming. Proton VPN has no Smart DNS. For a Samsung or LG TV, install it on your router instead.
Its free plan also can’t connect to Denmark, and Danish servers come with the VPN Plus plan. Proton VPN Plus is $2.99 a month when you prepay two years ($71.76). After that, the plan renews at $83.88 a year, and its 30-day refund is pro rata.
3. ExpressVPN: Best for Speed on Danish Servers
Pros
- Apple TV app
- Router app protects the whole household
- Quick to connect
- Obfuscation works automatically
Cons
- Limited settings for power users
- Lighter ad blocker on the Basic plan
ExpressVPN unblocked DRTV’s live channels on its Danish servers and lost only 5.1% of our speed, the smallest drop on our list. It’s one of the fastest VPNs we’ve tested and a strong VPN for streaming. Its browser extension can also spoof your location when a site checks your browser’s location settings.
Its apps have few settings to adjust, and NordVPN’s apps offer more control. On the Basic plan, its ad blocker catches fewer ads than on pricier plans. A browser extension fills in. ExpressVPN’s Basic plan is $2.99 a month over its first 28 months ($83.72 total). The renewal price is $99.95 a year.
Can You Watch Danish TV Abroad With a Free VPN?
Not reliably. Only some free VPNs have Danish servers, and those usually cap your data at a few hours of video a month. Proton VPN’s free plan assigns a server automatically, and Denmark can’t be selected. Our best free VPNs roundup explains each plan’s limits.
Paid VPNs start at a few dollars a month, and our guide to cheap VPNs lists the best deals. A paid VPN also protects you on public Wi-Fi at hotels and cafés, one of the benefits of a VPN beyond streaming.
Is It Legal to Watch Danish TV Abroad With a VPN?
Yes, VPNs are legal in Denmark. In December 2025, an anti-piracy bill briefly included a clause against using VPNs to watch content not available in Denmark. The government dropped it after public criticism.
Bypassing geo-blocking (omgå geoblokering in Danish) with a VPN isn’t illegal in Denmark. Watching this way can go against a streaming service’s terms of use, and the typical consequence is a stream that won’t play.
Final Thoughts
Danish TV abroad starts with DRTV. Connect to a server in Denmark, and DR’s live channels play with no sign-in, while a free login unlocks the on-demand catalog. TV 2 Play, Viaplay, and HBO Max, home of Kanal 5, are paid services that Danish subscribers can use on trips within the EU. For the VPN, we recommend NordVPN.
DRTV played live on its Copenhagen servers with a speed loss of only 7.3%, and its apps cover phones, laptops, Apple TV, and Android TV. If one Copenhagen server is busy, its large Danish network has others to switch to.
Install NordVPN before you leave Denmark, and check that DRTV plays on each device you plan to use. For channels from other countries, see our guides to watching foreign TV channels and US TV abroad.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you watch DRTV abroad?
Yes. Outside Denmark, Greenland, and the Faroe Islands, DRTV's live channels require a Danish IP address from a VPN such as NordVPN or Proton VPN. Many DR shows also stream abroad.
Is DRTV free?
Yes. DRTV costs nothing, and Denmark replaced its media license with tax funding. On-demand viewing requires a free DR login, while the live channels play without an account.
Can you watch TV 2 Play outside the EU?
No. TV 2 Play works for Danish subscribers in Denmark and on trips within the EU and EEA, but the service isn't available outside that area.
Where can you watch The Traitors Denmark?
TV 2 Play streams Forræder, the Danish edition of The Traitors, on its paid plans. Danish subscribers can also watch it on trips within the EU.
Is it legal to use a VPN in Denmark?
Yes. VPNs are legal in Denmark, and the government dropped a proposed clause against using them to watch content unavailable there. Streaming services may still block VPN connections under their terms.
What is the best VPN for watching Danish TV abroad?
NordVPN is the best VPN for watching Danish TV abroad, with many Copenhagen servers and apps for TVs and streaming sticks. Proton VPN comes next, with Swiss jurisdiction and an audited no-logs policy.