Find places in Timor-Leste

Must-Haves

• Cristo Rei of Dili (Cape Fatucama)
  The giant Christ statue on a headland, reached by hundreds of steps with views over the whole bay.
• Compass Charters (Central Dili)
  Whale and dolphin watching trips and fast boats to Atauro with a long safety record.

Fun for Everyone

• Palácio do Governo (Central Dili)
  The whitewashed Portuguese era government palace facing the waterfront, best seen at dusk.
• Lecidere Seafront (Lecidere)
  The waterfront promenade where families gather for sunset, grilled corn and fresh coconuts.

Off the Beaten Path

• Tasitolu Peace Park (Tasitolu)
  Salt lakes and a statue of Pope John Paul II on the western edge of the city, good for birdwatching.

Fun for Everyone

• Back Beach (Jesus Backside Beach) (Cape Fatucama)
  A sweeping curve of sand behind the Cristo Rei headland, perfect for a swim after the climb.
• Areia Branca Beach (Areia Branca)
  The city beach strip lined with shady trees and simple seafront restaurants.

Off the Beaten Path

• Dollar Beach (East of Cristo Rei)
  A quieter cove east of the Cristo Rei headland where locals swim at weekends.
• Christo Rei shore dive sites (Cape Fatucama)
  Easy snorkelling over coral near the base of the headland.

Must-Haves

• Whale watching in the Wetar Strait (Dili harbour)
  Blue whales and pods of dolphins migrate past Dili, mostly from October to December.

Must-Haves

• Timorese Resistance Archive and Museum (Central Dili)
  The clearest introduction to the 24 year struggle for independence, told through photos, documents and recordings.
• Centro Nacional Chega! (Balide)
  A former prison turned memorial and exhibition centre on the truth and reconciliation process.
• Santa Cruz Cemetery (Santa Cruz)
  The cemetery where the 1991 massacre took place, a moving site at the heart of the nation's story.

Off the Beaten Path

• Motael Church (Lecidere)
  The historic seafront church whose 1991 memorial mass led to the Santa Cruz procession.

Fun for Everyone

• Immaculate Conception Cathedral (Central Dili)
  The large cathedral consecrated by Pope John Paul II, busy and joyful at Sunday mass.

Must-Haves

• Tais Market (Colmera)
  Stalls of handwoven tais textiles from every municipality, the best souvenir in the country.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Taibessi Market (Taibessi)
  The big fresh market for fruit, vegetables, spices and everyday life in the capital.
• Lita Store (Central Dili)
  A long running supermarket for imported basics, snacks and supplies.

Fun for Everyone

• Timor Plaza (Comoro)
  The modern mall with a supermarket, food court, phone shops and ATMs.

Must-Haves

• Letefoho Specialty Coffee (Central Dili)
  Single origin Timorese coffee from the hills of Ermera, roasted and brewed with care.

Fun for Everyone

• Agora Food Studio (Farol)
  A training kitchen and café serving modern Timorese dishes made with local produce.

Great for Date Night

• Caz Bar (Areia Branca)
  Beachfront tables under the trees with grilled fish and a famous sunset view.
• Castaway Bar (Central Dili)
  A long running upstairs bar and restaurant facing the harbour with pizzas and cocktails.

Must-Haves

• Hotel Esplanada Restaurant (Central Dili)
  Seafront dining on a terrace at one of Dili's best known hotels.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Dili fish stalls on the beach road (Areia Branca)
  Evening grills where families cook the day's catch over coconut husks.

Fun for Everyone

• Timor Plaza Food Court (Comoro)
  Easy, affordable Asian and local dishes under one roof.

Must-Haves

• Hotel Timor (Central Dili)
  The city's long established business hotel, central and reliable.
• Timor Lodge Hotel (Comoro)
  A garden hotel near the airport with a pool, handy for early flights.

Great for Date Night

• Novo Turismo Resort and Spa (Lecidere)
  A resort style hotel with a pool and spa near the seafront.

Fun for Everyone

• Hotel Esplanada (Central Dili)
  A seafront hotel with sea views and an easy walk to the waterfront.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Discovery Inn (Central Dili)
  A central mid-range hotel close to cafés and the Resistance Museum.

Must-Haves

• Restoration of Independence Day (Across Dili)
  Parades and celebrations every 20 May marking independence in 2002.
• Popular Consultation Day (Across Dili)
  Every 30 August the country remembers the 1999 vote for independence.

Off the Beaten Path

• Santa Cruz Memorial Day (Santa Cruz)
  Every 12 November a procession and mass honour those killed in 1991.

Fun for Everyone

• Christmas and Easter processions (Across Dili)
  Deeply Catholic celebrations with candlelit processions and family gatherings.

Must-Haves

• Beloi reef (Beloi)
  Snorkel straight from the beach over coral walls full of fish.
• Atauro diving off Akrema (Akrema)
  Some of the highest reef fish diversity ever recorded, on the island's west coast.

Off the Beaten Path

• Mount Manucoco hike (Central Atauro)
  A climb to the island's highest point with views back to the mainland.

Fun for Everyone

• Snorkelling at Vila (Vila)
  Calm shallow water and coral right in front of the village.

Great for Date Night

• Sunset at Beloi beach (Beloi)
  Watch the light fade over the strait with Dili twinkling across the water.

Must-Haves

• Barry's Place (Beloi)
  A long running eco lodge of thatched huts beside the beach and reef.

Great for Date Night

• Atauro Dive Resort (Adara)
  Bungalows and a dive base on the island's remote western shore.

Off the Beaten Path

• Beloi Beach Hotel (Beloi)
  Clean, quiet rooms near the ferry landing with sea views.

Must-Haves

• Boneca de Atauro (Vila)
  A women's cooperative making colourful handmade dolls and crafts.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Beloi Saturday Market (Beloi)
  The weekly market where islanders sell fish, produce and carvings as the boats arrive.

Off the Beaten Path

• Atauro woodcarvers of Beloi (Beloi)
  Family workshops carving the island's traditional figures.

Fun for Everyone

• Boat trip to Adara (West coast)
  A boat ride around the coast to drop offs and quiet beaches.

Off the Beaten Path

• Walk from Beloi to Vila (East coast)
  An easy coastal walk between the two main villages past fishing boats and coral beaches.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Berlin Nakroma ferry (Dili to Beloi)
  The government passenger ferry, slow, cheap and full of island life.

Off the Beaten Path

• Sunday church in Vila (Vila)
  Hear the island's Protestant choirs, one of Atauro's quiet joys.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Barry's Place communal meals (Beloi)
  Shared family style dinners of fish and vegetables with other guests.

Must-Haves

• Pousada de Baucau (Old Town)
  A pink Portuguese era guesthouse with a pool and view over the sea.

Must-Haves

• Baucau Old Market (Mercado Municipal) (Old Town)
  The grand Portuguese colonial market building, the town's best known landmark.

Must-Haves

• Osolata Beach (Below Baucau)
  A white sand beach reached by a winding road down from town.

Fun for Everyone

• Wataboo Beach (Below Baucau)
  Turquoise water and shady trees, popular with families at weekends.

Off the Beaten Path

• Baucau spring pool (Old Town)
  A natural spring where locals swim in cool clear water.
• Mount Matebian (Between Baucau and Viqueque)
  The sacred mountain of the dead, climbed by pilgrims each November.
• Laga coast (Laga)
  Fishing villages and traditional houses on the coast road east.

Off the Beaten Path

• Venilale Japanese caves (Venilale)
  Tunnels dug during the Second World War occupation, in a pretty hill town.

Fun for Everyone

• Baucau Cathedral (Baucau)
  The large hilltop church at the centre of local life.

Must-Haves

• Pousada de Baucau restaurant (Old Town)
  Portuguese and Timorese dishes on a terrace overlooking the coast.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Baucau market food stalls (New Town)
  Rice, grilled fish and fried snacks at local prices.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Baucau New Market (New Town)
  The busy fresh market where farmers from the hills sell their harvest.

Off the Beaten Path

• All Souls pilgrimage to Matebian (Matebian)
  Early November, when families honour their dead on All Souls' Day.

Must-Haves

• Pousada de Maubisse (Maubisse)
  A hilltop Portuguese era guesthouse with sweeping views over the mountains.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Hatubuilico guesthouses (Hatubuilico)
  Simple family homestays at the foot of Mount Ramelau.

Must-Haves

• Mount Ramelau (Tatamailau) (Hatubuilico)
  The country's highest peak, climbed in the dark for sunrise over both coasts.

Fun for Everyone

• Maubisse coffee plantations (Maubisse)
  Shade grown arabica on the slopes, with walks through the plantations.

Off the Beaten Path

• Hatubuilico village walks (Hatubuilico)
  Traditional houses, horses and cold clear mornings in the highlands.

Must-Haves

• Virgin Mary statue on Ramelau (Ramelau summit)
  A white statue on the summit and a place of pilgrimage for Timorese Catholics.

Off the Beaten Path

• Traditional sacred houses (uma lulik) (Maubisse)
  The tall thatched clan houses that hold the region's heritage.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Maubisse Sunday market (Maubisse)
  Farmers come down from the hills to sell vegetables, coffee and livestock.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Pousada de Maubisse kitchen (Maubisse)
  Hearty set meals with a view, the best food in town.

Off the Beaten Path

• Aileu mountain road (Aileu)
  A winding drive through pine forest and villages on the way from Dili.

Must-Haves

• Jaco Island (Nino Konis Santana National Park)
  A sacred, uninhabited island of white sand and coral, reached by a short boat ride.
• Valu Beach (Tutuala)
  The beach facing Jaco Island where local fishermen run boats across.

Off the Beaten Path

• Lake Ira Lalaro (Lautem)
  A wild seasonal lake in the national park, good for birdwatching.

Fun for Everyone

• Nino Konis Santana National Park (Lautem)
  The country's first national park, with forest, reefs and sacred sites.
• Com Beach (Com)
  A long beach with clear water near a fishing village.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Valu Sere community huts (Tutuala)
  Simple beach shelters run by the local community, opposite Jaco.

Fun for Everyone

• Com Beach Resort (Com)
  A beachside base on the way to Jaco with snorkelling off the shore.

Must-Haves

• Ile Kére Kére rock art (Tutuala)
  Ancient red ochre paintings in a cliff shelter, among the oldest art in the region.

Off the Beaten Path

• Lautem traditional houses (Lautem)
  Striking stilted houses with tall pointed roofs along the road to Tutuala.

Fun for Everyone

• Lospalos town (Lospalos)
  The regional centre, with markets and fuel before the final stretch east.