DiliCapital

Dili is the small seaside capital of East Timor, one of the youngest nations of the world, a drowsy tropical city of wide avenues, colonial churches and palm-lined streets that runs along the beautiful bay of the island between the green mountains and the coral sea. It is the seat of the government of the newly born democracy, with its parliament, its restored churches and the moving resistance museum that tells the story of the long struggle for the freedom of the country. The beaches of the city, the seafood of the waterfront shacks and the markets of the hill above frame the easy rhythm of the capital, while the reefs and the islands of the bay give the extraordinary snorkelling and diving of the region. Quiet, gentle and genuinely moving, it is a capital with all the humility and the hope of a very young republic.

About Dili

Dili is the capital of Timor-Leste. The city's documented population is around 277,000 people. For visitors from abroad, the local currency is the US Dollar (USD) and Portuguese and Tetum are spoken; the dialling code is +670.

The Small Capital of the Bay and the Coral Islands

Dili is a serene, small capital of the tropics where the bay, the mountains and the unhurried rhythms of a young nation set a peaceful tempo. The visitor strolls the waterfront, climbs to the giant statue of Christ the Redeemer on the headland, visits the moving museum of the resistance and shares the excellent seafood of the shacks of the beach. Beyond the town the beautiful dive sites, the islands of the bay and the mountain coffee villages of the interior make the excursions of the stay. Warm, friendly and uncomplicated, it is the easy and charming doorstep of one of the least-visited countries of the world.

The Dry Bright Season, the Dollar Bills and the Modest Dress

The climate is tropical and divided between the dry, bright season of the winter months and the wetter, windier summer, with the diving clearest in the dry half of the year. The United States dollar is the currency, with the local centavo coins, and the Tetum and the Portuguese the languages, with the English on the rise. The essentials of the city are the waterfront, the hilltop Christ, the museum and the markets, and the islands and the reefs of the bay are the big natural draws. The roads of the town are easy and the pace gentle, and the dress modest and the sun respected in the heat of the middle of the day.

The Hilltop Christ, the Resistance Museum and the Boats of the Dawn

The statue of Christ the Redeemer on the headland of the Fatucama overlooks the whole bay, and the climb up the promenade gives the classic panorama of the capital. The resistance archive and museum of the city tells the extraordinary story of the struggle of 1999, and the cathedral dome and the older Portuguese church of the centre mark the sacred skyline. The morning market of the Tais textiles and the hill market of the plantations of coffee frame the trade of the capital, and the boat trips across the bay to the island of Atauro, with its reefs and its fishing villages, make the sublime day of any stay in Dili.

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Country: Timor-Leste
Population: 277,000

Capital: Dili
Region: Asia
Currency: US Dollar (USD)
Languages: Portuguese, Tetum
Calling code: +670
Country code: TL

Entry requirements for Timor-Leste

Visa status for travellers from common origins visiting Timor-Leste for tourism.

Frequently asked questions

Is Dili the capital of Timor-Leste?

Yes — Dili is the capital of Timor-Leste.

What currency do I need in Dili?

The local currency is the US Dollar (USD). Languages spoken in Timor-Leste include Portuguese and Tetum.

What is the dialling code for Timor-Leste?

The international dialling code for Timor-Leste is +670.

Do I need a visa to visit Timor-Leste?

It depends on your passport. For the origins we track, the current tourism visa status is Australia (visa on arrival), Canada (visa on arrival), France (visa on arrival), Germany (visa on arrival) and India (visa on arrival). Check the entry requirements tool for your own nationality.

Flying out of Dili? Check the entry requirements for your destination in our entry requirements tool before you fly.