Timor-Leste
Asia · Dili · TL
Timor-Leste is the young, proud nation of the eastern half of the great island of the Timor, the first new sovereign state of the twenty-first century, a tropical country of the mountains, the coffee forests and the coral seas that sits at the meeting of the monsoon world and the islands of the Pacific. It is a country of the deep natural beauty and the extraordinary recent history, where the long struggle for the independence, the violence of the occupation and the painful recovery of the new republic give every mountain, market and monument of the land its moving charge. The capital of the Dili, the mountaintop treks of the interior and the diving of the northern reefs of the island hold the essential experience of the country, while the mountain coffee and the warm, resilient people complete the picture. Green, moving and still wonderfully unspoiled, Timor-Leste is the hidden pearl of the island world.
Overview
Timor-Leste is a country in Asia. Its capital is Dili and the international dialling code is +670. Languages commonly used in everyday life here include Portuguese and Tetum. Local currency is the US Dollar (USD). We also list 1 city in Timor-Leste: Dili.
The Capital of the Dili and the Beaches of the North Coast
The capital of the Dili, the low-rise seaside city of the north coast of the island that backs onto the mountains of the interior, is the improbable, friendly heart of the young republic, a town of the wide avenues, the Portuguese-era buildings and the burnt-orange facades of the colonial century. The waterfront of the capital, lined with the palms and the cafes and facing the coral reefs of the strait, is the social spine of the city, and the presidential palace, the cathedral and the resistance museum of the country anchor the historic circuit of the town. The markets of the capital, the handicrafts of the north coast and the memorial of the campaign of the struggle, with the turquoise sea and the mountain backdrop of the whole setting, give the visitor the warm, moving, completely distinctive atmosphere of the smallest capital of the Southeast Asian world.
The Mountain of the Ramelau and the Coffee of the Highlands
The highlands of the country, the rugged mountain interior of the island that rises above the coastal plains, hold the great green forests of the coffee of Timor, the celebrated arabica of the family gardens that threads the steep valleys of the region. The ascent of the Ramelau, the sacred highest mountain of the country, with the dawn trek to the summit and the crosses and the shrines of the pilgrims, gives the classic mountain experience of the nation, the views over the island from the peak spreading from the north coast to the far south. The coffee villages of the highlands, where the farmers dry the cherries on the bamboo tables and the long tradition of the organic production of the country continues, and the waterfalls and the terrace fields of the valleys complete the green interior world of Timor-Leste.
The Isle of the Atauro and the Reefs of the Channel
The island of the Atauro, the dry, beautiful isle of the strait a short boat ride north of the capital, is the great natural escape of the country, a place of bare green slopes, the villages of the weavers and some of the finest reef diving of the islands world. The strait between the island and the mainland, deep and clean, holds the remarkable marine life of the region, and the dive sites of the Atauro, with their walls, their coral gardens and the extraordinary fish life of the Indonesian thrust, rank among the best of the planet. The villages of the island, with the textiles of the weavers of the region and the simple, generous hospitality of the households, give the visitor a day away from the noise of the capital in one of the most beautiful little worlds of the archipelago.
The Crafts of the Weavers and the Cultures of the Districts
The textile traditions of the country, the woven cloth of the tais of the peoples of the island, are the great artistic heritage of Timor-Leste, the richly patterned wraps and the belts that the women of every region dye and weave with the symbols of the ancestors and the clans. The markets and the cooperative workshops of the districts, from the capital to the towns of the east, sell the finest of the tais, and the ceremonies of the island, the rituals of the fertility and the funerals with their horses and their headdresses, continue the deep cultural life of the people. The sacred houses of the regions, the structures of the pointed roofs of the animist world, and the languages and the dances of the many peoples of the country complete the rich, living tapestry of the cultures of Timor-Leste.
The Beaches of the East and the Pemalis of the Coast
The eastern tip of the country, the beautiful coastal region of the island that the road from the capital crosses through the palm groves and the lagoons, holds the best beaches and the wildest scenery of Timor-Leste. The famous beach of the Jaco, an almost perfect arc of the white sand beneath the tropical forest of the headland, and the snorkelling lagoons and the fishing villages of the coast carry the essence of the tropical island dream. The historic relics of the region, the fort of the seventeenth century of the east and the marinas of the pearl traders of the coast, together with the reef of the turtles of the northern shores, complete the picture of the far, unspoiled, deeply peaceful eastern shore of the island of Timor.
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- Capital
- Dili
- Currency
- US Dollar (USD)
- Languages
- Portuguese, Tetum
- Calling code
- +670
- Internet TLD
- tl
Entry requirements
Check who can enter →See which passports travel visa-free or need a visa to enter Timor-Leste.
Which nationalities can enter Timor-Leste?
Current visa status for tourism for the origins we cover, with links to the detailed requirements.
Cities (1)
All cities →Frequently asked questions
Do I need a visa to visit Timor-Leste?
For the origins we track, Timor-Leste requires a visa for tourism (Australia: visa on arrival, Canada: visa on arrival, France: visa on arrival, Germany: visa on arrival and India: visa on arrival). Entry rules depend on your passport, so confirm the current requirements for your own nationality with our entry requirements tool.
What is the capital of Timor-Leste?
Dili is the capital of Timor-Leste, and the country sits in Asia.
What currency is used in Timor-Leste?
You pay with US Dollar (USD) in Timor-Leste. Exchange rates move day to day, so check the current rate before you change money or use your card abroad.
Which languages do people speak in Timor-Leste?
The languages we list for Timor-Leste are Portuguese and Tetum. A couple of greetings in the local language go a long way when you travel, even in cities where another language is widely used.
What is the international dialling code for Timor-Leste?
The dialling code for Timor-Leste is +670 — keep the plus sign when you save the number.
Which cities in Timor-Leste do you cover?
Our guide lists 1 city for Timor-Leste: Dili (capital).