Timor-Leste

The Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste, commonly known as Timor-Leste (Tetum: Timór Lorosa'e) or East Timor, is one of the world's newest countries: after a long struggle, it gained independence from Indonesia in 2002 and is now an off-the-beaten-path destination for diving and adventure. A former Portuguese colony, it is one of only two countries in Asia with a Roman Catholic majority, the other one being the Philippines.

North Coast Home to most of the Timor-Leste people, the North Coast is rich in cultural and historical attractions. The island of Atauro is famous for its dive sites.

South Coast The laidback South Coast stretches the length of the mainland, with coffee plantations, trekking and beautiful scenery at every turn.

Oecussi The mountainous exclave of Oecussi is truly off the beaten path, with ruins of the Indonesian occupation still visible and friendly locals who rarely see travellers.

• -8.553611125.5783331 Dili – the not-quite-bustling capital of Timor-Leste
• -8.466667126.452 Baucau – the second largest city, known for its colonial architecture
• -8.752222125.3969443 Ermera – the once-former capital of the Timor-Leste community is situated in one of Timor's most beautiful highlands
• -8.722754125.4354684 Gleno – the capital of the Ermera District situated in a beautiful valley
• -8.683333125.25 Liquiçá – a small district just to the west of Dili
• -8.516667127.0333336 Lospalos – the capital of Lautém district
• -8.991667125.2197227 Maliana – Timor-Leste's third largest city near the eastern Indonesian border
• -9.3125.258 Suai – contains many traditional fishing villages dating back to Portuguese colonial times

• -8.456127.17341 Nino Konis Santana National Park – Timor-Leste's first and only national park, a place rich in biodiversity (especially birds), indigenous culture, prehistoric rock art, and marine life (especially coral and coral fish). Includes the wetland-like Lake Ira Lalaro with estuarine crocodiles, Com Beach, a portion of the Coral Triangle, and the mystic, uninhabited Jaco Island.

Capital	Dili
Currency	United States dollar (USD) East Timor centavo coins
Population	1.4 million (2024)
Electricity	220 volt / 50 hertz (Europlug, Type E, Schuko, AS/NZS 3112)
Country code	+670
Time zone	UTC+09:00, Asia/Dili
Emergencies	112
Driving side	left
edit on Wikidata

The eastern half of the island of Timor, Timor-Leste, is a former area of Portuguese trade and influence which Portugal declared a colony in 1702. After the overthrow of Portugal's right-wing dictatorship during the Carnation Revolution in April 1974, the country's significant colonial empire experienced a wave of decolonisation. Portuguese Timor declared itself independent on 28 November 1975. On 6 December, US President Gerald Ford and Secretary of State Henry Kissinger met with Gen. Suharto in Jakarta, where they gave approval for the Indonesian "integration" of East Timor. The next day, Indonesian forces invaded and occupied the country, beginning a disaster of genocidal proportions.

By July 1976 it had been annexed as the province of Timor Timur. During this time, there was some support for Timor to become an Australian state, fearful of Indonesian integration, although the idea was rejected by the Australian government. Over the next two decades, Indonesia integrated the colony, with many significant positions of authority being occupied by Indonesians rather than the indigenous people. An estimated 100,000-250,000 individuals are believed to have been killed during a campaign of "pacification" during this time.

The United Nations supervised a popular referendum on 30 August 1999, in which the people of Timor-Leste voted for independence from Indonesia. After the results were announced, gangs of independence opponents, supported by the Indonesian military, terrorised the population in a civil war that destroyed much of the country's infrastructure. Nevertheless, Indonesia grudgingly accepted the result and withdrew their forces in favour of a United Nations peacekeeping force led by Australia that was sent in to re-establish a civil society and reconstruct the nation.

On 20 May 2002, Timor-Leste was internationally recognized as an independent state under the official name of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste. However, the country is more commonly known as East Timor in English-speaking countries.

Today, formal employment is scarce and poverty is widespread. Social problems include hunger, malnutrition and the deaths of children from preventable diseases. Timor-Leste suffers from what economists call "the resource curse", due to its dependence on revenues from its offshore gas and oil deposits. The country's "Petroleum Fund" funds much of the government's spending, but could run dry in the 2030s. Development has been uneven, and weaknesses in infrastructure and education are obstacles to diversifying the economy into tourism and agriculture for a more sustainable future. The country receives foreign aid, particularly from Australia, and has signed up to China's Belt and Road Initiative, which have helped underdeveloped sectors, but have not provided enough jobs for Timor-Leste's people.

"Timor" is derived from timur, meaning 'east' in Malay, and "Leste" is Portuguese for 'east', so the country's name means "east east".

Timor-Leste has a hot and humid tropical climate. November to May is the wet season. The dry season lasts for about 6 months from June to October. The temperatures average 30 °C year round in areas close to sea level, though the weather is far cooler at higher altitudes.

The wet season can damage the roads in Timor-Leste, making travel to remote areas difficult.

Tetum (understood by almost all Timor-Leste people) and Portuguese (understood by a minority of people, but the number is increasing) are the official languages, but Indonesian, which is widely spoken by adults, and English, which has a reasonable number of speakers in Dili but not many in the rest of the country, are working languages according to the constitution. There are also about 37 indigenous languages; Galole, Mambae and Kemak are spoken by significant numbers of people.

A person who is proficient in Indonesian can get around quite easily, while those who speak English or Portuguese will be fine in Dili but will face difficulties in remote areas.

Timor-Leste is a remarkably easy country to visit.

Citizens of all Schengen Area countries do not need a visa to stay for up to 90 days in any 180-day period. Citizens of Cape Verde, Indonesia, Singapore and Thailand do not need a visa to visit for up to 30 days. Everybody else requires a visa.

Visitors from other countries can obtain a 30-day tourist visa on arrival to Timor-Leste at Dili Airport, Dili Seaport and the Batugade land border crossing by filling in a simple form and paying US$30 in cash. You should at the very least have the name and address of the hotel you plan to stay at for your first night ready to tell the immigration official. To be thorough, have a confirmed hotel booking and proof of sufficient funds for your stay in Timor-Leste (if you are a Western tourist, you almost certainly will not be asked for either).

All foreigners seeking to enter Timor-Leste on a temporary visa are required to have a valid national passport with an expiry date not less than 6 months from the date of entry into Timor-Leste and must have at least one blank page available for Visa stamp.

Where applied for on arrival, the visa will be granted for the duration of stay up to 30 days, and is only valid for single entry. Extension after arrival – US$35 for each extension of 30 days, or US$70 for extension of 60 days. Extension of a tourist visa beyond 30 days requires a sponsor, Timor-Leste citizen or work-permit holder, to complete a Termo de Responsabilidade, guaranteeing your conduct and compliance with Timor-Leste laws for the duration of your stay.

Those who apply in advance for a tourist visa at an Embassy or Consulate, or who apply by email direct to the Immigration Department for a "visa application authorisation" may request a visa allowing up to 90 days stay, with single or multiple entry.

Visitors are advised to hold the necessary amount for the payment of visa fees in U.S. dollars cash upon arrival at the border. There are no ATM or credit card facilities inside the airport or at border posts, hence visitors must have US$30 in cash to pay for their visa.

Presidente Nicolau Lobato International Airport (DIL ^IATA), formerly known as Comoro Airport, is the airport serving Dili and is the only international airport in the country.

Dili is served by the following airlines:

• Aero Dili flies from Denpasar (daily), Singapore (weekly), Xiamen (weekly), Fuzhou (twice a month), Kuala Lumpur (twice weekly) and Darwin (twice weekly).
• Airnorth and Qantas both fly from Darwin
• Citilink from Denpasar
• Batik Air Malaysia flies from Kuala Lumpur

No airport departure tax is charged.

The main land border crossing with Indonesia is at Mota'ain (or Motain), 115 km (71 mi) west of Dili. The nearest Timor-Leste town is Batugade, 3-4 km away. The nearest Indonesian town of consequence is the West Timorese town of Atambua. There are also land border crossings at Salele (near Suai) on the south coast, and into Oecussi at Bobometo (Napan on the Indonesian side) and Wini on the north-east coast of Oecussi.

There is a direct bus service daily between Dili and Kupang in West Timor, Indonesia. Journey takes 12 hours. There are many land travel minibus services to cater for individuals or groups travel from Dili to Kupang (West Timor) and return. Timor Travel, Paradise Travel, Leste Oeste Travel are few of the minibus companies that provide travel services to several different destinations along the Dili-Kupang route at a very affordable prices.

From Dili, catch a bus to the border (US$3, three hours). Once you get off the bus, go through Timor-Leste customs and immigration, walk across the border into Indonesia, go through Indonesian immigration and catch another bus for your onward journey to Atambua or Kupang.

From Atambua, take a taxi (easiest done with the Maxim ride-hailing app) to the Mota'ain land border crossing for 100,000 Indonesian rupiah. Once you cleared immigrations on both sides, you can ask for the bus in the parking lots for a seat to Dili, US$10 per person (as of 2026).

There are no regular international passenger ferries servicing Timor-Leste, though recreational vessels often visit Dili harbour.

Buses, mostly of the small variety found on remote Indonesian islands, run to most parts of the country and main cities like Dili, Baucau, Maliana, Los Palos and Suai are quite well linked. Indonesian-style bemos (vans), anggunas (light trucks with benches at the back) and mikrolets (minibuses) - legacies from its 24-year rule - run from these cities to nearby villages.

Most departures take place very early in the morning and drivers have a tendency of doing keliling (Indonesian for "going round") where they spend a considerable amount of time combing the streets and scouting for passengers before actually departing.

Fares depend on the rough distance and mode of transport. For example, Dili-Aileu {39 km (24 mi)) by Angguna costs US$2, Dili-Maubisse (65 km (40 mi)) by Angguna is US$4, while Dili-Baucau (123 km (76 mi)) by bus costs US$5. Microlets within Dili and Baucau are 25 centavos per ride.

Although Timor-Leste was once a country that drove on the right when it was a Portuguese colony, ever since the annexation of the country by Indonesia, the country switched and Timor-Leste now drives on the left in right hand drive vehicles, similar to its neighbouring countries.

Taxis are one of the best means of transport in and around Dili. Fares are not very steep (US$1-3) and there are lots of them.

You can rent a vehicle (4WD) in Dili for around $85 a day. However, do be prepared for adventure - besides the tricky roads there is the lack of road signs to contend with. It is possible that you will get so caught up with driving that you miss out the great scenery around you. Most reputable car rental companies offer 24/7 roadside assistance anywhere in the country. If you are out in a remote district, your help, dispatched from Dili, will take a while to arrive.

While in Dili you will need to confine yourself to a speed limit of 40 km/h. On open roads you may rev up and touch 50-60 km/h. Tourists from most other places might find the going slow but that is the maximum speed that can be achieved on Dili roads. The legal limit on open roads is 90 km/h, and 120 km/h on motorways.

Ensure that you are carrying a valid driving license or permit with you. This can be either from your country or you can have it issued in Timor-Leste. Your licence should specify the kind of vehicle you are allowed to drive. Do drive carefully and remember that there is no provision here for third-party motor insurance.

The Oecussi Enclave, Atauro Island and Dili are well connected by ferry. A boat ride to Jaco Island will prove to be a memorable experience. An added attraction here is that the fishermen also cook fish for you on request.

Although there are airports in Baucau, Suai and Oecussi. There is domestic flight between Dili and Oecussi with AeroDili. There are small MAF planes that can be chartered to fly to these destinations, which are normally utilised for medical evacuations.

Motorcycles/scooters are a good way to see the country: you'll be able to travel wherever you want at any time, and will have a rather small responsibility in terms of a bike to park over night. Bungee cords may be purchased from Star Moto in Baucau to fasten your luggage to the bike.

Timor-Leste is well positioned for community-based ecotourism, which has been written into the nation's tourism strategic plan. The Nino Konis National Park (situated in the eastern part of the country) is a well protected area and considered as some of the last surviving zones of tropical lowland rainforest in the world with rich coastal environment. The national park accommodates bird-watching, diving, trekking and pre-historic archeological sites.

Atauro Island and Jaco Island in Tutuala attract divers, snorkelers and green tourism enthusiasts. Both destinations provide eco-lodge facilities with some support from local NGOs in the region. A must-see attraction is the local divers and fishermen in Atauro, who fish using only traditionally made goggles and spear guns. Atauro is also well known for its distinctive wooden sculptures and is an excellent place to buy variety handicrafts.

Portuguese fortresses, churches and other monuments are scattered throughout the nation. For history enthusiasts, Timor-Leste's resistance tourism which worth exploring are the Xanana Gusmao's (current Prime Minister of East Timor) hiding place, Balibo (known for the killing of 5 journalists by the Indonesian soldiers), Santa Cruz (known for a massacre in 1991), Japanese caves in Baucau and many more.

Timor-Leste has some of the best scuba diving in the world. Timor-Leste is at the end of the Indonesian archipelago, north of Darwin, Australia and at the base of the Coral Triangle, which hosts the highest diversity of coral and reef fish species on earth.

Atauro Island is Timor-Leste's most pristine diving area. Around the island is a large variety of dives suitable for every level. Visibility is always excellent, and the abundancy of fish life and coral is simply overwhelming.

Dili has some great dives close by. Only 5 min from the centre of town is Pertamina Pier, one of Timor-Leste's best dives for critters, octopus and schooling Barracudas. 10 min west of Dili is Dili Rock (east & west). This is one of Timor's most popular dive sites and it acts as the main training dive site. Known for its easy access and great conditions Dili East offers opportunities to see Leaf Scorpion fish, Angler fish and Ghost pipe fish. As you head further west towards Liquica you come to such dive sites as Bubble beach (known for its amazing bubble fields and spectacular deep dive) the gravel pit and Devil ray point. There are two major diving companies in Dili: Freeflow Diving and Dive Timor-Lorosae.

East of Dili divers can experience shore diving at its best. Easy access along the coast allows divers safe entry to great wall dives. Secret garden, K41, Bob's Rock and Lone Tree are some of the amazing dives that can be done within an hour of Dili. Approximately 40 min east of Dili the diving starts and continues as far as Com some 200 km away. The variety of dives along this stretch of road is endless yet K41 and shark point are among the favourites of the local divers.

Timor-Leste offers world-class trekking, which can be experienced near places such as Mount Tatamailau (± 3000 m above sea level), Ainaro, Mt. Matebian (Baucau) and Mt. Kablaki (in Same district).

While trekking Timor-Leste, you can keep busy by looking for some of the 260 species of birds on offer (the entire continent of Australia has some 650 resident species), 32 of which are endemic and 8 of which are exclusive to the island of Timor and found nowhere else in the world. For example, the Timor Bush Warbler was recognised as a distinct species in 2001 and it is likely that the elusive montane species can be found in the hills of Timor-Leste.

Coffee had been the main export commodity for Timor-Leste since the colonial period. Coffee is grown in several regions such as Ermera, Maubisse, Manufahi and Liquisa. Travel to the coffee plantations takes you through winding mountainous roads, until over 1,000m above sea level altitude, cool climate (as low as 15°C), and greeted by smiling farmers who are more than willing to welcome you to their homes. Other alternative is to contact one of the organizations dealing with coffee for a field visit to their cooperative farmer member's coffee plantation. They are: CCT/NCBA, ELSAA Cafe, Timor Global, Timor Corp, Peace Winds, PARC-IC and Alter Trade Timor.

Timor's coffee is now well known around the world and amongst organic coffee drinkers. It is sold by Starbucks as 'Arabia Timor' brand. Several organizations are promoting Timor-Leste coffee as Fair Trade Coffee in the U.S., Japan and South Korea.

The U.S. dollar is the legal tender currency in Timor-Leste and all transactions are in dollars. U.S. banknotes issued before 2000 are not accepted. $5, $10 and $20 notes are the most common and useful. They do not need to be in great condition but may be difficult to use if torn - the exception is $1 notes, which get torn and filthy within a few months of arriving in Dili and can be easily spent in that condition (small notes, or coins, are particularly useful for taxis, warungs and street sellers). Don't bring $2 notes (unless you want to bewilder the locals). Timor-Leste has issued its own coins denominated in centavos, which are equal to U.S. cents. U.S. coins are now rarely accepted.

Coins in Timor-Leste come in denominations of 1-, 5-, 10-, 25-, 50-, 100 and 200 centavos. These denominations correspond to U.S. coins and banknotes of equal value (1 centavo (penny), 5 centavos (nickel), 10 centavos (dime), 25 centavos (quarter dollar), 50 centavos (half dollar), 100 centavos ($1 notes and coins) and 200 centavos ($2 notes)).

ATMs in Timor-Leste dispense US banknotes. BNU Bank ATMs are the most reliable for foreigners. They accept Visa and Plus (no ATMs accept MasterCard). Try to use ATMs attached to bank branches as opposed to standalone ATMs. In some cases, the ATMs are not compatible with Asian banks; in this case, it is perhaps recommended to bring the approximate amount of money needed in cash with you, as problems with ATMs can jeopardize your travel plans.

Aromatic coffee beans and colourful hand-woven cloth called Tais are the two items that should be on your must-buy list when shopping in Timor-Leste.

Roasted coffee beans will be a great gift item, as Timor-Leste coffee is grown organically and tastes fabulous. Coffee was introduced by the Portuguese. The local way of making coffee is to roast the coffee beans until black and aromatic. Low acidity levels ensure the excellent taste of Timor-Leste coffee.

A few of the coffee varieties like robusta have very high levels of caffeine. A late night cuppa might keep you up for hours, which might put you in a fix, as Timor-Leste doesn't have nightlife options outside of Dili.

Be sure to buy your coffee in a traditional market rather than Dili's grocery stores, where the product will often be pre-ground and very stale.

Timor-Leste produces various types of weaved textiles and products for export and unique souvenir. High end and expensive tais (Timor-Leste traditional hand-weaved textiles) are made from nature-produced colors, while more economical textiles use chemical dye. 13 districts in the nation produce distinct design and colors to another. Tais markets are available in Dili; however, for antique collections, one must visit the districts.

Tais come in different designs and colours, depending on the region they are from, and they represent a distinct family. Just as Scottish clans have specific patterns for their tartans, families in Timor-Leste have Tais in specific patterns and colours. In Dili you should visit the Tais market to buy Tais and local silver jewellery. Tais can also be bought from street vendors.

The other items that will interest you are ethnic woodcarvings, batik cloth and embroidered fabrics sporting regional patterns. The ethnic woodcarvings available here are somewhat like the ones you might get in Africa.

A market can be found in every main town on the island. You may not find the huge array of shops in Timor-Leste that you are accustomed to. These markets, however, cater amply to local needs. The marketplaces give the locals a chance to meet and interact with others on a daily basis. A walk through a Timor-Leste market will help you learn about the local produce of the region. Tourists attract a lot of attention so be prepared to be stared at. Also expect to be overcharged as many tourists before you have paid exorbitant prices willingly.

Along the waterfront of Dili, you will find many fruit stalls. These stalls are mostly run by women and are stocked with delicious local fruits. The papayas, mangoes and bananas are really tempting; make it a point to try out any unfamiliar local variety.

Bills presented in Timor-Leste restaurants do not have a service charge added to them. If you feel like tipping, recognise that even a 10% tip is a lot of money to a local. In any case, the service is typically so comically bad that you should not be rushing to tip.

The staple food in Timor-Leste is rice. Commonly grown food crops include taro, cassava, sweet potatoes and maize. Beans, cabbage, cowpeas, onions and spinach are well-liked vegetables. People also rear poultry, goats and pigs. Fish forms an important part of the diet and acts as a supplement to any meal. Most traditional Timor-Leste recipes use a generous dose of spices. Mangoes, watermelons, papayas, bananas and coconuts are the most commonly cultivated fruits here. Carbohydrates like sago or other grains form the main dish for many a Timor-Leste meal.

Fried fish is a very popular dish, with prawns being considered a delicacy. Curries are a standard dish, with chicken curry topping the list as a favourite.

Many restaurants in Dili serve Portuguese and Italian cuisine and you can find Chinese, Japanese and Thai as well. Significant numbers of foreigners living and working in Timor-Leste ensure a loyal clientele for these restaurants.

Coffee is grown organically in Timor-Leste and the level of caffeine in this variety is very high. Those looking for something other than coffee can have beer, which is widely available in both pubs and restaurants.

Dili has a wide range of hotels at every price level.

Official working hours are generally 08:30-17:30, with a break for lunch from 12:00-13:30. Because most people go home for lunch, the actual lunch break is often 12:00-14:00. Some organisations work on Saturday mornings, but generally the weekends are free.

• New Year's Day—1 January
• International Labour Day—1 May
• Restoration of Independence—20 May
• Popular Consultation Day—30 August
• All Saints Day—1 November
• All Souls day—2 November
• National Day of Youth Santa Cruz Massacre—12 November
• Independence Proclamation Day—28 November
• National Heroes day—7 December
• Day of Our Lady of Immaculate Conception—8 December
• Christmas Day—25 December

Tolerance Days (national commemorative days)

• International Children's Day—1 June
• Falintil day—20 August
• Mothers day—3 November
• International Human Rights day—10 November

Moveable Days

• Ash Wednesday – (46 days before Easter)
• Holy Thursday – (Thursday before Easter)
• Ascension Day – (40 days after Easter)

Timor-Leste is generally politically stable, although demonstrations, local disputes and gang occasional violence can occur. Basic travel precautions suffice in Timor-Leste:

• Avoid large gatherings (demonstrations have had the potential to escalate with little or no warning in the past).
• Remove any visible valuables from your car if leaving it unattended.
• Women should avoid travelling alone in taxis at night.
• Women should avoid walking alone at night.

Dili does have a problem with phone and bag snatching by men on motorbikes. Keep your phones in your pocket when on busy streets and hold your bag or purse tight.

Malaria is no longer an issue in Timor-Leste.

Tap water is not safe to drink. Boil it or treat it before consuming, or drink bottled water.

There are hospitals in main centres, and clinics in many sub-districts elsewhere but medical care is not up to dealing with sustained or complex medical emergencies. Medical evacuation is often the only option in the case of complex surgery, trauma, or major illness. Travellers are strongly advised not to enter Timor-Leste without some form of medical insurance which will cover medivac by air ambulance, be this travellers insurance from your travel agent or an employer if you are entering for professional reasons.

Dili - Dili National Hospital, in Bidau Santana.

Pante Makassar, Oecussi - in town near the port.

Timor-Leste was devastated by the Indonesian occupation that may have killed up to 200,000 (1 in 5 of all people in Timor-Leste) indigenous people. Speaking well of Suharto's Orde Baru or of the idea of Timor-Leste becoming part of Indonesia will not be well received. However, the two countries enjoy a positive relationship today, and Indonesia played a key role in advocating for Timor-Leste's accession to ASEAN.

Many Timor-Leste people are sympathetic or even outright nostalgic about the period of Portuguese rule, where they were generally left to their own devices by the Portuguese colonial government. As with discussing politics abroad in all places, if you aren't sure a discussion about sensitive topics will go over well, don't bring it up.

Mobile phone service in Timor-Leste is poor by 2020s standards (and in comparison to Indonesia), although 4G is widely available in populated areas. There are three mobile phone operators: Timor Telecom, Telemor and Telkomcel (spelled with a 'c' in Timor-Leste unlike its Indonesian parent). Timor Telecom has the best coverage in rural areas, but is pricier. Telemor is the best bet if you are sticking around Dili. Plans are cheap: a SIM card plus 26GB for 7 days from Telemor costs US$3 as of 2026. Given that coverage is abysmal outside of Dili and larger towns, many Timorese carry SIMs from two operators.

• UNPOL Emergency (Police Emergency), ☏ 112, +670 7723 0635 (mobile). 
• SOS Emergency Medivac, ☏ +61 2 93722468. 
• Dili National Hospital, ☏ +670 331 1008. 
• Bombeiros Fire Rescue, ☏ +670 331 2210 (ext 203), +670 332 4019, toll-free: 115. 
• Timor Ambulance, ☏ +670 7723 6662 (mobile), +670 331 1044. 
• Dili National Ambulance, Emergency, ☏ +670 331 0541. 

• UNMIT Telephone Switchboard Nos, ☏ +670 330 4100 (From Timor-Leste), +1 212 963 0099 (From New York). (updated Mar 2025)

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