10 Best Things To Do In Dili, Timor-Leste

1. Visit Timorese Resistance Archive and Museum

It’s hard to miss Timorese Resistance Archive and Museum, since it’s located right in the middle of the city of Dili, behind the Government Palace and Parliament. Established in 2005, this museum has put on display the resistance and independence movement of Timor-Leste from the occupation of Indonesia, when it was still called East Timor. It might come as a surprise that in three years after the independence, Timor-Leste built a museum with this level of modernism and comprehensiveness. Ever since the day they opened the door, it’s been regularly updated and improved with a number of exhibitions being organised; the latest was on ethnographic and traditional art.

Timorese Resistance Archive and Museum

Address: Dili, Timor-Leste

Opening hours: Tue - Sat: 9am - 4:30pm (closed on Sun & Mon)

Price: 1 USD onwards

2. Pray at Church de Santo António de Motael

The locals call it Igreja de Santo António de Motael. The church is considered the oldest one in Dili and is also holds a critical place in Timor-Leste independence history. Rebuilt in 1955, the church has a robust traditional Portuguese design, with a tall bell tower and unique interiors with grey-coloured corners that made it different from other models of religious places in Dili. Even after the independence, Church de Santo António de Motael still remains important. When a crisis emerged in the country back in 2006, this church gave shelter to more than 500 people.

Church de Santo António de Motael

Address: Dili, Timor-Leste

3. Buy extraordinary fabric at Tais Market

If you’re looking for locally made tourist souvenirs that you can bring home, then you should visit Tais Market. Tais is traditional clothing mostly used during ceremonies, used for house decoration, and even as personal wear. At Tais Market, you can have the pleasure of seeing how the clothing is woven on the spot by a local woman or two. Have a nice friendly chat with the seller of the shop, and they will happily show you photos of how their families have been working on the weave for generations.

A little tip on tais shopping: some believe that the best and most authentic tais designs are usually stored at the back of the shop, so you might want to look at more than those on display.

Tais Market

Address: Dili, Timor-Leste

Opening hours: 8am - 7pm (daily)

4. Keep Chega! Exhibition on your must-visit list

Editor's Note: There's no photo available at the time of writing

This exhibition is perhaps for dark tourists. The location where this show is organised is a prison from 1963 when Timor-Leste, or East Timor at the time, was still under the colonisation of the Portuguese. The name “Chega” is a Portuguese word that means “enough”, “stop”, or “no more”. In this exhibition, you witness the dark era of Timor-Leste and learn more about their fight to gain independence.

Chega! Exhibition

Address: Balide, Dili, Timor-Leste

Opening hours: Mon - Fri: 9am - 12pm, 2pm - 5pm (closed on Sat & Sun)

5. Check out the statue Cristo Rei of Dili

This is a 27-metre (88.6 feet) tall statue of Jesus Christ, designed by Mochamad Syailillah, and gifted by the Indonesian government to East Timor. The statue is located near the beach, and many people say that it is a splendid experience climbing up to the statue in the morning and finishing the journey with a rewarding brunch by the beach. Or if you feel like you can skip the brunch and take a more leisurely pace to get to the top of the statue. You can also admire the engravings of Stations of the Cross while doing so. The view from the top is another experience that you surely wouldn’t want to miss.

Cristo Rei of Dili

Address: Dili, Timor-Leste

Opening hours: 24 hours (daily)

6. Stroll by the Dolok-Oan Beach

Many people fondly call this beach the Jesus Backside Beach, since it’s located right at the back of the Cristo Rei of Dili statue. It’s also known as the twin of Cristo Rei Beach, that’s situated on the north-western side of the icon. To get to the beach, you have to climb the mountain where the statue is located. After crossing one-third of the way, you will find concrete steps to descend to the beach. This beach is also one of the most favourite getaways for locals, especially on weekends. Families can have a barbecue and enjoying a picnic by the beach.

Dolok-Oan Beach

Address: Dili, Timor-Leste

Opening hours: 24 hours (daily)

7. Spend some time at Largo de Lecidere

If you’re looking for a place to chill during your visit to Timor-Leste, then you shouldn’t miss out Largo de Lecidere. Here you can sit and relax by the beach while enjoying the local street food and drinks (don’t miss out the fresh coconut at a friendly price). While enjoying your leisure time at this beach, you can also walk around and explore the markets. You can also stop by the restaurants for lunch, late lunch, or even an early dinner. Experience the sundown, as you may witness a fabulous yet exciting phenomenon wherein the locals start swarming the beach.

Largo de Lecidere

Address: Dili, Timor-Leste

Opening hours: 24 hours (daily)

8. Drop by Santa Cruz Cemetery

This cemetery complex might be another spot for dark tourism. The area is famous for the Santa Cruz massacre that happened during the event of Sebastião Gomes’s funeral procession. It is quite pleasant here, yet quite unusual. You also get to witness the Portuguese influence, from bright coloured graves that are highly decorated, to photos of the deceased recalling the past.

Santa Cruz Cemetery

Address: R. de Santa Cruz, Díli, Timor-Leste

Opening hours: 24 hours (daily)

9. Shop well at Timor Plaza

Timor Plaza is the Central Business District in Dili, with retail, residential, official, and lifestyle centre facilities. It’s the perfect area for commercial activities as well as travel and hospitality. There are many things that you can find at Timor Plaza complex that will make your experience in the city of Dili more exciting. You can look forward to modern-day leisure or admire cultural entertainment by locals.

Timor Plaza

Address: Av. Pres. Nicolau Lobato, Díli, Timor-Leste

Website: Timor Plaza

Opening hours: 9am - 10:30pm (daily)

10. Have a meal at Diya Restaurant

When you visit Dili, don’t miss dining at Diya Restaurant. It’s the in-house restaurant of Discovery inn, with an intimate atmosphere and a variety of dishes that can easily make your evening pleasant and memorable. Diya also offers a wide range of wine from Australia, New Zealand, Chile, France, and many other countries to enhanced your dining experience. Make sure to book beforehand, since Diya is one of the most popular restaurants in Dili.

Diya Restaurant

Address: Rua 30 De Agostu Natin Feto, Aldeia Grilhos, Dili Timor-Leste

Website: Diya Restaurant

Opening hours: 24 hours (daily)

Be an explorer and Dili will never disappoint

With their history of struggle, it’s clear that there is more to Timor-Leste besides sunshine and beaches. However, it shouldn’t stop you from exploring the beauty of its capital city, Dili, since it offers many experiences that enrich you.