National Stadium
Mostly used for football matches.
Clock Tower Roundabout
Its hard to miss this retro-futuristic landmark.
Palácio do Governo
The grand, white Palácio do Governo (Government House) dominates the centre of town.
Largo de Lecidere
Locals converge in the parks undercover area (with power sockets available for laptops) to make use of the free wi-fi.
Farol Lighthouse
The Farol Lighthouse beams northwest of Dilis seaport. Its not possible to go inside, but it makes for a nice photo stop.
Lospalos Cultural Centre
A small gallery with cultural presentations available on request. Its in the centre of town next to the the old market.
UN House
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) assists the Timorese people to move from post-conflict recovery towards sustainable development.
Integration Monument
Opposite the main wharf, the Indonesian-installed Integration Monument represents an angst-ridden Timorese breaking the chains of colonialism.
Afalyca Community Art Centre
This is a small gallery and can arrange traditional dance performances. Its on the left heading into Old Town from Dili. When we dropped by in 2015 it was looking to relocate.
Xanana Cultural Centre
This complex houses Xanana Gusmão memorabilia, a photography exhibition, and the closest thing youll find to a tourist info centre in Timor-Leste in its main, colonial-era building, with a library and free internet cafe out back. Artwork on display includes those Xanana Gusmão pain
Arte Moris
Quirky is one way to describe this art space housed in the grounds of Dili’s domed, Indonesian-era museum. Beyond the oddball outdoor sculptures, youll find a collection of modern works, from woodcarvings to paintings sprayed onto tais (woven cloth) housed on the ground floor. The
Old Town
The colonial buildings in Baucaus Old Town have fared better than those in other villages. Its grand, canary-yellow mercado municipal (municipal market) was recently renovated, but is now a government office, so can only be admired from the outside. The Old Town market has been rel
Santa Cruz Massacre Memorial Monument
It lacks an inscription or an official name, but the location opposite Motael Church offers a clue: independence supporter Sebastião Gomes was shot by Indonesian forces outside the church on 28 October 1991. Following Gomes funeral service on 12 November, the congregation marched t
Balibo Flag House
Commemorating the five Australian-based journalists who were killed by Indonesian Special Forces on 16 October 1975 while reporting on Indonesians invasion of East Timor, this house in Balibo, where they stayed, also serves also as a community centre. Press play on the DVD player t
Waterfront
From children kicking around half-deflated soccer balls to boatmen reading the weather conditions opposite the grand Palácio do Governo (Government House), Dilis waterfront offers a great glimpse into local life. It stretches for kilometres in a quasi-boomerang shape, with a promen
Santa Cruz Cemetery
On 12 November 1991, Indonesian soldiers fired on a peaceful memorial procession to this cemetery. Exact figures aren’t known, but it’s estimated that more than 250 civilians (mostly students) died, many of them after they were rounded up and trucked away by the military. British j
Chega! Exhibition
Set in the buildings and cells of a Portuguese-era prison where hundreds of resistance figures were interned by the Indonesian military, the exhibition (chega means stop or no more in Portuguese) gives a glimpse of the realities of the notorious prison. The nondescript exhibition s
Cristo Rei
Around 7km east of town on Cape Fatucama is the hard-to-miss Cristo Rei, a popular morning and evening exercise spot for locals and expats. From the cape, the views of turquoise bays and mountains are stunning. As you climb the well-marked path up to the statue (590 steps), look fo
Resistance Museum
This excellent museum commemorates Timor-Lestes 24-year struggle against the Indonesian occupation. The story of Falintil’s resistance is brought to life with a timeline, photos, video recordings and exhibits of the weapons and tools of communication the East Timorese used in their
Doing business & staying in touch while in East Timor
East Timor: Doing business & staying in touch
