Getting Around Dili
Dili is the capital and largest city of Timor-Leste, spread along a narrow strip of flat coastal land hemmed in by mountains. The city has grown outward into coastal areas to the east and west of the old centre, and an international port and airport both sit within the city limits. For a visitor, that geography matters: most of what you'll want to see is strung along the coast, and the practical transport options are road-based.
Is There a Rail, Metro or Tram Network?
No. Dili has no rail, metro or tram system, and none is described in the available sources. Every way of getting around the city — public or private — runs on the road network. Plan accordingly: your choices are taxis, fixed-route vans, walking, or a hired car.
Taxis
Taxis are the most straightforward way for a visitor to move around Dili, and there are two distinct services to know about.
- Yellow taxis are plentiful during the day and shuttle passengers around the city for a few US dollars, though locals typically pay less. Longer runs, such as out to Areia Branca beach or Cape Fatucama, cost more, and you may need to arrange for the driver to wait for you.
- Blue Taxi is a metered service that is noticeably cleaner and more reliable than the yellow taxis, and it can be booked by phone. The trade-off is cost: metered fares run roughly double what a yellow taxi charges for the same trip, though hard bargaining on a yellow taxi can bring the price down further.
Prices rise as evening approaches, and after dark most taxis disappear from the streets. The ones that remain tend to wait outside expat bars and will ask for a much higher fare even for short trips. Blue Taxis are often the most useful option at night. It's worth asking your hotel to arrange a taxi for a night out, or asking drivers you meet during the day whether they work nights and getting their number.
Two practical habits will save you money and hassle. First, agree on a price before you set off, and know roughly what a fair fare is for your destination — nowhere within the city limits should cost more than a modest sum. Second, carry exact change. There are occasional reports of drivers attempting extortionate fares from passengers who clearly don't know the going rate; this risk has reduced at the airport but has been reported among cruise ship visitors.
Fixed-Route Vans (Mikrolets)
Mikrolets are vans converted to carry passengers, and they run fixed routes linking the centre with suburbs such as Comoro and Becora, and beyond. They are the cheapest way to get around.
- How to board: flag one down from the roadside.
- How to pay: fares are a flat, very small amount per ride, paid to the driver after you exit.
- How to get off: rap a coin against the metal to signal your stop request.
Route maps for the mikrolet network are available, so it's worth checking one before you rely on them for a specific journey.
Walkability
Dili's core sits on a small area of flat land, which makes walking feasible in the central districts, and the old quarter on the eastern side of the city is the historic heart of the settlement. Beyond the centre, however, the urban area has expanded along the coast to the east and west, so distances between the centre and outlying spots such as the beaches can be long enough that most visitors will prefer a taxi or mikrolet. The tropical climate, with a distinct wet and dry season, is also worth factoring into any plan to cover ground on foot.
Getting from the Airport into the City
Presidente Nicolau Lobato International Airport (formerly Comoro International Airport) lies within the city limits, west of the centre. There is no rail link, so your options are road-based:
- Taxi: drivers ask for at least US$15 for the trip into Dili. Agree on the price before you set off.
- Metered Blue Taxi: this service also serves the airport. A meter fare to central Dili comes to around US$10, and less to Timor Plaza.
- Mikrolet: walk out to the main road — the one linking Dili with Batugade on the Indonesian border — and catch a mikrolet for a fraction of a taxi fare.
- Pre-booked transfers: airport shuttle and transfer companies can be booked in advance, though this is usually more expensive if you're travelling alone.
Hiring a Car
Cars can be hired in Dili, which gives you the flexibility to reach places beyond the mikrolet and taxi routes. Dili is well linked by road to the Indonesian border in the west and to Baucau, Timor-Leste's second largest city, in the east, with a road climbing south over the mountains toward the southern coast. Roads elsewhere in the country, however, are of poor quality, so a hire car is best suited to trips on the main routes rather than ambitious cross-country driving.
Arriving by Bus from Elsewhere in the Country
Long-distance buses fan out from Dili to other parts of Timor-Leste. Most leave very early in the morning and spend time circling town to pick up passengers before actually departing. Buses run west toward the Indonesian border and to Maliana and Ermera, and east toward Baucau, departing from a spot south of the stadium near the Mercado Municipal roundabout; these eastern buses can also be caught in the Becora suburb. If you're leaving Dili by bus, plan for an early start and don't expect a precise departure time.
Arriving by Boat
Dili is no longer a port of call for Indonesia's Pelni ships, and there are no regular passenger boats to Australia. Cargo ships do run to Darwin, but the shipping companies involved will not take paying passengers under any circumstances, so this is not a viable route for a visitor.