Places & Areas

1. Timor-Leste

   Ti-mor-Les-te

   Timor-Leste (East Timor)

   Usage

   The country: the eastern half of Timor island plus the Oecusse exclave and Atauro island. Tetum name Timór Lorosa'e; called Timor Timur during Indonesian rule

2. Díli

   Di-li

   Dili

   Usage

   The capital and largest city, on the north coast; the international airport, seaport and ferry berths are all here. Signs use Díli; older and Indonesian-era maps write Dili or Dilli

3. Comoro

   Co-mo-ro

   Usage

   Western district of Dili containing the international airport and Comoro market; the usual name to give a taxi when heading to or from the airport

4. Aeroporto Internacional Presidente Nicolau Lobato

   A-e-ro-por-to In-ter-na-ci-o-nal Pre-si-den-te Ni-co-lau Lo-ba-to

   Presidente Nicolau Lobato International Airport (Dili)

   Usage

   The country's only international airport (code DIL), about 6 km west of central Dili in Comoro. International flights are mainly to Denpasar (Bali) and Darwin, Australia. Tetum spelling: Aeroportu Internasionál Prezidente Nicolau Lobato

5. Porto de Díli

   Por-to de Di-li

   Port of Dili

   Usage

   The port on the Dili waterfront in the city centre. Passenger ferries to Atauro island and to Oecusse depart from here; container cargo moved to Tibar Bay port from 2022. Tetum spelling: Portu Díli

6. Feri ba Oecusse

   Fe-ri ba O-e-cus-se

   Ferry to Oecusse

   Usage

   Overnight ferry between Dili port and Oecusse (Pante Macassar). Oecusse is an exclave cut off from the rest of the country: the only ways in are by boat, by plane, or by road through Indonesian West Timor — and the road route requires Indonesian visas, so the ferry or the flight avoids that paperwork

7. Feri ba Atauro

   Fe-ri ba A-tau-ro

   Ferry to Atauro

   Usage

   Passenger boat from Dili port to Beloi on Atauro island: about 3 hours on the large ferry, a little over an hour on the small fast boats. Sailings run only on set days, so check the schedule in advance

8. Baía de Tibar

   Ba-i-a de Ti-bar

   Tibar Bay (Tibar Port)

   Usage

   New container port at Tibar in Liquiçá municipality, about 12 km west of Dili. It opened in 2022 and took over cargo handling; passenger ferries still use Dili port

9. Becora

   Be-co-ra

   Usage

   Eastern district of Dili; the bus and mikrolét terminal for eastbound services to Baucau and Lospalos is here

10. Taibesi

    Tai-be-si

    Usage

    Southern district of Dili with a large produce market and the terminal for buses heading south to Maubisse and Ainaro

11. Tasi Tolu

    Ta-si To-lu

    Usage

    Area of three salt lakes and beaches west of Dili, beyond the airport. The name means "three seas" in Tetum; westbound buses also leave from here

12. Colmera

    Col-me-ra

    Usage

    Commercial quarter in central Dili with banks, shops and money changers; a common reference point for getting around the city

13. Lecidere

    Le-ci-de-re

    Usage

    Waterfront district just east of central Dili, lined with hotels and restaurants along the seafront road

14. Farol

    Fa-rol

    Usage

    District in western central Dili — the name is Portuguese for "lighthouse". Many embassies and government offices are located here

15. Bidau

    Bi-dau

    Usage

    District in eastern Dili between the centre and Becora; the national hospital (Guido Valadares) is nearby

16. Balide

    Ba-li-de

    Usage

    District south of central Dili; the Centro Nacional Chega!, housed in the former Comarca prison, is here

17. Fatuhada

    Fa-tu-ha-da

    Usage

    Residential district in western Dili, between the city centre and the airport

18. Bairro Pite

    Bair-ro Pi-te

    Usage

    Populous district in western Dili with clinics and schools; "bairro" is Portuguese for "neighbourhood"

19. Vila Verde

    Vi-la Ver-de

    Usage

    District southwest of central Dili with government offices and schools

20. Aitarak Laran

    Ai-ta-rak La-ran

    Usage

    District of Dili where the Presidential Palace (Nicolau Lobato) stands

21. Caicoli

    Cai-co-li

    Usage

    Central Dili district where several ministries are located; also spelled Kaikoli in Tetum orthography

22. Cristo Rei

    Cris-to Rei

    Cristo Rei statue

    Usage

    27 m statue of Christ on the Fatucama headland at the eastern end of Dili, about 20 minutes by car from the centre; roughly 570 steps lead up from the base

23. Areia Branca

    A-rei-a Bran-ca

    Areia Branca beach

    Usage

    City beach in Dili just before the Cristo Rei statue; the name is Portuguese for "white sand". Small eateries line the shore

24. Cemitério de Santa Cruz

    Ce-mi-te-ri-o de San-ta Cruz

    Santa Cruz Cemetery

    Usage

    Municipal cemetery east of central Dili; site of the events of 12 November 1991. Tetum spelling: Semitériu Santa Cruz

25. Arquivo & Museu da Resistência Timorense

    Ar-qui-vo & Mu-se-u da Re-sis-ten-ci-a Ti-mo-ren-se

    Timorese Resistance Archive & Museum

    Usage

    Museum and archive in central Dili displaying documents, photographs and records from 1975 to 1999. Abbreviated AMRT; Tetum spelling Arkivu no Muzeu Rezistensia Timorense

26. Catedral da Imaculada Conceição

    Ca-te-dral da I-ma-cu-la-da Con-cei-cao

    Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception (Dili Cathedral)

    Usage

    Dili's Catholic cathedral, one of the largest in Southeast Asia; Sunday Mass draws big congregations. Tetum spelling: Katedrál Imakulada Konseisaun

27. Igreja de Motael

    I-gre-ja de Mo-ta-el

    Motael Church

    Usage

    White church on the seafront in the western part of central Dili, one of the oldest Catholic churches in the city and within walking distance of Dili port

28. Palácio do Governo

    Pa-la-ci-o do Go-ver-no

    Government Palace

    Usage

    Government building on the Dili seafront, the former Portuguese governor's palace, now housing the prime minister's office and other ministries. Tetum spelling: Palásiu Governu

29. Palácio Presidencial Nicolau Lobato

    Pa-la-ci-o Pre-si-den-ci-al Ni-co-lau Lo-ba-to

    Nicolau Lobato Presidential Palace

    Usage

    The presidential palace in the Aitarak Laran district of Dili, a white building constructed with Chinese assistance; not open to the public inside

30. Hospital Nacional Guido Valadares

    Hos-pi-tal Na-ci-o-nal Gui-do Va-la-da-res

    Guido Valadares National Hospital

    Usage

    The country's largest hospital, in the Bidau district of Dili; emergencies are brought here. Abbreviated HNGV; Tetum spelling Ospitál Nasionál Guido Valadares

31. Hera

    He-ra

    Usage

    Town about 10 km east of Dili on the coast road heading east, with a fishing harbour and a naval base

32. Metinaro

    Me-ti-na-ro

    Usage

    Town at the eastern edge of Dili municipality, on the coast road between Dili and Manatuto; site of an army training centre

33. Manatuto

    Ma-na-tu-to

    Usage

    North-coast municipality and its capital, about 60 km east of Dili on the main road to Baucau; known for its salt pans and river mouth

34. Baucau

    Bau-cau

    Usage

    The country's second city and capital of the municipality of the same name, about 120 km (3 hours) east of Dili. It has a Portuguese-era old town and beaches down the hill on the coast. Indonesian-era maps spell it Baukau

35. Aeroporto de Baucau

    A-e-ro-por-to de Bau-cau

    Baucau Airport (Cakung)

    Usage

    Airport at Cakung outside Baucau with the longest runway in the country, but essentially no scheduled passenger flights — it is used for military and charter traffic. Travel to the east is normally by road from Dili

36. Venilale

    Ve-ni-la-le

    Usage

    Mountain town in southern Baucau municipality, on the road from Baucau to Viqueque, with Portuguese-era buildings and caves nearby

37. Foho Matebian

    Fo-ho Ma-te-bi-an

    Mount Matebian

    Usage

    Mountain of about 2,315 m on the border of Baucau and Viqueque municipalities, the second highest in the country, with a statue of Christ at the summit. "Foho" is Tetum for "mountain"

38. Viqueque

    Vi-que-que

    Usage

    Municipality and town on the south-east coast; Tetum spelling Vikeke. Reached from Baucau over a mountain road

39. Lospalos

    Los-pa-los

    Usage

    Capital of Lautém municipality at the eastern end of the country, about 250 km east of Dili. Known for traditional high-roofed houses and used as a base for Jaco island and the national park. Do not confuse with Lautém, which is the municipality name and a separate north-coast town

40. Lautém

    Lau-tem

    Usage

    The easternmost municipality, with Lospalos as its capital. A north-coast town is also called Lautém (also known as Moro), so maps differ in how they use the name. Indonesian-era spelling drops the accent: Lautem

41. Tutuala

    Tu-tu-a-la

    Usage

    Village at the far eastern tip of the country, about 40 km from Lospalos. From the clifftop settlement a rough track descends to the beach where small boats cross to Jaco island

42. Ilha de Jaco

    I-lha de Ja-co

    Jaco Island

    Usage

    Uninhabited island off the eastern tip of the country, a few minutes by small boat from the beach below Tutuala. There is no accommodation and staying overnight on the island is not allowed, so it is a day trip — bring your own water and food. Tetum also writes it Illa Jaku

43. Parque Nacional Nino Konis Santana

    Par-que Na-ci-o-nal Ni-no Ko-nis San-ta-na

    Nino Konis Santana National Park

    Usage

    The country's first national park, covering land and sea in eastern Lautém including Jaco island, Lake Ira Lalaro and the area around Tutuala. Lospalos or Tutuala are the usual bases. Tetum spelling: Parke Nasionál Nino Konis Santana

44. Lagoa Ira Lalaro

    La-go-a I-ra La-la-ro

    Lake Ira Lalaro

    Usage

    The largest lake in the country, inside the national park in Lautém; its size changes greatly between wet and dry season. Home to waterbirds and crocodiles. Sometimes written as one word, Iralalaro

45. Com

    Usage

    Fishing village on the north coast of Lautém, about 25 km north of Lospalos, with a small harbour and guesthouses; a common stop when touring the east

46. Atauro

    A-tau-ro

    Atauro Island

    Usage

    Island about 25 km north of Dili — roughly 3 hours by ferry or a little over an hour by fast boat. Its reefs are known for exceptional fish diversity, making it a diving and snorkelling destination. It was separated from Dili and made its own municipality in 2022

47. Beloi

    Be-loi

    Usage

    Village on the east coast of Atauro where the ferry from Dili docks; most of the island's guesthouses and dive operations are in this area

48. Aileu

    Ai-leu

    Usage

    Inland municipality and its capital, about 47 km south of Dili — roughly 90 minutes on the mountain road. It sits on the main route to Maubisse and the south

49. Ainaro

    Ai-na-ro

    Usage

    Municipality and town in the central highlands; the country's highest peak, Ramelau (Tatamailau), lies within it. About 4 hours from Dili via Aileu and Maubisse

50. Maubisse

    Mau-bis-se

    Usage

    Mountain town at about 1,400 m, roughly 70 km (2–3 hours) south of Dili. Known for its cool climate, coffee plantations and terraced hillsides; the usual staging point for Mount Ramelau

51. Monte Ramelau

    Mon-te Ra-me-lau

    Mount Ramelau

    Usage

    The highest mountain in the country at 2,986 m, on the border of Ainaro and Ermera. Portuguese name Monte Ramelau, Tetum name Foho Tatamailau — signs and maps use both. The trailhead is the village of Hatubuilico

52. Foho Tatamailau

    Fo-ho Ta-ta-mai-lau

    Tatamailau (Mount Ramelau)

    Usage

    The Tetum name for Mount Ramelau, meaning "grandfather mountain". A statue of the Virgin Mary stands at the summit and most climbers start before dawn for sunrise. Locals are more likely to recognise this name

53. Hatubuilico

    Ha-tu-bu-i-li-co

    Usage

    Mountain village that serves as the trailhead for Ramelau (Tatamailau), about 2 hours from Maubisse on unsealed road. It is high enough to get cold at night. Also spelled Hatobuilico

54. Manufahi

    Ma-nu-fa-hi

    Usage

    Municipality on the central south coast. Its capital is Same, so maps may label the area with either name

55. Same

    Sa-me

    Usage

    Capital of Manufahi municipality, about 4 hours south of Dili via Aileu and Maubisse. Spelled like the English word "same" but pronounced as two syllables, SA-me

56. Ermera

    Er-me-ra

    Usage

    Mountainous municipality southwest of Dili and the country's main coffee-growing region; its capital is Gleno

57. Gleno

    Gle-no

    Usage

    Capital of Ermera municipality, about 50 km southwest of Dili (roughly 90 minutes by car); a coffee trading town with a busy market

58. Liquiçá

    Li-qui-ca

    Usage

    Coastal municipality and town about 30 km west of Dili on the western coast road. Signs use Liquiçá with the cedilla; Indonesian-era maps write Liquisa or Likisa

59. Maubara

    Mau-ba-ra

    Usage

    Coastal town in Liquiçá municipality about 50 km west of Dili, known for its old stone fort facing the sea and the roadside stalls selling woven baskets and tais cloth

60. Bobonaro

    Bo-bo-na-ro

    Usage

    Western municipality bordering Indonesian West Timor. Its capital is Maliana, and there is also a separate mountain town called Bobonaro inside the municipality

61. Maliana

    Ma-li-a-na

    Usage

    Capital of Bobonaro municipality, about 150 km west of Dili, set on a rice-growing plain roughly an hour by car from the Indonesian border

62. Balibo

    Ba-li-bo

    Usage

    Town in northwestern Bobonaro on the road linking the border town of Batugade with Maliana; a Portuguese-era fort stands on the hill above it

63. Batugade

    Ba-tu-ga-de

    Usage

    Border town on the north coast, facing Mota'ain in Belu Regency, Indonesia — the country's main land crossing, about 110 km west of Dili. Crossing overland into Indonesia requires an Indonesian visa

64. Covalima

    Co-va-li-ma

    Usage

    Southwestern municipality with Suai as its capital; Tetum spelling Kovalima. It borders Indonesian West Timor along the south coast

65. Suai

    Su-ai

    Usage

    Capital of Covalima on the south coast, about 6 hours from Dili over the mountains. It has a large Catholic church and an airport at nearby Suai Loro, though scheduled flights are limited. The spelling Suai is unchanged from the Indonesian era

66. Salele

    Sa-le-le

    Usage

    Border post on the south coast in Covalima, facing Motamasin in Malaka Regency, Indonesia, about 30 km west of Suai. An Indonesian visa is required to cross

67. Oecusse

    O-e-cus-se

    Usage

    Exclave surrounded by Indonesian West Timor. It has no land link to the rest of the country: you reach it by the overnight ferry from Dili, by plane, or by road through West Timor — and the road route means entering and leaving Indonesia, so an Indonesian visa is required. Full name Oé-Cusse Ambeno; Tetum spelling Oekusi

68. Pante Macassar

    Pan-te Ma-cas-sar

    Usage

    Main town of the Oecusse exclave, where the overnight ferry from Dili docks; it has the market and most accommodation. Also spelled Pante Makasar, and often used interchangeably with the name Oecusse

69. Aeroporto Rota do Sândalo

    A-e-ro-por-to Ro-ta do San-da-lo

    Rota do Sândalo Airport (Oecusse)

    Usage

    Airport at Pante Macassar in Oecusse, served by small aircraft from Dili — faster than the overnight ferry. The name means "sandalwood route"; flights are infrequent, so check schedules in advance

70. Lifau

    Li-fau

    Usage

    Stretch of coast near Pante Macassar in Oecusse, held to be where the Portuguese first landed in 1515; a monument marks the spot, about 15 minutes by car from town

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