Sightseeing in Dili
Dili’s sights fall into two groups: views and churches along the bay, and places of remembrance for the occupation of 1975 to 1999. Visit the second group quietly and give them the time they deserve.
Cristo Rei and Cape Fatucama
The copper statue of Christ, 27 m tall on a globe, stands on Cape Fatucama about 7 km from central Dili. It was unveiled on 15 October 1996 as an Indonesian gift to what was then a province, and resistance leaders criticised it as propaganda. Today it is a pilgrimage and tourist site. A concrete staircase of about 570 steps climbs from the car park at Cristo Rei Beach, with Fourteen Stations of the Cross along the way. Cover shoulders and knees. The cape marks the boundary between the Ombai and Wetar Straits, and the cape and beaches below lie in an Important Bird Area. You can look at Cristo Rei Beach and Dolok Oan from above, but do not swim: crocodiles are occasionally seen near Dili beaches.
Motael Church
Beside the port, Motael Church is considered the oldest church in Timor-Leste and is tied to the independence movement. The current building dates from 1955. It is an easy stop on a waterfront walk.
Dare and the view over the bay
The village of Dare is roughly 10 to 15 km inland from Dili. A memorial there was built in 1969 as an Australian gift honouring Australian soldiers of Sparrow Force and the Timorese who helped them in the Second World War. The museum and cafe opened in April 2009. Entry is free and the view over the bay is the draw. The cafe may be open at weekends only, so check before you go.
Areia Branca at sunset
White Sands, or Areia Branca, is the popular sunset beach on the coast road east of the centre. Watch from the shore. The sea here is not for swimming, so ask your hotel for advice and keep out of the water.
Chega! and the Santa Cruz Cemetery
The Chega! Exhibition occupies the former Comarca Balide prison, built in 1963 under Portuguese rule. It held Timorese political prisoners during the Indonesian occupation, and the truth commission CAVR used it from 2001 to 2005. Today it holds exhibition panels on the occupation and the commission’s findings. It is open Monday to Friday and free, with guided tours. Read about its background at Dark Tourism .
Santa Cruz Cemetery is the site of the massacre of a funeral procession on 12 November 1991. Credible estimates of the dead run from about 250 to 271, and the Indonesian government’s original figure of 19 is widely rejected. The graves include that of Sebastiao Gomes. The anniversary is marked on 12 November each year. Dress modestly, keep your voice low and do not use the site for photographs of yourself. Ask at your hotel for current opening hours.
The Timorese Resistance Archive and Museum, on Rua Formosa, is open Tuesday to Saturday, from about 09:00 to 16:30, and closed on Sunday and Monday. Entry is a few dollars.
Getting around
Taxis are the easiest way to link the sights. Pay in US dollars, with small notes, because cards are limited. To compare guided options for the non-memorial sights, try GetYourGuide searches for Dili . The UK safety advice lists protests as a risk, so avoid crowds.
Read more: Walking tours in Dili and Things to do in Dili .