Around Dili

Catching a taxi from Dili Airport

When people arrive at Dili Airport, there’s usually some confusion over how to get to their hotels. Taking a taxi is just about the only option available to most people. However, a lot of travelers find themselves being ripped off before they’ve had time to unpack their bags. Don’t catch a taxi from the entrance of the airport. If you do you’re likely to be charged anything from $5 to $7 for the ride.

Instead walk out of the airport past the taxi drivers, follow the road up to the roundabout and wait for a taxi there. Don’t give the street kids any money as you go. A taxi will usually show up within a few minutes and the ride, wherever you’re going, should cost a dollar or two; no more than three.

It’s the same with any airport: far too many people jump in the first taxi they see and end up paying double what they would normally. Timor-Leste is still developing and so it’s important not to let extortion get out of hand.