How to Ride a Microlet in Dili

by the Dili Microlet Map collective

NEED A PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION OPTION to get around Dili? Try a microlet! These minibuses are affordable, reliable, easy to use, and give visitors a glimpse of everyday life in Timor Leste’s capital.

The best Dili microlet route map

Microlets do not have set schedules or stops, but they do follow regular, numbered routes. It can be hard, however, to know where any one particular microlet is going. Introducing: our brand new and fully current…

As the Dili Microlet Map collective, we are (currently) two expats and one gung-ho tourist who want to pay it forward to others in need of transport in Timor Leste. Our goal in creating this microlet route map is to visualize the local, sometimes-invisible system so newbie, would-be riders can better plan their travel around Timor Leste’s capital city.

Updated, portable, and ready to use

Previous online mapping efforts have helped many people (tourists and residents alike) navigate Dili. But we found that – spoiler alert! – some routes are outdated on these older maps, and one new route is missing completely.

We wanted a map that was not only updated, but also more portable, so we’ve presented all routes on Google Maps. It was important to us that riders could use our Dili Microlet Map with the technology they already have in their pockets or on the apps they prefer. Using Google Maps allows people to see the nearest microlet options in relation to their own blue dot, with live location tracking. For tech-savvy users, we also provided KML files as an offline option.

Riding a microlet is easy

So how do you get on a microlet? Consult our map, get to a road that has the route you want, and wait for one (that isn’t already full) to come along. Then flag it down and get on board. When you’re ready to get off, tap your 25-cent piece (the standard fare) on the metal roof rail – that’s the ‘bell’ for the driver to pull over and let you out.

Our collective is committed to accuracy, so one patient soul did the above, over and over, in September 2023: they rode, GPS-tracked, and hand-edited all 13 microlet routes. That work is what you hold in your hand now as you use our Dili Microlet Map.

Microlet tips – send us yours

We also tapped into the knowledge of avid microlet users, pulling out the most useful tips and colorful descriptions of the experience for future riders. Check out our web page to learn more, then share your experience through the page’s feedback form.

In a growing and changeable city, we know the routes will morph with time. So, we hope the community will share updates with us and help us keep the map as current as possible for all of Dili’s adventure seekers.

Happy riding!