Atambua Travel Guide

Atambua is a small town up in the wilds of West Timor, southern Indonesia. It is part of East Nusa Tenggara province and has very little in the way to attract tourists other than as a base for visiting East Timor.

Worth It?: Not unless you plan on heading into East Timor.
What to Do: check out some churches, see nearby beaches.
Best Time to Go: April through October.
How Long?: Half a day at most in Atambua.
Trivia: Atambua was home to 250,000 East Timor refugees in 2000.

Atambua is the capital of Belu Regency and was the center for refugees in 2000 during East Timor's drive for independence. It is home to the Catholic Diocese of Atambua and has the highest Catholic percentage in the country. As a result there are loads of churches in town to look at.

Many who stay in Atambua also head up to Atapupu for its rugged and remote coastline. The way to get around up here is by hire car with driver from Atambua or Kupang.

Travel to Atambua - Getting There

The best way in to West Timor is to fly from Ngurah Rai International Airport in Denpasar (Bali) to Kupang (90 minutes). Buses then run to Atambua from Kupang along the main Kupang to Dili highway in around 8 hours.

Atambua Things to Do

Atambua Attractions

East Timor stop-off

Atambua has no real outstanding features, being merely a stop-off point with hotels and banks on the way to or from East Timor.

Side trips from Atambua

Northern beaches: there are plenty of beaches and chilled coastal areas to the north of Atambua between Atapupu and Batugade off the coastal highway.