An Introvert's Guide to Taipei
No matter how much you love your friends that travel with you or the local people you meet on your journey, there comes a time when you need some ‘me’ time. And for the traveling introvert, this is pretty much every waking hour. So should you find yourself in Taipei and in need of some quality alone time, then follow our guide for a pain-free trip.
For the culture lover
Museum, School
Containing over 700,000 Chinese empirical artifacts, the museum is quite large, and on a sunny day, it’s nice to wander the grounds. The museum itself is usually an oasis of calm where you can enjoy the exhibitions without interruption.
For the bookish introvert
Bookstore, Library, Store
Eslite’s Dunnan branch is the only 24-hour bookstore in Taipei and has an extensive range of books in their English section. Here you can relax in the small hours of the morning and enjoy a spot of light reading.
For the nature lover
For those that enjoy their green spaces, there are plenty in Taipei, but the most famous and largest is Daan Forest Park. This green oasis set within the maze of busy streets in the Daan district offers the perfect opportunity to enjoy a spot of nature without the need to leave the city. There are plenty of green areas to set down a blanket away from the paths, so you’ll have no trouble finding a secluded spot.
If taking to the hills is more your thing, then set off for Yangmingshan National Park Visitor Center where you’ll find information on the many hiking trails that run through one of Taiwan’s most beautiful national parks. Again, like the museum, this should really be a weekday trip, so there won’t be many people there to bother you as you take a leisurely hike through the park.
For the food lover
Market
Take the Gondola to Maokong and enjoy lunch and some of Taiwan’s best tea at one of the many tea shops in the area. Head out on a weekday to avoid the crowds, and you’ll have your pick of the best places with the most spectacular views. And don’t forget your camera.
For the keep fit introvert
The city’s extensive network of riverside parks offers the perfect tonic to a day in the bustling city. There are many YouBike stations dotted near entrances to the riverside so you can hop on and hop off anywhere along the way. It’s an amazingly relaxing experience that makes you wonder if you’re in a city at all.
For the music lover
Concert Hall, Memorial, Park
If that’s too much for you, then take a walk around C.K.S. Memorial Park where the concert hall is located. You’ll find that on any given day, there are several groups of musicians practicing in the cool shade of the covered walkway that surrounds the park.
For the movie lover
Cinema, Movie Theater, Theater
Nanshan Movie Theater is the best second run theater in the city, and if you time your trip to the movies right, you might get lucky and find that there are double or even triple bill tickets available. Head there during the day from Monday to Friday, and you might only have to share the cinema with a dozen or so people.