Our First International Trip After Our Wedding: 8 Days in Taiwan in 2022
Sometimes, a trip becomes memorable not because everything went exactly according to plan, but because of why you decided to go in the first place.
Our Taiwan trip in December 2022 was one of those trips.
We got married in August 2020, right in the middle of a pandemic that would change the way the world traveled. Like many couples, our plans after the wedding were affected by COVID-19. International travel was no longer as simple as booking a flight, packing a bag, and heading to the airport.
So when we finally traveled abroad again in December 2022, it felt like something more than just another vacation.
Taiwan was our first international trip after our wedding.
It was also our first time traveling abroad together as a married couple.
By December 2022, travel restrictions had become much easier compared with the first year of the pandemic, although traveling still required more preparation than it did before COVID-19. We had to pay attention to travel requirements, prepare documents, and accept that plans could still change.
But after almost three years of waiting, we were ready.
And Taiwan turned out to be a wonderful place for our first trip back.
Our Taiwan Trip at a Glance
Destination: Taiwan
Travel Dates: December 19–26, 2022
Duration: 8 days / 7 nights
Base: Taipei
Travelers: 2
Purpose: Vacation / first international trip after our wedding
Main destinations: Taipei, Beitou, Shifen, Jiufen, Tamsui and Banqiao
We originally planned a fairly packed itinerary. We wanted to see as much of Taiwan as possible during our eight days.
But as we learned during the trip, there is a difference between an itinerary that looks good on an Excel spreadsheet and an itinerary that actually feels good when you're traveling.
And yes, we eventually learned to leave some room for rest.
Planning Our Taiwan Trip
I have always enjoyed planning trips.
For Taiwan, I prepared an itinerary and budget in Excel before we left. I mapped out our transportation, attractions, food allowance and estimated expenses.
The original plan was quite ambitious for eight days.
We wanted to visit the famous Taipei attractions, explore Beitou, take a day trip to Shifen and Jiufen, visit Tamsui, and even go to Yehliu Geopark.
The spreadsheet was ready.
The plans were ready.
We were ready.
Well... mostly.
One thing we eventually realized was that not everything on the spreadsheet needed to happen.
Our December 25 itinerary, for example, was supposed to take us to Jinshan and Yehliu Geopark.
We didn't do it.
Instead, we decided that we simply wanted to rest and enjoy Taipei at a slower pace.
And honestly, I don't regret that decision.
Day 1 — Arriving in Taiwan
Our Taiwan adventure started on December 19, 2022.
We flew from Manila to Taiwan, arriving in Taipei in the afternoon.
After arriving at the airport, we made our way into Taipei and eventually checked in at our hotel.
The first evening was intentionally light. After the flight and all the preparation that came with pandemic-era travel, we didn't want to immediately start checking attractions off our list.
Instead, we headed to Ximending.
Ximending was a great introduction to Taipei.
The streets were lively, filled with restaurants, shops, convenience stores, street food and people. After spending so much time with international travel restricted, simply being somewhere unfamiliar again felt exciting.
We had dinner around Ximending before heading back to the hotel.
Our first day wasn't packed with attractions.
And that was exactly what we needed.
Day 2 — Exploring Taipei
Our second day was our first proper sightseeing day in Taiwan.
We started with some of Taipei's most recognizable historical and cultural attractions.
Longshan Temple
Our day included a visit to Longshan Temple, one of Taipei's best-known temples.
From there, we explored the nearby Bopiliao Historical Block, which offered a completely different atmosphere from the modern streets of Taipei.
Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall
We also visited National Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall, one of the most recognizable landmarks in Taipei.
The huge open plaza and impressive architecture made this one of those places where you naturally slow down and take photos.
Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall and Taipei 101
We continued to National Dr. Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall, followed by the area around Taipei 101.
This was also supposed to be the day we climbed Elephant Mountain.
Our itinerary had it listed.
But travel days don't always follow the spreadsheet.
We eventually explored more of Taipei and ended the day with food and shopping.
Shida Night Market
We also visited Shida Night Market, where we tried different food and did a little shopping.
One thing I really enjoyed about Taiwan was how easy it was to combine sightseeing with food. You could spend the morning visiting a historical site, ride the MRT somewhere else, and suddenly find yourself surrounded by food stalls and small shops.
Day 3 — Taipei Zoo, Maokong and Shilin Night Market
Our third day took us farther south into Taipei.
We visited Taipei Zoo, followed by the Maokong Gondola.
The Maokong Gondola was one of the experiences I was particularly looking forward to.
Instead of simply taking the MRT around the city, we got to see Taipei from above as the gondola climbed toward Maokong.
After sightseeing, we eventually made our way to Shilin Night Market.
And this was one of those evenings where the food became part of the attraction.
We had also booked a food walking experience at Shilin Night Market, so this was definitely one of the days when food took up a good part of our budget.
And honestly, that's perfectly fine.
A Taiwan trip without night-market food would feel incomplete.
Day 4 — A Relaxing Day in Beitou
After several days of walking around Taipei, it was time to slow down.
We headed to Beitou, a district famous for its hot springs.
Our Beitou itinerary included:
- Beitou Hot Spring Museum
- Thermal Valley
- Taipei Public Library Beitou Branch
- Beitou Public Hot Spring
One of the things I liked about Beitou was that it didn't feel like we were simply checking another tourist attraction off the list.
It was a slower part of the trip.
We walked around, explored the area, had lunch and enjoyed the atmosphere.
Later in the day, we returned toward central Taipei and explored several places, including the area around 2/28 Peace Park, the National Taiwan Museum and The Red House.
We also ended another day with a visit to Shilin Night Market.
By this point, Taiwan was already starting to feel familiar.
We knew how to use the MRT.
We knew where to find convenience stores.
We knew where to look for food.
And we were becoming more comfortable simply wandering around Taipei without worrying too much about the itinerary.
Day 5 — Shifen and Jiufen
This was probably one of the days I was most excited about.
We were heading out of Taipei for Shifen and Jiufen.
Shifen Old Street
We traveled to Shifen and explored Shifen Old Street.
One of the highlights was releasing a traditional sky lantern.
We actually bought a lantern and had our own little moment writing on it before sending it into the sky.
For a couple traveling together, this felt particularly meaningful.
We weren't just visiting another tourist attraction.
We were making a memory.
We also visited Shifen Waterfall before continuing our journey.
Jiufen Old Street
From Shifen, we continued toward Jiufen.
If you've seen photos of Jiufen before, you probably already know what makes it so visually appealing.
Its narrow streets, old buildings, lanterns, tea houses and mountain views give it a completely different character from Taipei.
We also experienced a tea ceremony, which became one of the more memorable parts of our Jiufen visit.
Of course, we also ate.
A lot.
There were plenty of snacks and food to try along the old street, and we brought home some pasalubong before heading back to Taipei.
By the end of the day, we were tired but happy.
It was one of those long travel days that you know you'll remember.
Day 6 — Tamsui, Elephant Mountain and Christmasland
Our sixth day took us to Tamsui.
Tamsui felt very different from central Taipei.
We explored Tamsui Old Street and spent time walking around the area.
We also tried local street food and bought some pasalubong.
Later, we returned to Taipei and finally made our way to Elephant Mountain.
The view toward Taipei 101 was worth the climb.
Afterward, we headed to Banqiao Christmasland.
And this was particularly fitting because it was Christmas Eve.
Being in Taiwan during the Christmas season gave the trip an extra layer of atmosphere.
It wasn't the Christmas we had originally imagined when we got married in 2020, but it was certainly one we would remember.
Day 7 — A Slow Day Around Taipei
By Day 7, we were already nearing the end of the trip.
And perhaps because we had spent the previous days constantly moving, we allowed ourselves to have a slower day.
We explored Ximending, did some shopping, visited Huashan 1914 Creative Park, and eventually headed to Raohe Night Market.
There was no pressure to see ten attractions in one day.
We ate.
We shopped.
We walked.
We bought groceries and pasalubong.
And we enjoyed our last full day in Taiwan.
Day 8 — Our Last Day in Taiwan
Our final day was December 26.
At this point, we had already accepted that the trip was coming to an end.
We had lunch and milk tea at the airport before our flight back to Manila.
And just like that, our first international trip after our wedding was over.
We Didn't Follow Our Itinerary Exactly — And That's Okay
One of the things I want to emphasize about this trip is that the Excel itinerary is not the same as what actually happened.
Our original December 25 plan was to travel to Jinshan and Yehliu Geopark.
We didn't go.
Instead, we rested.
And looking back, I think that was the right decision.
When you're planning a trip, it's tempting to fill every available hour.
You see a list of attractions and think:
"We're already here. We should visit everything."
But traveling is not a competition.
Sometimes the best part of a vacation is sleeping a little longer, walking around without a destination, getting coffee, eating convenience-store food, or simply sitting in your hotel room after several days of walking.
Our Taiwan trip taught us that an itinerary should be a guide, not a contract.
How Much Did Our Taiwan Trip Cost?
One of the reasons I kept our itinerary and expenses in Excel was so I could look back at how much we actually spent.
Our original budget was around ₱63,240 for two people, including the estimated costs for accommodation, transportation, food, attractions and other expenses.
Our actual recorded expenses came to approximately ₱60,387 for two people, or about ₱30,193 per person.
That's based on our records from 2022, so it should not be used as a current Taiwan travel budget. Prices, exchange rates, flights and attraction fees have changed since then.
But it gives you an idea of how much we spent during our trip at that time.
Our actual expense breakdown in the spreadsheet was approximately:
| Expense Category | Actual Cost |
|---|---|
| Accommodation | ₱10,000 |
| Food | ₱14,665 |
| Transportation | ₱3,960 |
| Attractions | ₱2,579 |
| Other expenses | ₱6,178 |
| Shopping | ₱0 recorded separately |
| Total | ₱37,382 |
The spreadsheet also includes expenses paid before the trip, bringing our overall recorded trip cost to approximately ₱60,387 for two people.
The biggest categories during the trip itself were food and accommodation.
And yes, we definitely spent on food.
Our Taiwan Trip in Retrospect
It has been several years since this trip, but looking back at our photos, itinerary and expenses brings back a very specific feeling.
2022 was still a strange time for travel.
The pandemic wasn't completely behind us.
Travel restrictions had eased, but the world hadn't completely returned to what it was before COVID-19.
For us, Taiwan represented something bigger.
It was a return to traveling.
It was our first international adventure as husband and wife.
And after getting married in 2020 and spending so much time waiting for the world to reopen, finally standing in Taipei felt incredibly special.
We didn't see everything.
We didn't follow our itinerary perfectly.
We skipped Yehliu.
We rested.
We wandered.
We ate a lot.
We bought pasalubong.
We took countless photos.
And we made memories.
Sometimes, that's really all a trip needs to accomplish.
Would We Visit Taiwan Again?
Absolutely.
Taiwan gave us a little bit of everything we enjoy when traveling: efficient public transportation, interesting history, beautiful landscapes, night markets, good food, shopping and places that are easy to explore at your own pace.
Our 2022 trip was mostly centered around Taipei and nearby destinations, so there is still so much more of Taiwan that we haven't experienced.
For now, though, this trip will always have a special place in our travel history.
Taiwan was where our international travels as a married couple finally began.
And after everything that happened between our wedding in 2020 and that December trip in 2022, simply being able to travel again was already something worth celebrating.
Our 8-Day Taiwan Itinerary
For those looking for a quick overview, this was our actual trip:
Day 1 – December 19: Manila → Taipei → Ximending
Day 2 – December 20: Longshan Temple → Bopiliao Historical Block → Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall → Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall → Taipei 101 → Shida Night Market
Day 3 – December 21: Taipei Zoo → Maokong Gondola → Shilin Night Market
Day 4 – December 22: Beitou → Taipei museums/central Taipei → Shilin Night Market
Day 5 – December 23: Shifen → Shifen Waterfall → Jiufen → Tea Ceremony
Day 6 – December 24: Tamsui → Elephant Mountain → Banqiao Christmasland
Day 7 – December 25: Slow day in Taipei → Ximending → Huashan 1914 → Raohe Night Market
Day 8 – December 26: Taipei → Airport → Manila
Note: This is our personal 2022 itinerary. If you're planning a Taiwan trip today, always check current entry requirements, transportation schedules, attraction opening hours and admission fees before traveling.
Watch Our Taiwan 2022 Videos
We also documented parts of this trip on YouTube. The videos are part of our Taiwan 2022 travel playlist and can be added throughout this article as individual videos once the video titles/links are available.
And if you're interested in seeing more photos from the trip, we also have our Taiwan 2022 album on Google Photos.
Final Thoughts
Our Taiwan trip wasn't perfect.
It wasn't perfectly executed.
It wasn't even the itinerary we originally planned.
But maybe that's what makes it ours.
We planned an eight-day trip on an Excel spreadsheet, traveled during a period when the world was still figuring out how to live with a pandemic, changed plans along the way, and learned that sometimes resting is also part of traveling.
Most importantly, after getting married in 2020, we finally got to do something we had been waiting to do together:
travel abroad as husband and wife.
And Taiwan was the beginning.
