Whenever I think of tourist attractions in Taoyuan, the first thing that comes to mind is plane spotting at Taoyuan Airport. Although there is currently no observation deck inside the airport terminal, there are several scenic restaurants in Dayuan near Taoyuan Airport, including Miracle Coffee Field, Terminal 3 Café, Dayuan 101 Scenic Restaurant, and the plane spotting area on the south runway. These places not only allow photographers and aviation enthusiasts to watch and photograph planes up close, but also provide parents with additional options for family outings during holidays.
The three scenic restaurants in Dayuan, Taoyuan, that I will be discussing in this article are places I have personally visited within the past year. I will share the pros and cons of each location, along with actual photos, to help readers compare and choose their preferred plane spotting location. Since these restaurants are still some distance from the airport, I recommend bringing a lens with a focal length of over 200mm for clear plane photography.
Miracle Coffee Field
Plane spotting at Miracle Coffee Field in Taoyuan.
Miracle Coffee Field is located near the north runway of Taoyuan Airport, offering a side view of planes taking off and landing. A lens with a focal length of over 200mm is recommended to capture the full view of the planes (as shown in the photo above). However, the direction of takeoffs and landings varies daily depending on the wind direction. If the wind is favorable for takeoffs, the restaurant’s location allows for better angles of planes taking off.
Miracle Coffee Field is often crowded during holidays.
| Miracle Coffee Field Information: Address: No. 746, Section 2, International Road, Dayuan District, Taoyuan City Phone: 03-383 0779 Business hours: 11:00 – 0:00 Minimum charge per person: 100 TWD |
Terminal 3 Café
Plane spotting at Terminal 3 Café.
Terminal 3 Café is a scenic café located on the south runway side of Taoyuan Airport. The café has a strong Mediterranean architectural style and is a two-story building with both indoor and outdoor dining areas. As Terminal 3 Café is directly in front of the landing area on the west side of the south runway, you can watch planes landing on the south runway up close. However, if the south runway is being used for takeoffs that day, the planes will already be some distance away by the time they take off from the middle of the runway. But since the A380 can only land via the south runway, Terminal 3 Café is the top choice among nearby cafés for experiencing the thrill of an A380 roaring overhead.
At Terminal 3 Café, you can experience the thrill of an A380 roaring overhead up close.
| Terminal 3 Café Information: Address: No. 6-3, Neighborhood 15, Haifeng Slope, Puxin Village, Dayuan District, Taoyuan City Phone: 03-381 9969 Business hours: 10:00 – 0:00 Minimum charge per person: 100 TWD |
Dayuan 101 Scenic Restaurant
Plane spotting at Dayuan 101 Scenic Restaurant.
Dayuan 101 Scenic Restaurant, which boasts the “highest plane spotting location in Asia,” is located on the 8th floor next to the Dayuan District Farmers’ Association. It is a new branch of the famous plane spotting restaurant “Kanji Machine Complex Restaurant.” Dayuan 101 Scenic Restaurant is also on the south runway side of Taoyuan Airport. Due to its higher floor, it offers a distinctly different plane spotting experience compared to other cafés. The restaurant has both indoor and outdoor dining areas. If the weather is not too hot, I recommend sitting outside. Given the high traffic at Taoyuan Airport, a plane lands approximately every 5-7 minutes, which is quite frequent. The restaurant’s rooftop is also open for plane photography, offering an unobstructed view of planes taking off and landing.
From the rooftop of Dayuan 101 Scenic Restaurant, you can enjoy an unobstructed view of planes taking off and landing.
| Dayuan 101 Scenic Restaurant Information: Address: 8th Floor, No. 97-2, Zhongzheng East Road, Dayuan District, Taoyuan City Phone: 03-385 9066 Operating Hours: 11:30 – 0:00 Minimum charge per person: 150 TWD |
Dayuan Combat Readiness Pathway
Plane spotting at Taoyuan Airport’s Combat Readiness Pathway.
In addition to the three aforementioned plane-viewing restaurants, the plane spotting location on the Dayuan Combat Readiness Pathway is situated next to the southern runway of Taoyuan Airport. Because it’s only separated by a wire fence and is free of charge, it has always been a hotspot for plane enthusiasts in Taoyuan. However, as it is located on the side of the southern runway, if the plane takes off from the west side, you can mostly only capture the side view of the taxiing plane. Only planes taking off from the east side can be photographed during takeoff. You can track the day’s plane movements via apps like Flightradar24.
One of the unique features of plane spotting at the Dayuan Combat Readiness Pathway is that you can photograph planes from the front.
At the Dayuan Combat Readiness Pathway in Taoyuan, you can enjoy a close-up side view of the landing and taxiing A380 passenger plane.
『Original Source：https://www.phototravel.tw/taoyuan-view-aircraft/』
