Karon Beach

Explore things to do in Karon Beach including hotels, restaurants, bars, and activities. Discover Phuket’s longest west coast beach with soft sand and nightlife.

Karon Beach vs Bang Tao Beach

Karon Beach and Bang Tao Beach sit on the same west coast of Phuket, about 30 km apart, but they attract very different travellers.

Karon Beach and Patong Beach are two of the most popular beach resorts in Phuket, yet they could not feel more different. Patong is the busiest beach on the island, packed with shopping, nightlife, and nonstop energy.

Baan Sailom Hotel

Baan Sailom is a small 3-star hotel with only 22 rooms, right across the road from Karon Beach. I keep recommending it because there’s nothing cheaper this close to the sand in Karon.

Karon Beach vs Kamala Beach

Karon Beach and Kamala Beach are two of Phuket’s most popular family-friendly beaches, offering a more relaxed atmosphere than Patong while still providing good facilities, restaurants, and accommodation options.

Buffalo Steakhouse Karon Beach

Buffalo Steakhouse in Karon Beach is one of the oldest Western restaurants on Phuket’s west coast. The Swedish owner opened the first branch in Patong back in 1993.

Andaman Seaview Hotel

Andaman Seaview Hotel is a 3-star property at the southern end of Karon Beach with 161 rooms in Sino-Portuguese style. The beach is about 100 metres away, a 2-minute walk across the road.

10 Best Family Hotels in Karon Beach

Family hotels in Karon Beach tend to go big on water parks. You’ll find lazy rivers, four-storey waterslides, and splash zones that rival dedicated theme parks.

YA Restaurant

Ya Restaurant is a small family-run place on the main road in Karon, right next to Karon Temple. It’s the kind of local spot you walk past a dozen times before finally stopping in.

The Garage OG Phuket

The Garage OG is a popular live music bar on Patak Road in Karon Beach. I stopped by on a Friday night, and the place was already filling up by 8 pm, well before the band kicked off around 9.30 pm

Thavorn Palm Beach Resort

Thavorn Palm Beach Resort is one of the oldest large resorts on Karon Beach, sitting right across the road from the sand. The property spreads across 12 acres of gardens, which is huge for Phuket

SOUL Vegan Cafe & Restaurant

Soul Vegan Cafe is the first fully plant-based restaurant in Karon, and we’ve been back several times since it opened. The food is genuinely good, and even if you’re not vegan, it’s worth a stop.

Churchill Bar and Restaurant

Churchill Bar and Restaurant sits just off Karon’s main road, below the Rattana Beach Hotel. It’s only a few metres from Patak Road, but most people walk right past without noticing. That’s a mistake.

13 Things to Do in Karon Beach

Karon Beach is one of Phuket’s most popular seaside destinations, offering a good mix of relaxation and activities along its 3-kilometre stretch of white sand.

The Cove

The Cove is the signature all-day dining restaurant at Centara Grand Beach Resort Phuket, offering a wide selection of international and modern Thai cuisine in a relaxed seaside setting

Wat Karon (Wat Suwan Khiri Khet)

Wat Karon, or Wat Suwan Khiri Khet, sits just inland from Karon Beach and has been part of the local community since 1895. It received its royal charter in 1939, marking its official status as a Buddhist temple in Phuket.

9 Great Hotels Facing The Beach in Karon

Hotels facing the sea in Karon Beach are popular with travellers who want to stay as close to the sand as possible, without paying the high price of rare beachfront resorts

Ciao Pizza and Grill at Thavorn Palm Beach Resort on Karon Beach

Ciao Pizza and Grill in Karon Beach

Ciao Pizza and Grill is a casual and easy-going restaurant right across the street from Karon Beach, part of Thavorn Palm Beach Resort. Even though it’s inside a hotel, the prices are surprisingly reasonable, which is rare for resort dining in Phuket

Karon Beach Nightlife

Karon Beach offers a rather light nightlife scene, mostly centred around Patak Road, which stretches from the beach road circle to Karon Temple. This lively street is filled with shops, restaurants, bars and live music venues, making it perfect for an evening stroll.

Saneha Steakhouse & Thai Food

Saneha is a popular steakhouse and Thai restaurant located in the heart of Karon Beach. With 35 years of experience in the restaurant business, their best chefs spend 2 years designing a new menu at Pacific Club Resort, their nearby sister property.

Karon Beach Video

This Karon Beach video takes you to one of Phuket’s longest and most spacious beaches. Stretching for 3 kilometres along the west coast, Karon Beach has soft golden sand, clear water, and plenty of room to relax, even during the high season.

Centara Karon Resort Phuket

Centara Karon Resort Phuket is a large family-focused resort that completed a major renovation in late 2024. It’s about 400 metres to the beautiful beach of Karon.

Centara Karon Resort Restaurants

Following its renovation, Centara Karon Resort Phuket has unveiled six new restaurants and bars for a wide range of dining experiences.

Bistro Grill & Bar at Centara Karon Resort

Discover a world of flavours at Bistro Grill & Bar at Central Karon Resort, your all-day dining destination. Indulge in a tantalising fusion of international and Thai cuisine, from our stunning breakfast buffet to diverse lunch and dinner options.

Escape Pool Club at Central Karon Resort

Discover the ultimate poolside experience at Escape Pool Club at Central Kron Resort, where the grill is always sizzling, and the fun never stops! Indulge in a variety of flavourful dishes while enjoying a lively atmosphere packed with themed pool parties and interactive activities.

Phuket Orchid Resort and Spa

Phuket Orchid Resort and Spa sits on Karon Beach, surrounded by tropical gardens within minutes’ walk of the shore. The family-friendly property houses 524 rooms, including family rooms, deluxe options, and suites with private balconies overlooking pools or gardens.

The Village Resort and Spa

The Village Resort and Spa occupies a private, landscaped setting in north Karon with just 34 adult-only villas, each featuring traditional southern Thai architecture. Located 250 metres from Karon Beach, the property sits just a five-minute walk from the shoreline.

Phuket Emerald Beach Resort

Phuket Emerald Beach Resort sits on Karon Beach, just 100 metres from the shoreline with direct beach access. The family-friendly property houses 282 air-conditioned rooms featuring private balconies, flat-screen TVs with cable channels, minibars, safes, and free WiFi throughout.

Pacific Club Resort

Pacific Club Resort is tucked up on a quiet hill, about a 10-minute walk to the sand, and has a much more peaceful vibe than the big beachfront hotel

Mandarava Resort and Spa

Mandarava Resort and Spa sits on a hillside above Karon Beach in Phuket’s quieter zone. The property houses 232 rooms across 55 tropical villas, positioned just 700 metres from the beach. A free shuttle runs daily to Karon Beach for guest convenience.

CHAR’D Grill Phuket

Discover Phuket’s first-of-its-kind ‘dine-on-water’ steakhouse and seafood grill—CHAR’D Grill at Avista Grande Phuket Karon, proudly named Asia’s Best New Hotel Restaurant 2024.

Karon Beach Directory

In our Karon Beach Directory, you will find all the places we visited in Karon Beach, including attractions, restaurants, shops and local businesses that asked to join the Phuket 101 Directory.

South Karon Roadside Restaurants

Just before reaching the hill that leads to Kata Beach, visitors can see a line of small seafood restaurants. The fresh seafood is kept on ice in front of the restaurants and you can pick what you want them to cook, or choose and Thai dish directly from their menu. It’s quite cheap and has a fun local feel to it.

Karon Avenue

Karon Avenue is a small complex of restaurants, bars and shops located by the lake in Karon Beach, at a short walking distance from the main street of Karon

Seafood Restaurants near the Beach in Karon

For seafood or Thai food, you can choose one of the many small restaurants near the beach, and by the lake at the north end of Karon. They are relatively cheap, and while they are not serving haute cuisine, they have a unique exotic charm and a beach view.

Two Chefs Karon Beach

Two Chefs Karon Beach is a popular and long-established small franchise in Phuket. The restaurant serves good food at excellent prices, with as incredibly vast range of dishes from Thai food, western and Mexican dishes as well as beers and well-priced wines.

Pearl Spa

Pearl Spa is inside Avista Grande Phuket Karon (MGallery hotel). Large facility with multiple treatment rooms. Known for their signature pearl-based treatments. Prices start around 2,500 Baht for a 60-minute massage. Hotel guests get priority booking, but it’s open to walk-ins.

QBIC Travel

QBIC Travel Tour operator is based in Karon and specialises in jet ski tours and boat trips to James Bond Island and Phi Phi. Over a hundred tours to choose from.

Beyond Karon

Beyond Karon is right on the sand at the quiet south end of Karon Beach, practically where Karon meets Kata. That location matters because you get direct beach access on one of Phuket’s best swimming beaches.

The Dim Sun at Avista Grande Phuket Karon

The Dim Sun at Avista Grande Phuket Karon in Karon Beach is a large rooftop terrace with sunset views over the Andaman Sea; the perfect way to end your happy exploration day with excellent cocktails and a romantic candle dinner!

Portosino at Avista Grande Phuket Karon

Portosino Restaurant, one of the best restaurants in Karon Beach, located in Avista Grande Phuket Karon – MGallery, offers a refined dining experience blending Phuket’s tin-mining heritage with modern culinary artistry.

Wat Suwan Kirikhet (Karon Temple)

Wat Suwan Kirikhet is a small but beautiful temple in the back of Karon Beach that frequently hosts the popular Karon Temple Market and occasional funfairs, which are always fun to visit.

Sunhouse Café & Co-Working Space

Sunhouse Café & Co-Working Space in Karon offers the perfect environment for digital nomads and travellers to work, connect, and relax. Our cosy café provides high-quality coffee, delicious pastries, and a variety of workspaces to suit your needs.

SSS Phuket Dive & Surf Center

SSS Phuket Dive & Surf Center is an SSI & PADI Dive Center offering training and courses for beginners and professionals.

Sam Boutique Tailors

Sam Boutique Tailors Phuket is a bespoke tailor for men & women, located in Karon Beach Phuket, Thailand, providing the highest quality custom tailoring clothes. Get stylish, tailor-made clothing for you and your loved ones by our highly skilled and professional tailors.

Rajah Designer Boutique

Rajah Designer Boutique is your premier destination for bespoke gentlemen’s suits and stylish ladies’ attire. Located in the shopping arcade of Le Meridien, Phuket Beach Resort, we offer an exquisite collection of formal and casual wear tailored to perfection.

Creative Karon Tailors

Creative Tailors is a third-generation family-owned business located in a beautiful shop on the beach road of Karon beach in Phuket

Anthony’s Bespoke Tailor

Anthony’s Bespoke Tailor is a tailor of high-quality formal garments for Ladies and Gents in Karon Beach.

10 Best Cheap Hotels in Karon Beach

Karon Beach is one of the most popular beaches in Phuket, blessed with a 3 km long vast sandy beach and a more peaceful atmosphere than the two neighbouring beaches of Patong and Kata. This beach resort has a lot of cheap hotels for budget travellers, and combined with an affordable dining scene and nightlife, it makes Karon a good compromise if you are on a smaller budget.