What to do in Kata Beach?
Contents
- What to do in Kata Beach?
- Kata Beach Video
- WHAT TO DO IN KATA BEACH?
- The Beach
- Kata Noi Beach
- Karon Viewpoint
- Dino Park
- Super Surf Kata
- Surfing
- Wat Kitti Sangkharam
- Parasailing
- WHERE TO STAY IN KATA BEACH?
- Novotel Phuket Kata Avista Resort
- View Kata Hotels on Map
- SHOPPING IN KATA BEACH
- Kata Night Market
- WHERE TO EAT IN KATA BEACH?
- Beach Restaurants
- Sugar and Spice
- The Boathouse Phuket
- Kata Seafood and Ska Bar
- HIDDEN KATA BEACH
- Green Heart Garden
- A Blanket and a Pillow
- Laem Sai Cup
- The geography of Kata Beach
- Kata Beachfront
- Kata Centre
- Kata South
- Kata Road
- KATA BEACH INFO
- Is Kata Beach safe?
- Fast facts about Kata Beach
- Map of Kata Beach
- Your Kata Beach Guide
- Kata Beach Photo Gallery
- More beaches in Phuket
- FAQs about Kata Beach
Kata Beach is a beautiful beach on the west coast of Phuket island and one of the most visited beaches in Phuket after Patong Beach. Kata enjoys a lovely sandy bay with an incredibly blue sea and an iconic island standing in the ocean, making excellent sunset photos. The town stretches for 2 kilometres along the back road, but keep in mind that because Club Med Resort occupies 90% of the 1.5 kilometre beachfront, most restaurants, hotels, and shops are not on the beach on that second road or the south end of the beach.
While it can be bustling in high season, Kata is less crowded than Patong and still offers a vast choice of dining venues, shopping, nightlife, and hotels. This beach is also known to be a great family destination.
Kata Beach Video
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WHAT TO DO IN KATA BEACH?
A fantastic place in the high season, Kata is sometimes unsafe to swim during the low season (June to November). However, it has become popular among surfers and even hosts a surf competition yearly because of the waves. Nothing unusual, but it’s a great place to learn. Few surf shops rent surfboards here and there and can teach you the basics.
The Beach
Of course, the beach is the main reason people travel all the way to be here and choose to stay on this part of the island. The beach is immense (1.5 kilometres), the sand is clear and very soft, and the water has a beautiful blue colour during the high season (December to April). Trees provide plenty of shade to the bay, where you will find drink vendors, beach massage, and a few small but good Thai restaurants. Beach chairs are back and occupy only 10% of the beach, so everyone should be happy. Renting a chair is easy, and the price depends on each beach, but it is affordable, and the staff is always friendly, making sure the chairs are clean and the umbrellas open when you need them. A Beach massage is a nice way to relax after a long flight or swimming and usually starts at 300 baht.
Kata Noi Beach
Kata Noi Beach (meaning ‘Small Kata’) is a beautiful stretch of sand It was once among the 10 best beaches in the world on Tripadvisor. The sand is soft, and the sea is clear and blue during the low season. There are only three hotels on Kata Noi: Mom Tri’s Villa Royale, Katathani, and The Shore. You can enjoy a few bars, shops, and restaurants on the street parallel to the beach.
Karon Viewpoint
Karon viewpoint, a few kilometres south of Kata Beach, offers a beautiful panoramic view of three bays: Kata Noi, Kata Beach and Karon in the far. This viewpoint, one of the most famous sights of Phuket, is easy to access by the seaside road.
Dino Park
Dino Park is a well-designed dinosaur-themed mini-golf with its cool volcano! It is well-designed, and it’s great fun to play with friends or family, but it can get hot in there.
Address: Patak Soi 7, Karon, Muang, Phuket 83100, Near Marina Phuket Resort
Open: 12 pm – 11 pm
Phone: 076 330 625
Price: 490 baht for adults, 390 baht for children
Facebook: click here
Super Surf Kata
Super Surf Kata is a fun artificial wave flowing on a safe rubber slide, great for both adults and kids to play and even practice their balance. The bar and restaurant around the waterslide are trendy and often host parties at night.
Address: 4 Soi Pakbang, Karon, Mueang Phuket District, Phuket 83100
Open: 10 am – 10 pm
Phone: 091 914 5546
Facebook: click here
Surfing
Surfing is popular during the low season, usually between June and November. The waves are not big, but the south end of the beach is a great spot to learn. You can easily rent all kinds of surfboards anywhere along the beach as well as take surfing lessons. Once a year there is a surfing competition.
Wat Kitti Sangkharam
Wat Kitti Sangkharam is a modest but beautiful temple at the foot of a hill on Kata Beach’s back road, accessible from a small street perpendicular to the main road.
Parasailing
Parasailing is available but not recommended for safety reasons, as some fatal accidents have occurred. If you still want to try, here is how it works, and it can be a bit surprising: you will be equipped with a parachute on the beach while the speedboat takes position perpendicular to the beach. On the pilot signal, you will have to run for a short distance in the direction of the ocean, assisted by the team. That’s where the most surprising thing happens: as you take off, a crew member will grab the ropes of the parachute and will hang above you during the whole flight without any safety features. That’s quite a sight, but apparently, they never fall.
WHERE TO STAY IN KATA BEACH?
Kata being the second or third most popular beach after Patong, you can expect to find a massive choice of hotels and resorts. Only The Boathouse and Beyond Resort Kata have direct access if you want a hotel with beach access.
Novotel Phuket Kata Avista Resort 
The Novotel Phuket Kata Avista Resort & Spa is located near Kata Beach’s centre and at an equal distance to the beach. It is surrounded by green hills, with views of the Andaman Sea from the upper floors. There are three pools, a good restaurant, a spa, and a kid’s club, making it a perfect place to relax and unwind at a reasonable price.
Range: 5-star
Swimming pools: 3
Restaurants and bars: 2
Distance to the closest beach: 400 m
Distance to Kata city centre: 400 m
Bookings: see the rates
Other popular hotels in Kata Beach
Click below to see a long list of hotels, resorts and accommodations in Kata Beach:
View Kata Hotels on Map
SHOPPING IN KATA BEACH
Kata Night Market
Kata Night Market is hidden in a maze of buildings and small hotels at the centre of Kata Beach. Despite being relatively unknown, it is surprisingly vast and has gained popularity for serving all kinds of cheap food and dishes in a long line of tiny stalls. The market operates in a food court way, allowing visitors to browse the many shacks until they find what they want, order, pay, pick up their food, and sit at any of the many tables located in the middle of the market.
Open: 2 pm -11 pm, daily
Address: Muang Patak Rd, Tambon Karon, Mueang Phuket District, Phuket 83100
WHERE TO EAT IN KATA BEACH?
Kata Beach has a vast array of places to eat and dine, from street food and food markets to award-winning restaurants. Beach dining has always been a favourite during the day, while panoramic sunset terraces are perfect to end your day. You will be surprised by the cuisine and setting you can get in Kata Beach on the high-end. The second road of Kata Beach is packed with places to eat for every budget. There are so many places around Kata where you can enjoy from Thai food, seafood, and street food to steak houses and some excellent Italian ristorantes; finding a place to eat will never be a problem.
Beach Restaurants
Eating cheap Thai food on the beach with your feet in the sand has become a rare luxury in Phuket. There is still a small cluster of modest-looking restaurants at the very north of the beach, and you should enjoy them while they last!
Sugar and Spice
Sugar & Spice is famous for serving excellent Thai and International food at the right price. The centre of second street’s location makes it very convenient (not far from the night market).
Address: 98/7 Kata Rd, Karon, Mueang Phuket District, Chang Wat Phuket 83100
Hours: 10 am – 10 pm
Phone: 081 970 6503
Facebook: click here
The Boathouse Phuket
The Boathouse Restaurant in Kata Beach has been a culinary landmark in Phuket for decades, part of The Boathouse hotel. The location is fantastic, the food is excellent, and the wine list is exceptional. The Boathouse serves Western and Thai Cuisine in a sober elegance and does retain a bit of the ‘sailing’ mood that made it famous when it originally opened.
Address: 182 Koktanode Road, Kata Beach, Phuket, 83100
Phone: 076 330 015
Open: 7 am – 10 am
Facebook: click here
Kata Seafood and Ska Bar
Kata Seafood is easy to spot because of its location right on the beach, next to a gigantic tree. The restaurant serving Thai and seafood is rather touristy, but It keeps a certain old-fashioned charm, and beachfront restaurants are rare in Kata!
Address: 186/12 Kata Beach Phuket Thailand 83100
Hours: 8 am – 10.30 pm
Phone: 081 797 0559
There are many more restaurants to choose from in Kata Beach. Click below to see a longer (growing) list:
HIDDEN KATA BEACH
Kata Beach is a busy beach, especially during the high season (December to April) and most of the places will go from busy to crowded. If you know where to go you can find peace or hidden gems most people don’t know about.
Green Heart Garden
Green Heart Garden, a hidden restaurant located on the hills above Kata Beach, offers breathtaking views of the Andaman Sea, featuring spacious wooden terraces with bamboo furniture and is surrounded by lush trees, creating a peaceful and calming atmosphere. The staff is welcoming and adds to the enjoyable dining experience.
A Blanket and a Pillow
Another hidden gem in the trees above Kata Beach is A Blanket & A Pillow. This unique venue features bamboo terraces connected by irregular staircases and offers seating options such as colourful bean bags or traditional Thai-style seating on small woven carpets around a small round table. The music selection enhances the atmosphere, especially when paired with cocktails while enjoying the ocean view.
Laem Sai Cup
Laem Sai Cup is a hidden cafe located on the hills of Kata Beach with a stunning view of the Andaman Sea. The cafe features several terraces made of bamboo connected by narrow staircases leading down to the boulders in the sea. Visitors can lounge on traditional Thai square cushions or lie down on colourful mattresses for a comfortable and relaxing experience.
The geography of Kata Beach
Kata Beach is 2 km long, and the beach is 1.5 km long. There are two city centres: the original one is in the north, near Dino Park, and the new and more lively one is in the south, where The Boathouse and Beyond Resort Kata are. There are 3 main roads parallel to the beach: the beachroad is very quiet because Club Med hotel occupies most of the beachfront, and therefore there are no shops or restaurants. The second road connecting the two city centres is lively in the evening, with many dining options and shopping. The largest road in the back is quieter but has cheaper hotels and some good restaurants.
Kata Beachfront
The beachfront is a short scenic drive along the sea on one side and entirely occupied by Club Med on the other. The road is relatively narrow and offers very little parking. Apart from Club Med, the only noticeable landmarks are Surf House Kata, Beyond Resort Kata, and a few beach restaurants at each end. During high season, the road is often closed to host a small night market with stage performances.
Kata Centre
Kata Center is the oldest part and has grown around a busy intersection; not much has changed there if you exclude Starbucks and At Peach restaurant. Nightlife is very active, and you’ll find many beer bars but no go-go bars. If you drive at night, you can’t miss all these small bars loudly playing different music, the ones at the Kata centre intersection being the brightest and most welcoming.
Dining options are plenty, but if you want a special dinner, try Kampong Kata Hill on the top of the hill right behind Starbucks (opposite Dino Park). There was an apparent gap between Kata Center and Kata South, but both have now merged.
Kata South
The south has become the most active part of Kata, especially in the evening. The roadside is full of places to enjoy an affordable dinner: Thai, seafood, grills and international restaurants, food stalls, and even food markets.
There are 4 or 5 restaurants with terraces over the sand at the very end of the beach for something more fun. What would a holiday be without a bit of shopping? There are convenience stores, pharmacies, and many tiny shops selling souvenirs, summer clothing, beach toys, and luggage.
Accommodation mostly surrounds two long-established hotels: Beyond Resort Kata and the famous Boathouse. Kata Rocks is another fantastic hotel worth mentioning.
Kata Road
The Kata Road connects Kata Center to Kata South, with Club Med and restaurants, bars, hotels, and shops on the other. You’ll find a bazaar, a night market, and a Chinese shrine.
KATA BEACH INFO
Is Kata Beach safe?
Kata Beach is a very safe place to spend a holiday, just like the rest of Phuket. Even late at night, you will never feel worried about walking the busy streets until 2 am and even later. If you decide to party late, tuk-tuks are always available to take you back to your hotel, as driving your motorcycle after drinking should be avoided.
The only real safety concerns are driving and swimming in the low season. The sea can be rough, and the rip tides treacherous, so always swim where flags allow or avoid swimming when flags are red. If you travel during the low season, booking a hotel with a lovely pool may be a good idea,
Fast facts about Kata Beach
| ⛱️ Beach condition: | Great |
| ⛱️ Other beach nearby: | Kata Noi Beach |
| 📷 Thing to do: | Karon View Point |
| 🛍️ Best shopping: | Kata Night Market |
| 🍴 Best restaurant: | The Boathouse |
| 🍴 Best budget restaurant: | Sugar & Spice |
| 🍹 Best Sunset Bar: | The Sundeck |
| 🛎️ Best luxury hotel: | Kata Rocks |
| 🧳 Best mid range hotel: | Beyond Resort Kata |
| 🛌 Best budget hotel: | Ibis Phuket Kata |
| 🚙 Distance to Patong Beach: | 13 km |
| 🚙 Distance to Phuket Town: | 17 km |
| ✈️ Distance from Phuket International Airport: | 48 km |
How long is the beach of Kata: 1.5 km
How to go to Kata Beach: you can easily go to Kata by local bus or smart bus, tuk-tuk, taxi or self-driving:
Can you swim at Kata Beach? it is safe to swim in high season but can be dangerous on some days during monsoon season; always respect the flags!
Map of Kata Beach
Get the directions on your phone: https://goo.gl/maps/hW6dLWPC7wsaMkiH9
Your Kata Beach Guide
More beaches in Phuket
