Kata Beach ⛱️ in Phuket ✅

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The best beach family destination in Phuket

Kata Beach is one of the island’s most beautiful beaches on the west coast of Phuket between Karon Beach and Kata Noi Beach. The c-shaped beach length 1.6 km, enjoys its white powdery sand and incredibly crystal waters during the high season (November to April). The bay is very picturesque with its iconic Crab Island (Koh Pu in Thai), standing in the ocean at 900 meters from the beach, making it one of the most beautiful beaches in Phuket.

All along the beach, Pandanus and Casuarina trees provide a welcome shade to visitors who can enjoy a wonderful sea view. Kata Beach is conveniently accessible by the beach road that have plenty of spaces for cars and easy access to the beach.

In addition to offer 2 designated umbrella areas and some beach massages, the beach also has a few beachfront resorts and some great restaurants by the beach, making it a great family destination.

The vibe is laidback, and there is a great choice of restaurants, cozy cafes, shops, markets, tailors, a moderate nightlife, and beautiful hotels mostly located on the second parallel road of the beach, called Kata Road. It is a laid-back coastal resort which bring thousands of tourists every years due to its combination of beauty, activities and facilities. It is known as one of the most popular beach resorts in the island after Patong Beach.

Where Kata Beach is located?

Kata Beach is located in the southwestern coast of Phuket, between the junior sister Kata Noi Beach, and the immense Karon Beach. The beach is 11 km away south of the well-known Patong Beach and 9 km away from the most beautiful beach in Phuket, Freedom Beach. The popular Nai Harn Beach is just 7 km away south near the tiny Ya Nui Beach and the 2 most popular Phuket viewpoints: Windmill Viewpoint and Laem Promthep Viewpoint. The Big Buddha Phuket is 3.7 km away as the crow flies, and it seems to be close to the beach. Surprisingly, it is 12 km far away!

Kata Beach is crowded?

Kata Beach is one of the nicest beaches as well one of the most popular tourist destinations in Phuket. Same as the other most popular beaches, Kata is of course more lively than the low season (May to October), but during the high season (November to April) it is enough crowded, but less crowded than Patong Beach.

Thing to do on Kata Beach

Kata Beach offers several beach activities to enjoy for everyone all year round. Let’s see together which activity to do during the high season and during the low season known also as the monsoon season.

Generally, the beach has an excellent swimming conditions during the high season months of November to April because the sea with its crystal clear waters remains very calm. But of course, you always have to pay attention to the currents because you are swimming in the ocean. However, if you’re planning a holiday from May to October, Kata Beach can be dangerous and unsuitable for swimming due the high waves and the strong currents. If you spot red warning flags along the beach, you should not enter the water as it is a warning that the rip tides can be very dangerous at this area.

Snorkeling is a good thing to do mostly at the northern tip of Kata Beach, which has a great marine life, while the central part remains sandy and uninteresting. Kata Beach is also a great destination for the scuba diving lovers, too. Frequently, diving lessons are often held in the northern end of the beach because there is an excellent diving condition with an interesting marine life to explore. It’s a great experience to do that takes you to breathtaking destinations, with a vibrant coral reef teeming with life with tropical fish that you never saw it before.

The beach has 2 umbrellas areas located one in the northern end and the other in the southern part of the beach. 200 Baht is the cost of 1 umbrella with 2 sunbeds. It is a great option for families with kids and retired people who prefer to enjoy the day in a comfortable environment by the beach. For those who prefer to spend the day in the free spaces shaded by tropical trees, there is a great choice especially in the center of the beach.

The warm and flat waters of Kata Beach, are excellent for stand-up paddle boarding, also known as SUP. It is a popular water sport activity that involves standing up on a board and using a paddle to make your way through the water. There is nothing like exercise in the fresh air to make you feel good about yourself.

Massages on the beach are available at affordable prices. There are several places shaded by trees where you can have traditional Thai massage or body massage. Thai massage is an active treatment that reduce the severity of your headaches, decrease lower back and joint pain, increase your flexibility, calm your anxieties, and energize your mind and body. Try it at least once, you will feel rejuvenated.

For the adrenaline lovers, parasailing and Jet sky activities are allowed on Kata Beach. Although generally are considered safe activities, accidents can still occur, sometimes leading to serious injuries or even death. Parasailing is easy and it costs approximately 1,500 baht per ride. Each flight is up in the air for about 10 minutes. Jet Sky costs 1.500 baht for 30 min per person.

Taking photos and selfies at sunset is another thing to do on Kata Beach. Breathtaking sunsets often release rays of sunshine and warm colors into the sky leaving everyone speechless. The iconic island in the ocean makes an excellent sunset photo backdrop for everyone.

Low Season

Where to eat in Kata Beach?

Kata Beach has a great choice of restaurants serving reasonably priced Thai, Italian and international cuisine. Few are located by the beach and the other in the second parallel road from the beach. During the high season street food are situated on the beach road shaded by trees.

Seafood restaurants

Kata Seafood, Kata Mama Seafood and Kata B.B.Q are 3 great restaurants located in the southern end right on the beach. They serve mostly Thai cuisine and some international dishes at affordable prices. Those are a convenient places to have breakfast, lunch or even a sunset dinner by the sea with a pleasant sea breeze.

Pomodoro Italian Restaurant

Pomodoro Pizza is an authentic Italian restaurant, located in a relatively quiet area, at just 5 minutes from the beautiful Kata Beach. The open-air restaurant serves excellent Italian food at affordable prices. The list of pizza is vast with over 30 pizzas to choose from. Pizza is cooked in the wood-fire oven obtaining an excellent taste and crunchiness. Pomodoro is one of the Best Pizza Restaurants in Phuket. It opens from midday till late, and they are doing delivery service, too. Highly recommended!

Green Heart Garden Kata restaurant

Green Heart Garden Kata is a hidden restaurant set amongst trees and has its own kitchen garden. It is perched high on the tropical Kata hills and blessed with outstanding views of the ocean. The restaurant serves excellent Thai food prepared using their fresh ingredients growth in their organic farm. Green Heart Garden is on the list of one of the Best Local Thai restaurants in Phuket.

Boathouse Restaurant

The Boathouse is a chic restaurant overlooking Kata Beach and the Andaman Sea featuring outdoor and indoor seating options. The highlights of the restaurant is the large terrace which offers breathtaking views towards the sea and Phuket’s colorful sunsets, making it the perfect place for a romantic dining. It serves mostly excellent Thai and Western cuisine, boasting a superb wine list with over 150 unique labels. The restaurant is open also for the outdoors and booking in advance is recommended.

Pizzeria Trattoria Il Tagliere

Pizzeria Trattoria Il Tagliere is an authentic Italian restaurant located in the lively center of Kata. It serves excellent Italian cuisine and great pizzas cooked in an handmade wood-fire oven. The cozy restaurant with casual setting, provides outdoors and indoors seating options. The menu is extensive and well-illustrated, the wine list is pretty long and the staff is friendly and speak English. It is a great dining option after a long day spent on the beach.

Where to stay in Kata Beach?

Kata offers a large choice of accommodation to stay, from budget to luxury. There are many cheap guesthouses and bungalows in the centre of Kata at affordable prices. There is also a great choice of 4-star resorts around, generally with large swimming pools, fully furnished rooms and lush tropical gardens, located mostly in the heart of Kata, which has plenty of restaurants, bars and shops. Then there are excellent 5-star resorts, usually with private pool villas and luxurious rooms with medium-high prices especially during the high season. In the south are the Boathouse Boutique and Beyond Kata Resort which are the only 2 hotels in Kata with direct access to the beach with great value for money.

Beyond Resort Kata

Beyond Resort Kata (formerly Kata Beach Resort & Spa) is a long-established hotel in Phuket having direct access to Kata Beach. The popularity of this 4-star hotel is due to its combination of location near the beach, great service, and good value for money. The hotel has 275 rooms and suites with sea view designed in contemporary style, a beachfront restaurant, and a beautiful swimming pool with a pool bar. The resort is ideal for both couples and families seeking a comfortable and relaxing summer vacation spot in Phuket.

Range: 4-star Hotel

Location: Kata

Address: 1 Pakbang Rd, Kata Beach, Phuket 83100 Thailand

Phone: +66 (0) 76 360 333

Beyond Resort Kata

Club Med Phuket

Club Med Phuket is a vast resort nestled along 25 hectares of tropical garden that occupies 80% of the 1.5 km beachfront, but has not direct beach access. This all-inclusive family resort in Kata has 325 well-furnished rooms and suites in traditional Thai style surrounded by swaying palm trees. It provides 2 renewed restaurants, 2 bars, a swimming pool, a kid’s park, and a spa. It is a great holiday destination for families and couples with a wide array of activities and facilities to ensure the guests needs.

Range: 4-star Hotel

Location: Kata

Address: A, 3 Kata Road, Phuket 83100

Phone: +66 (0) 76 330 455

Shot of a brown roof of and at the blue swimming pool of the hotel
Club Med Phuket

OZO Phuket

OZO Phuket is a compact 4-star luxury resort conveniently located within walking distance of the beautiful Kata Beach. The hotel is an L-shaped building of 255 well-appointed rooms and suites with 9 typologies to choose from. It has an outdoor swimming pool and a water park for the kids. There is also a restaurant which serves delicious International and Thai cuisine. This resort provides a serene environment and premium amenities, making it the ideal destination for travelers seeking a peaceful and rejuvenating vacation.

Range: 4-star Hotel

Location: Kata

Address: 99 Kata Rd, Ban Kata, Phuket 83100

Phone: +66 (0) 76 563 600

The Boathouse Phuket

The Boathouse is a 4-star hotel in Kata Beach having direct access to the beach. This superb hotel boasts 38 well-designed rooms and suites, all with sea-facing balconies and providing a large number of amenities to immerse yourself in a world of comfort. The hotel has an acclaimed seafront restaurant with an award-winning wine cellar which serves local and International cuisines. It has also 2 beautiful seafront swimming pools with a pool bar. Beautiful setting, excellent service and strategic location by the beach and near the town of Kata, it is one of the best choice for couples or friends.

Range: 4-star Hotel

Location: Kata

Address: 182 Kohktanod Road, Kata, Phuket 83100

Phone: +66 (0) 76 330 015

Metadee Concept Hotel

Metadee Concept is a 5-star hotel nestled in the earth of Kata just at 5 minutes from the beautiful Kata Beach. Metadee Concept Hotel is one Hotel with 2 concepts, Metadee Elite Kata and Metadee Concept Hotel. It boasts for a total of 264 rooms, suites and villas artistically designed in modern style with superb décor. This hotel has the largest free-form swimming pool in Kata plus a tiny water park for the kids. Spa and wellness centre, fitness centre, free parking, room service and airport shuttle are some of the most popular facilities of the hotel.

Let yourself be carried away by the flavors of Thai and International cuisine at the all-day dining restaurant by the pool or enjoy a dining experience with sublime Mediterranean tapas and refreshing cocktails at the large rooftop while admiring colorful sunsets. Metadee Concept is a great hotel for everyone especially for those love to stay in a superb location plenty of shops, restaurants, bars, markets nearby and not far from beach.

Range: 5-star Hotel

Location: Kata

Address: 66 5 Kata Rd, Phuket 83000

Phone: +66 (0) 76 337 888

The SIS Kata Resort

The SIS Kata is a 4-star resort nestled up on the hillside of Kata near the heart of Kata and not far from the beach. It is just at 15-minute walk from Kata Noi Beach and Kata Beach. The SIS Kata, SIS stands for ‘Stay In Style’ is ideal escape for travelers that seeking a peaceful and restful vacation experience, with a serene atmosphere and top-notch amenities.

It has 124 well-appointed guest rooms and suites with desk, free WI-FI, flat screen TV, private bathroom, and coffee/tea maker to cater guests’ needs. But not all rooms have balcony and sea view. The SIS Kata Resort provide an on-site fitness center, 2 swimming pools, Spa and Wellness Center, 2 superb restaurants and a wonderful rooftop overlooking the ocean. The hotel’s popularity is due to its superb location, great facilities, exceptional service and value for money.

Range: 4-star Hotel

Location: Kata

Address: 255 Koktanode Road, Phuket 83100

Phone: +66 (0) 76 609 555

Kata Rocks Phuket

Kata Rocks is Phuket’s luxury 5-star resort perched on the rocks between Kata Beach and Kata Noi Beach overlooking the Andaman Sea. It is a perfect destination for travelers looking for an intimate and a holiday experience. The chic hotel is popular by its iconic 35-metre infinity pool with white umbrellas and for its 34 luxurious private pool villas with sea view meticulously crafted to provide a haven of comfort and tranquility.
Range: 5-star Hotel

Location: Kata

Address: 186/22 Kok Tanod Road, Phuket 83100

Phone: +66 (0) 76 370 777

Chanalai Garden Resort

Chanalai Garden Resort is a 4-star hotel with 209 modern rooms located at just 200 meters by walk from Kata Beach. It features 2 outdoor pools, 2 pool bars, a fully-equipped fitness centre, and 2 on-site restaurants. The hotel is a 20-minute drive to Phuket Town and 47 km from Phuket International Airport.

Range: 4-star Hotel

Location: Kata

Address: 247 Kata Road, Phuket 83100

Phone: +66 (0) 76 285 211

Orchidacea Resort

Orchidacea Resort is nestled on the hills of Kata just at short walk away from the white soft sand and clear waters of Kata Beach and Kata Noi Beach. The 4-star hotel features 154 well-appointed rooms, each skillfully designed to provide comfort and tranquility. It is a perfect escape for all of those who want to stay in a superb hotel with a good value of money and a great location not far from the beach.

Range: 4-star Hotel

Location: Kata

Address: 210 Kok Tanod Road, Phuket 83100

Phone: +66 (0) 76 284 083

Kata Beach Photos


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Kata Beach Map