Lifeguard stations
Lifeguards staff stations on the beach; swim near them, especially with children.
Kata Beach
Karon · west coast
A wide, 1.5 km bay of soft sand in southern Phuket with blue high-season water, Koh Pu offshore, family activities nearby and learner surf in the low season.
Also written Kata Yai, Hat Kata, Kata Beach Phuket, Kata Yai Beach, Ao Kata · กะตะ · Ката
Kata Beach in photographs
Sand, trees and the water. Surfboard rental at the beach. The information sign at a beach entrance.
- Sand
- Soft, pale sand with Koh Pu offshore
- Water entry
- Shallow for a long way out in high season
- Children
- Mini golf, artificial wave, kids' play
- Surfing
- Learner surf, June to November
- Sunset
- Sunsets behind Koh Pu
- Shade
- Trees along the bay
About Kata Beach
Kata is a wide, 1.5 km bay on Phuket's south-west coast, with soft, pale sand, very blue water in the high season and the little island of Koh Pu offshore, which makes for classic sunset photos. It is one of the island's most popular beaches after Patong, but less crowded and with a gentler nightlife.
Club Med occupies about 90% of the beachfront, so the beach is reached from its two ends and most hotels, restaurants and shops sit on the second road, about 100 m inland. Chairs and umbrellas are allowed on part of the sand, trees give shade, and vendors sell drinks and beach massages. The south end is the busiest, with restaurants on the sand, Ska Bar under its huge tree and The Boathouse; the north end, where a small river meets the sea, is quieter.
From December to April the sea is shallow for a long way out and ideal for swimming. From June to November the waves pick up and Kata becomes one of Phuket's best places to learn to surf, with board rentals, lessons and a yearly competition; swim only where the flags allow.
Kata Beach, north to south
The north end, by the river
Where a small river meets the sea: the most peaceful part of the beach, with few chairs, near Kata Centre and Dino Park. The small local restaurants that lined it were recently removed.
Good
- Much quieter than the south.
- Few chairs and more space.
Less good
- Fewer places to eat on the sand.
Anyone looking for a calmer corner of Kata.
The Club Med frontage
The long central stretch in front of Club Med, public sand but reached from the ends, with the quiet beach road behind, Super Surf Kata and part of the chair zone.
Good
- Plenty of room.
- Shade under the trees.
Less good
- No direct access from the road in the middle.
- Little parking on the beach road.
Walkers and families who want space.
The south end
The busiest and liveliest part: restaurants with terraces on the sand, The Boathouse, Beyond Resort Kata, Ska Bar under its giant tree, and the best learner surf in the low season.
Good
- Food and drink on the sand.
- Learner surf from June to November.
- Kata's evening life nearby.
Less good
- Crowded in high season.
Surfers, couples and anyone who wants everything close.
Things to do at Kata Beach
The whole bay from above. The curve of the bay from the hill. The wide sand and the bay.
Swimming · dry season
Swim in the high season
From December to April the water is blue, calm and shallow for a long way out.
Surfing · monsoon months
Learn to surf
The waves are not big, and the south end is a good place to learn; rentals and lessons are all along the beach.
Water sports · dry season
Jet skis and parasailing
Both run from the beach for those who want some speed.
Snorkelling and diving · dry season
Snorkel along the rocks
In the calm high season, the rocks at the ends of the bay are worth a look with a mask.
Wellness
Beach massage
Massages on the sand usually start at 300 THB.
Family
Super Surf Kata
An artificial wave with two parallel lanes on a soft rubber floor, so parent and child can surf side by side.
Family
Dino Park Mini Golf
Dinosaur-themed mini golf with a volcano, a favourite since 1997.
Family
Kids Playorama
An indoor play space with slides, trampolines and ball pits at the Novotel Kata Avista, open to non-guests for a fee.
Nightlife
Ska Bar
A driftwood reggae bar built around a huge old tree at the south end, with cheap drinks and a relaxed crowd.
Food and drink
Kata Night Market
A food-court-style market hidden behind Club Med, with a long line of cheap food stalls; open daily 14:00 to 23:00.
Food and drink
Real Thai at Sugar & Spice
Thai and international food at the right price on the main street, with an illustrated menu.
Food and drink
Sunset at Tree Bay Clubhouse
A two-storey terrace below Karon Viewpoint looking over Kata Noi, Kata and Karon at once; arrive around 17:00.
A day at Kata Beach
In high season the sea stays shallow for a long way out; swim near a lifeguard station while the beach is calm.
From June to November, take a surf lesson at the south end; any time of year, Super Surf Kata's artificial wave is safe for kids and adults. Super Surf Kata
Kata Seafood, next to the giant tree, has one of the last tables on the sand in Kata. Kata Seafood Restaurant
Dino Park has kept families busy since 1997; it can get hot, so go later in the afternoon. Dino Park Mini Golf
The reggae bar under a hundred-year-old tree at the south end, where the sky's colours spread over the wet sand. Ska Bar
Kata's classic special-occasion table on the sand, famous for its wine list since the nineties. The Boathouse
Our Kata Beach score
4.5out of 5
A family beach holiday in the dry season, or learning to surf from June to November.
A wide bay of soft sand with very blue water in the high season, trees for shade, the little island of Koh Pu offshore and easy learner surf in the low season. It is held back by crowds from December to April, access only at the two ends because Club Med fills the frontage, and a rough sea in the monsoon.
The character of the beach
A profile, not a mark: where Kata Beach sits on four scales, and what it is known for.
- Lively
- For children
- Surf
- Snorkelling
Lifeguards on duty · Soft pale sand with Koh Pu offshore
What is good about Kata Beach
One of Phuket's best family beaches
Shallow water for a long way out in high season, soft sand, shade, and Dino Park, Super Surf Kata and Kids Playorama within a few hundred metres.
Learn to surf
From June to November the waves are not big, and the south end is a great place to learn; boards and lessons are easy to find.
Sunset behind Koh Pu
The small island offshore frames the evening sky; Ska Bar at the south end catches the colours on the wet sand.
Tables on the sand
A handful of restaurants have terraces on the sand at the south end, including The Boathouse and Kata Seafood.
A quieter north end
Where a small river meets the sea at the north end, there are only a few chairs and far fewer people.
Before you swim at Kata Beach
Swim where the flags allow
Swim only where the flags allow; they show when and where the sea is right for swimming.
Surf season, June to November
The waves that bring the surfers make the sea too rough for casual swimming on many days; a hotel with a good pool helps in the low season.
Jet skis and parasailing
Jet skis and parasail boats operate off the beach; keep to the swimming areas.
Getting home at night
Tuk-tuks are always available late at night; leave the scooter after a night out.
Beach clubs, bars and restaurants on Kata Beach
3 places open on the sand in September 2026, walked south to north, then the road behind the beach and a few minutes inland. A price level is what one visit typically costs a person.
The north end, by the river
Dino Park Mini Golf
For children · a short drive
An 18-hole mini golf course in a prehistoric jungle garden with full-size dinosaurs and a volcano, at Kata's centre opposite Starbucks.
Kampong Kata Hill
Restaurant · a short drive · daily 15:00–23:00
A Thai and seafood restaurant on a small hill in the middle of Kata, open for more than thirty years.
The Club Med frontage
Super Surf Kata
Water sports · the road behind · Mon–Sun 09:00–22:00
A surf simulator by Kata Beach: two parallel high-pressure jets of water run up a padded slope fast enough to carry a rider, over water barely ten centimetres deep.
Kata Night Market
Market · a short drive · daily 12:00–23:00; the food stalls are busiest from the late afternoon
A covered food market just off Patak Road in Kata, behind the Beyond Kata resort, a few minutes inland from Kata Beach, with a gorilla statue at the entrance.
The south end
Ska Bar
Bar · on the sand · every day 10:00–01:00 by phuket101; Google Maps showed the same on Thursday
A reggae bar on the sand at the far southern end of Kata Beach, where the beach meets the rocks.
Kata Seafood Restaurant
Restaurant · on the sand · 08:00–22:30
A Thai and seafood restaurant on the sand at the southern end of Kata Beach, next to the Ska Bar.
The Boathouse
Restaurant · on the sand · daily 07:00–23:00
A beachfront restaurant on Kata Beach with a long-standing wine list and a pool bar by the sand.
A few minutes inland
Kids Playorama
For children · a short drive
An indoor play centre at Kata Beach, inside the Novotel Phuket Kata Avista Resort.
Sugar & Spice
Restaurant · a short drive · opens 10:00 (phuket101); closes 23:00 (Google Maps, 2026-10-07)
A family-style restaurant on Kata Road, on the way to Kata Beach and near the Kata Night Market.
Sugar Shack
Restaurant · a short drive · 11:00–23:00 on Wednesday (Google Maps shows one day; the other days to check)
A small Thai and Western restaurant on Kata Road, 30 m from Sugar & Spice, on the way to and from Kata Beach.
Tree Bay Clubhouse
Bar · a short drive · every day 12:00–23:00 (kitchen until 22:00; happy hour 12:00–16:00) by its own site and phuket101
A two-storey open terrace on the hillside below Karon Viewpoint, looking down on Kata Noi, Kata and Karon bays.
Karon Viewpoint
Viewpoint · a short drive · open 24 hours
A roadside lookout on the coast road between Kata and Nai Harn with a view over three bays: Kata Noi, Kata and Karon.
Baan Khao Soi
Restaurant · 11:00–20:00, closed Sunday
A small air-conditioned shop on Kata Road in Kata, opened in 2025, that serves one dish: khao soi, the northern Thai curry noodle soup.
CoffeeBAR789
Café · daily 07:30–21:45
A small coffee shop in Kata.
CUP SEA Coffee
Café · 08:00–17:00 on Sunday (Google Maps shows one day; the other days to check)
A small, minimalist coffee shop in a quiet lane between Kata and Karon, with two small tables on a veranda overlooking the temple.
Dome Cafe
Café · daily 08:00–20:00
A small, calm coffee shop on Patak Road in Kata, with soft light and comfortable seats; the baristas like to talk.
Gagarin Restaurant
Restaurant · daily 11:00–22:00
A family café of Russian cuisine in Kata, listed by phuket-insider among the places with a children's play area.
Kata Hot Yoga
Yoga · daily 08:30–19:30
A Bikram-style hot yoga studio on Khoktanod Road, a short walk from Kata Beach, in a room heated to 40 °C with mirrored walls.
Kata Rocks Clubhouse
Restaurant · dinner 18:00–22:00
The Mediterranean restaurant of the Kata Rocks resort, with tables along its infinity pool above Kata Beach, open to outside guests.
Kata-Sainamyen International Clinic
Health · daily 09:00–22:00
A walk-in international clinic of the Sainamyen group in Kata-Karon, on Koktanod Road.
Mae Somchit Kata Fresh Market
Market · daily 06:00–21:00
A fresh market on Patak Road in Kata, one of the guide's Phuket fresh markets.
Night Food Market Kata Beach
Market · daily 11:00–23:00
A food market hidden among small hotels in the centre of Kata, not far from the beach, which locals call the Kata Walking Street Market.
Oceanic Dive Center
Water sports · 10:00–18:00 on Monday (Google Maps shows one day; the other days to check)
A dive centre on Patak Road in Kata, founded in 1999 and registered with both SSI and PADI, with its own equipment shop that is not tied to one brand.
Pamookkoo Resort water park
For children
The water park inside the grounds of Pamookkoo Resort near Kata Beach, which visitors who are not guests can use with an all-day ticket.
Phuket Surf
Water sports
A surf and stand-up paddle school on Koktanod Road at Kata Beach, with group and private lessons and board hire by the day.
A Chinese shrine at the north end of Kata Beach dedicated to Po Seng Ti Te, the god of medicine.
Pomodoro
Restaurant · 12:00–22:00 on Monday (Google Maps shows one day; the other days to check)
An Italian restaurant on Soi Khoktanod in Kata, a little away from the busy centre, run by Mario and his team.
Sensorica
Restaurant
A multi-level pan-Asian restaurant and lounge on the Kata coast, with a Russian chef.
SK-11 Gym
Gym · Mon–Fri 07:00–23:00; Sat–Sun 08:00–23:00
A fitness centre on Kata Road in Kata with a gym and group classes.
SSS Phuket Dive & Surf Center
Water sports · 08:00–21:30 on Monday (Google Maps shows one day; the other days to check)
A school on Koktanod Road in Kata that has taught scuba diving, freediving, surfing and stand-up paddling from one shop since 2008, with 17 instructors.
Studio X Fitness
Gym · Mon–Sat 08:00–14:00 and 17:00–21:00; Sun closed
A women-owned boutique weights gym in Kata, running for more than 20 years under a recent new name, focused on free weights, compound lifts and bodyweight work.
Sunlique Rooftop Restaurant
Restaurant · daily 15:00–00:00
A rooftop restaurant on Kata Road with views over Kata Beach, a stylish room cooled by a mist system, and signature cocktails.
VERANDA Restaurant
Restaurant · daily 12:00–22:00
A lively restaurant in Kata with Russian-speaking staff, a Russian menu and a call button for service; a children's play area with cartoons.
Wat Kitti Sangkharam
Temple
The temple of Kata, recently rebuilt by its monks and workers, with an ordination hall, monks' quarters and a school for local children.
What it costs to live near Kata Beach
6 months or more
Apartments
฿22,000/ month
median of 4 · from ฿14,500
Villas
฿101,500/ month
median of 3 · from ฿89,500
Townhouses
฿66,000/ month
median of 2 · from ฿65,000
- The zone
- The waterline
- Chosen step: The zone
- A home and its rent
- A place, as the list numbers it
Homes for rent near Kata Beach
6 months or more
- homes for rent nearby
- 16
- within a 13-minute walk of the sand
- 5
- the nearest home to the sand
- 120 m
Only The Boathouse and Beyond Resort Kata sit directly on the sand; Club Med fills most of the frontage. Budget guesthouses cluster in the centre near the night market, 4-star resorts line the second road, and hillside five-stars such as Kata Rocks and the Novotel Kata Avista look over the bay.
Homes by type
Rent a month
9 homes in the beach zone
Studio apartment in Kata, Saiyuan Beach Condo
฿21,500/ month
120 m to the sand · 1 min on foot
1‑bedroom apartment in Kata, Saiyuan Beach Condo
฿29,500/ month
170 m to the sand · 2 min on foot
- Rooftop pool
3‑bedroom villa in Kata, Andaman Residence
฿137,500/ month
210 m to the sand · 3 min on foot
- New building
Studio apartment in Kata, Saiyuan Beach Condo
฿22,000/ month
230 m to the sand · 3 min on foot
2‑bedroom townhouse in Kata, Lotus Gardens
฿65,000/ month
880 m to the sand · 11 min on foot
3‑bedroom townhouse in Kata, Saiyuan Beach Condo
฿66,000/ month
1130 m to the sand · 14 min on foot
All homes near Kata Beach (16)
6 of 9 shown here.
Around Kata Beach
Every place inside the beach zone, by category: choose one to see its places, nearest the water first, each numbered as its mark on the map.
- VERANDA Restaurant240 m from the sand · 3 min on foot
- Gagarin Restaurant260 m from the sand · 3 min on foot
- Kata Rocks Clubhouse260 m from the sand · 3 min on foot
- Sunlique Rooftop Restaurant260 m from the sand · 3 min on foot
- Sensorica340 m from the sand · 4 min on foot
- Baan Khao Soi610 m from the sand · 8 min on foot
- Pomodoro1260 m from the sand · 16 min on foot
- CoffeeBAR789410 m from the sand · 5 min on foot
- CUP SEA Coffee600 m from the sand · 7 min on foot
- Dome Cafe720 m from the sand · 9 min on foot
- Night Food Market Kata Beach290 m from the sand · 4 min on foot
- Mae Somchit Kata Fresh Market710 m from the sand · 9 min on foot
- Kata-Sainamyen International Clinic180 m from the sand · 2 min on foot
- Kids Playorama240 m from the sand · 3 min on foot
- Pamookkoo Resort water park320 m from the sand · 4 min on foot
- Studio X Fitness470 m from the sand · 6 min on foot
- SK-11 Gym560 m from the sand · 7 min on foot
- Kata Hot Yoga130 m from the sand · 2 min on foot
- Surf House Phuket20 m from the sand · 1 min on foot
A wave machine at Kata, with lessons for beginners.
- Phuket Surf40 m from the sand · 1 min on foot
- SSS Phuket Dive & Surf Center90 m from the sand · 1 min on foot
- Super Surf Kata110 m from the sand · 1 min on foot
- Oceanic Dive Center730 m from the sand · 9 min on foot
- Po Seng Ti Te Shrine (Kata)600 m from the sand · 7 min on foot
- Wat Kitti Sangkharam940 m from the sand · 12 min on foot
Kata Beach by month
The season · December to April
Calm sea, clear water
December to April: the high season, with very blue, shallow water that is safe for swimming. The beach is busy, and the beach road sometimes closes for a small night market with stage shows.
The monsoon · May to November
Waves, walks and red flags
June to November: the waves pick up; swim only where the flags allow. It is the surf season, with lessons, board rentals and a yearly competition.
| Month | The sea |
|---|---|
| Jan | Calm |
| Feb | Calm |
| Mar | Calm |
| Apr | Calm |
| May | Changing |
| Jun | Rough |
| Jul | Rough |
| Aug | Rough |
| Sep | Rough |
| Oct | Rough |
| Nov | Changing |
| Dec | Calm |
Calm: swim any day Changing: check the flags Rough: monsoon swell, red flags on many days
Kata Beach with children
Kata is one of Phuket's best family beaches. From December to April the sea is shallow for a long way out, trees give shade, chairs are easy to rent, and Dino Park, Super Surf Kata and Kids Playorama are within a few hundred metres. From June to November, swim only where the flags allow, or use a hotel pool.
- Shallow, calm water in the high season.
- Lifeguard stations on the beach.
- Dino Park, Super Surf Kata and Kids Playorama close together.
- Family resorts such as the Novotel Kata Avista, with kids' clubs.
- Katathani on Kata Noi, 500 m south, has direct beach access.
Getting to Kata Beach and parking
- From the airport, by car
- 55–75 min
- From Patong, with the traffic
- 25–35 min
- From Phuket Town
- 25–40 min
Kata lies in the south-west of Phuket, about 48 km from the airport, 17 km from Phuket Town and 13 km from Patong. The beach is reached from its two ends, as Club Med fills most of the frontage.
- By car. The beach road is narrow with very little parking; most hotels and shops are on the second road.
- The local bus. The local bus and the Phuket Smart Bus both reach Kata.
- Grab and taxis. Taxis, apps and tuk-tuks are easy; tuk-tuks wait late into the night.
- By scooter. Handy for Kata Noi, Karon Viewpoint and the southern beaches.
Parking. The beach road is narrow and has very little parking; come on foot from the second road if you can.
Who will love Kata Beach, and who will not
Will love it
- Families with small children in the high season: shallow water, shade and activities nearby.
- Beginners learning to surf from June to November.
- First-timers who want a beautiful beach with plenty of food and shops, but less chaos than Patong.
- Couples after a sunset drink under Ska Bar's tree or dinner at The Boathouse.
Will not
- Anyone seeking solitude in high season: Kata is one of the busiest beaches after Patong; Kata Noi is calmer.
- Party-goers: no go-go bars, just a few beer bars and sunset spots.
Tips for Kata Beach
Head for the north end
Where the small river meets the sea, the beach is far more peaceful, with only a few chairs.
Enter from the ends
Club Med fills most of the frontage; walk in from the north or south end.
Kata or Kata Noi?
Pick Kata for restaurants, the night market and nightlife; Kata Noi, 500 m south, for a calmer beach and whiter sand.
Book a pool in the low season
From June to November the sea is often too rough to swim; a hotel with a good pool saves the holiday.
Reach Ska Bar on foot
Ska Bar has no car park; park near the beach and walk along the sand, or use the narrow alley from the back street.
Hidden terraces
Green Heart Garden and A Blanket and a Pillow hide on the hill above Kata, with shade and sea views.
Get to Tree Bay by 17:00
The edge tables with the three-bay view fill fast in the late afternoon.
Questions about Kata Beach
Can you swim at Kata Beach?
Yes, in the high season from December to April, when the sea is calm and shallow. From June to November the sea is often rough; swim only where the flags allow and near the lifeguards.
Are there lifeguards at Kata Beach?
Yes, lifeguards staff stations on the beach and post flags. Stay near them, especially with children.
Is Kata Beach good for families?
Yes, it is one of Phuket's best family beaches: shallow high-season water, soft sand, shade, and Dino Park, Super Surf Kata and Kids Playorama within a few hundred metres.
When can you surf at Kata Beach?
From June to November. The waves are not big, which makes the south end a great place to learn; boards and lessons are available along the beach, and a surf competition is held every year.
Why is access to Kata Beach limited?
Club Med occupies about 90% of the beachfront, so you reach the sand from the north and south ends. The beach itself is public.
What is the difference between Kata and Kata Noi?
Kata is bigger and livelier, with more restaurants, shopping and nightlife. Kata Noi, 500 m south over a small headland, is quieter, with softer, whiter sand and only a few hotels.
How much is a beach massage at Kata?
Beach massages usually start at 300 THB.
When is Kata Night Market open?
Every day from 14:00 to 23:00, hidden between buildings behind Club Med in the centre of Kata.
How far is Kata Beach from the airport?
About 48 km, roughly an hour or more by car. Patong is 13 km away and Phuket Town 17 km.
Which hotels are on Kata Beach?
Only two have direct beach access: The Boathouse and Beyond Resort Kata. Club Med fills most of the rest of the frontage.