Kata or Patong: which to choose?
Patong and Kata beaches are the most popular beaches in Phuket. They both have a gentle entrance to the sea, a good selection of hotels, restaurants and a variety of activities. However, there are differences between these beaches that can play an important role in choosing a vacation spot. In this material, let’s consider the features of Patong and Kata beaches.
Length
Patong is bigger – its length is about 4 km. Kata – a small, about 1.5 km, but quite popular beach.
Sea
The water at Patong Beach is less clean and clear, especially during low tide. However, the entrance to the sea is gentle, the depth increases gradually, and the bottom is sandy — without stones, shells, or sharp corals — so you can easily walk in barefoot. It’s best to swim in the northern part of the beach.
At Kata Beach, the entrance to the water is also gentle, the sand is soft, and there are almost no waves. This makes it an ideal place for swimming with small children, which is why it can get quite crowded.
Surfing
Kata Beach is the most popular spot among surfers — it’s suitable for both beginners and professionals. The waves here are fast, yet easy to handle, making it a great place to practice. You can rent surfboards on the beach and book a lesson with an instructor.
Patong isn’t the best place to catch waves. If you want to surf in this part of the island, it’s better to head north of Patong. However, Patong does have Surf House Phuket, where you can try riding an artificial wave any time of the year, regardless of the weather.
Hotels
On Patong beach there is a huge choice of hotels in different price categories: there are luxurious, and there are budget options. On Kata Beach the choice of hotels is also good, but prices are a little higher, many hotels are occupied by tourists on package tours.
Entertainment
Patong wins in the amount of entertainment: the party street Bangla Road and the shopping mall Jungceylon are nearby. You can see a list of the best cafes and restaurants here, and choose a nightclub in this section. On Kata Beach there is much less entertainment, but there is also something to do: there is a surf cafe, dino-park, viewpoint, night market. You can also find a list of the best cafes and restaurants on Kata Beach here.
Transport accessibility
An important factor to consider is the distance from Phuket International Airport. Both beaches are located on the west coast, but Patong is closer to the airport, while the road to Kata goes through the hills and can take a bit longer, especially during rush hours.
To be precise: the distance to Kata Beach is about 47 km, with a travel time of 1–1.5 hours (depending on traffic), while Patong Beach is approximately 38 km away, taking around 50–70 minutes to reach.
To summarize, Patong beach is more suitable for a vacation in a noisy group of friends, and Kata – for privacy and relaxation with family and children.
Check out our videos about these beaches:
