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 on Patong is less clear and transparent, especially at low tide. Swimming is preferable in the north of the beach. Kata Beach has a gentle entrance, soft sand and almost no waves. The place is ideal for swimming with small children, and therefore it is quite crowded.

Surfing. Surfing is good on Kata Beach in the low season, you can rent boards and buy a lesson. Patong is not the best place to catch a wave. Surfing in this part of the island is better closer to the north of Patong.

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.

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: