Major city · Thailand
Kataหาดกะตะ
Stay 3 nights if you want a calm swim-and-eat beach base; skip Kata if you need nightlife — that is Patong, 30 min north.
Kata is two beaches on Phuket's west coast, 20 km from Phuket Town and directly south of Karon. Kata Yai is the long, developed one with the shops and restaurants; Kata Noi is 1 km further south, smaller, with fewer hotels. The bay has no drop-off and a reef on the north side, so it suits families and non-swimmers better than most Phuket beaches. It is a base for swimming, cheap Thai food and day boats, not for bars.
More ways in
Local time, weather, currency, airports
- Weather
- see forecast
- Currency
- THB
- Best months
- Nov–Apr
- avoid May–Oct (southwest monsoon, red flags, surf)
- Airport
- HKT
- Nights
- 3
Rules in force · 6Drug trafficking can carry the death penalty in Singapore…
- Southeast Asia ↗Drug trafficking can carry the death penalty in Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam, Laos, Thailand, Brunei and Myanmar; never carry a bag or parcel for anyone.
- Southeast Asia ↗Carry a passport valid for at least six months from entry with two blank pages; airlines refuse boarding on less.
- Thailand ↗Check entry rules and any arrival card on the official Thai government sites for your passport; visa-exempt stays and pre-arrival forms change.
- Thailand ↗Do not criticise or mock the monarchy: insulting the royal family is a criminal offence.
- Thailand ↗Temples and palaces: shoulders and knees covered, shoes off before entering halls.
- Thailand ↗E-cigarettes and vapes are illegal to import or use; do not pack them.
What is in this basic guide9 covered · 4 not yet ▾
In this guide
Not in this guide yet
- Walking areas with bag rules
- Day plans checked against opening hours
- Airport-to-bed timings and the last safe connection
- Field-checked times and prices
Emergency numbers for Kata191 ▾
Tap a number to call from your phone. These are the numbers listed in this guide; a row marked check has not been verified.
EssentialsQuick answers and what things cost
Essentials
Quick answers and what things cost
Quick answers
The questions people ask first about Kata, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.
- Cash or card?Currency is the Thai baht (THB, ฿).Thailand-wide
- SIM or eSIMAIS and TrueMove H sell tourist SIMs at airport arrivals; passport registration is required.Thailand-wide
- Tap waterNot drinkable from the tap.Thailand-wide
- TippingSit-down restaurant: Leave ฿20–100 (≈ US$1–4) or the coins; skip it if a 10% service charge is on the bill.Thailand-wide
- Plugs & powerSockets A/B/C/O. US/Canada (A/B): fits · UK/Ireland (G): adapter · Australia/NZ (I): adapter. 220 V: US 120 V-only devices (hair dryers) need a converter; most chargers are dual-voltage.Thailand-wide
- SafetyKata is a low-crime resort area; the real risks are the sea in monsoon months, scooter accidents and unagreed taxi or jet-ski prices.
Show all 12 answers
- RestroomsWestern toilets in malls and hotels; squat toilets with a water bucket in rural stops.Thailand-wide
- Emergency numbers191 police · 1669 ambulance and rescue · 1155 tourist police (english) (not 911, 999 or 000)
- Sundays & holidaysMany Bangkok street-food vendors stay off the main roads on Mondays (street-cleaning day in several districts)…Thailand-wide
- Your embassyFind your embassy's 24-hour line before you fly.
- AirportHKT Phuket International (About 45–60 min by road; shared minibus about ฿180–250 (≈ US$6–8), taxi ฿800–1,000 (≈ US$25–35)).
- Getting aroundThe main road links Kata Yai to Kata Noi over the hill; most of Kata Yai is walkable in 10–20 min.
Cost cheat-sheet
Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.
- Street or quick mealThai noodle or rice dish at a local café฿70–150 (≈ US$3–5)
- Beerdraught in a bar / can at a 7-Eleven฿90–150 (≈ US$3–5)฿40–60 (≈ US$2)
- Budget bedHostel or guesthouse bed, a night, per person฿400 (≈ US$13)
- Mid-range bedDouble room, mid-range hotel, a night, per room฿2,000 (≈ US$65)
- High-end bedDouble room, mid-range hotel, a night, per room฿4,500 (≈ US$140)
A day, not counting the bed: Budget ฿1,200 (≈ US$40) · Mid ฿3,000 (≈ US$95) · High ฿7,000 (≈ US$250)
Local prices, with USD next to them (rates 2026-09 (approximate); change it in the header). Ranges are desk estimates: check locally. Every price and the budget calculator →
DecideWhat it is known for, and when the weather works
Decide
What it is known for, and when the weather works
At a glance
What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.
- Airports
- HKT Phuket International (About 45–60 min by road; shared minibus about ฿180–250, taxi ฿800–1,000)
Best months at a glance
From the guide's best and avoid lists
Jan
Best
32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)
Feb
Best
33°C (91°F)91°F (33°C)
Mar
Best
33°C (91°F)91°F (33°C)
Apr
Best
33°C (91°F)91°F (33°C)
May
Avoid
32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)
Jun
Avoid
32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)
Jul
Avoid
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
Aug
Avoid
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
Sep
Avoid
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
Oct
Avoid
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
Nov
Best
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
Dec
Best
32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)
Best: Nov–Apr. Avoid: May–Oct. Month by month →
Warmest Feb (33°C (91°F)91°F (33°C)), coolest Jan (24°C (75°F)75°F (24°C) low), wettest Sep (21 rain days), driest Feb (3). Averages, not a forecast.
Weather and climate
Kata: next 7 days
Loading forecast…
Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.
Air quality
Loading…
Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.
Jan
32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)
24°C (75°F)75°F (24°C)
4 rd
Feb
33°C (91°F)91°F (33°C)
24°C (75°F)75°F (24°C)
3 rd
Mar
33°C (91°F)91°F (33°C)
25°C (77°F)77°F (25°C)
6 rd
Apr
33°C (91°F)91°F (33°C)
25°C (77°F)77°F (25°C)
11 rd
May
32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)
25°C (77°F)77°F (25°C)
18 rd
Jun
32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)
25°C (77°F)77°F (25°C)
17 rd
Jul
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
25°C (77°F)77°F (25°C)
17 rd
Aug
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
25°C (77°F)77°F (25°C)
18 rd
Sep
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
24°C (75°F)75°F (24°C)
21 rd
Oct
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
24°C (75°F)75°F (24°C)
21 rd
Nov
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
24°C (75°F)75°F (24°C)
13 rd
Dec
32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)
24°C (75°F)75°F (24°C)
6 rd
High / low, both scales · rd = rain days
Arrive & moveAirports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Arrive & move
Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Getting around
The main road links Kata Yai to Kata Noi over the hill; most of Kata Yai is walkable in 10–20 min. Songthaews and open-air buses run to Karon and Phuket Town from the main road, and tuk-tuks or taxis cover short hops — agree the fare first. A rental scooter is the usual way to reach Karon, Chalong Bay and Phuket Town, but only with a valid licence and a helmet.
See & doDay-trips, door to door
See & do
Day-trips, door to door
Day-trips
Door to door: 10–15 min
Songthaew or open-air bus north along the coast road
Longer, busier beach with its own restaurant strip; easy half-day.
Door to door: 45–60 min
Local bus from the main road, or scooter
Old-town shophouses, markets and the Sunday walking street; go for the evening.
Chalong Bay
goDoor to door: 20–30 min
Scooter or taxi over the hill
Pier for island boats and a cluster of seafood restaurants.
Door to door: 30–40 min
Taxi or songthaew north via Karon
Go for the night out, not the beach; expect traffic both ways.
Kamala
goDoor to door: 30–40 min
Scooter or taxi north along the coast
Quieter beach and village; pairs well with a Surin run.
Mai Khao
skipDoor to door: 1.5 h
Taxi via the airport road
Too far for a day return; only useful if you are flying out.
Eat & sleepWhich area to sleep in
Eat & sleep
Which area to sleep in
Where to sleep
Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.
Kata Yai centre (Kata Rd / Koktanod Rd)
Walk to the beach, restaurants and shops; noisiest and busiest part.
Kata Yai south end
Bungalows on the slope above the sand; quieter, still a short walk to food.
Kata Noi
Smaller beach, fewer hotels, higher prices; 1 km (0.6 mi) over the hill from Kata Yai.Smaller beach, fewer hotels, higher prices; 0.6 mi (1 km) over the hill from Kata Yai.
Patak Rd hillside
Cheaper rooms set back from the sand; you need a scooter or a 10–15 min walk.
PracticalWhat a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Practical
What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Cost per day
- Budget
- ฿1,200–2,200 (≈ US$40–70) excl. bed
- Mid
- ฿2,500–4,500 (≈ US$80–140) excl. bed
- High
- ฿6,000 (≈ US$190)+ excl. bed
Trip budget
| Double room, mid-range hotel1 × 3 nights × ฿2,000 | ฿6,000 |
| Food, local transport, entries2 × 3 days × ฿3,000 | ฿18,000 |
| Airport minibus, both ways2 × ฿400 | ฿800 |
| Scooter rental, one day1 × ฿300 | ฿300 |
| eSIM, about a week of data2 × ฿350 | ฿700 |
| Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurge | ฿2,580 |
| Trip total≈ ฿4,730 per person per day, bed included | ฿28,380≈ US$900 |
2026 estimate in baht; flights excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.
Prices of common things
| Thai noodle or rice dish at a local café | ฿70–150 (≈ US$3–5) |
| Beer: draught in a bar / can at a 7-Eleven | ฿90–150 (≈ US$3–5) / ฿40–60 (≈ US$2) |
| All-you-can-eat BBQ | about ฿199 (≈ US$7) |
| Scooter rental, one day | ฿250–400 (≈ US$8–13) |
| Taxi Kata → Phuket airport | ฿800–1,000 (≈ US$25–35) |
| Two-tank dive trip | ฿2,500–3,500 (≈ US$80–110) |
| Thai massage, one hour | ฿300–500 (≈ US$10–16) |
2026 estimate; check locally.
Watch out
Safety
- Swim between the red-and-yellow flags only; the monsoon season brings rip currents and lifeguards may be absent.
- Agree every tuk-tuk or taxi fare before you get in; there is no meter.
- Scooter rental: check the bike, photograph existing damage, and carry an IDP — police check licences on the west-coast roads.
- Jet-ski and motorbike deposits are a known dispute point; never hand over your passport as security.
Emergency numbers
- Police
- 191
- Ambulance and rescue
- 1669
- Tourist police (English)
- 1155
Pocket card
Fill in, then print or save as PDF
Stays in this browser only; nothing is sent anywhere.
Kataหาดกะตะ
Pocket card · Voykit
My bed tonight
—
—
—
ไปที่ที่อยู่นี้ครับ/ค่ะPlease take me to this address
Emergency
- Police191
- Ambulance and rescue1669
- Tourist police (English)1155
Embassy
No embassies in Kata; consulates and embassies are in Bangkok. Your embassy handles passports and emergencies — save the number before you fly.
My embassy: —
Fare anchors (2026 estimate)
- Phuket airport → Kata, shared minibus: about ฿180–250 (≈ US$6–8), 45–60 min
- Phuket airport → Kata, taxi: ฿800–1,000 (≈ US$25–35), agree before leaving
- Kata → Phuket Town, local bus: ฿30–40 (≈ US$1–2)
Say or show
- สวัสดี — Hello (sawatdee)
- ขอบคุณ — Thank you (khop khun)
- เท่าไหร่ — How much is it? (tao rai)
- แพงไป — Too expensive (phaeng pai)
- ไม่เผ็ด — Not spicy, please (mai phet)
- ห้องน้ำอยู่ไหน — Where is the toilet? (hong nam yu nai)
Tourist police 1155 answers in English; 1669 is the ambulance and rescue line.
Deep diveWhat this guide covers so far, and its sources
Deep dive
What this guide covers so far, and its sources
Not a trip line yet
This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Kata. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.
What we know, and what is coming
On this page
- Best months: Nov–Apr · avoid May–Oct (southwest monsoon, red flags, surf) · month by month →
- 1 airport and 4 areas to sleep in
- Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
- Cost per day in 3 bands
- 6 day-trips, door to door
- 4 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers
Coming as the guide grows
- Airport-to-bed contract for HKT: minibus and taxi bands, last pickup times, late-arrival fallback.
- Four walking clusters with rescue anchors: Kata Yai centre, Koktanod Rd, the south-end bungalow slope, Kata Noi.
- Place pages with verified cutoffs (Kata Yai, Kata Noi, the reef off Ko Pu, the Thursday market) and eat pages with last orders.
- Monsoon and red-flag fixtures so the swim decision can go green or red by month.