Hat Kata
A beach base on Phuket's west coast, with surf in monsoon season and easy day trips to Patong and Karon.
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Hat Kata is a beach about 1.5 kilometers long on the west coast of Phuket, the largest island in southern Thailand. It faces the Andaman Sea, and several hotels and restaurants sit close to the sand. Phuket Town is about 17 kilometers away. The northern half is Hat Kata Yai and the southern half is Hat Kata Noi, so you can pick the end that suits you.
Surfing is popular here during the monsoon season, roughly May to October, and the Phuket Surfing Contest takes place at Hat Kata every September. For swimming and sunbathing, the drier months from about November to April are the usual choice. Patong Beach and Karon Beach are close enough for a day trip, so you can see several Phuket beaches in one day. The sand itself is public, so your main costs are your bed, food and transport.
Hat Kata in five
- Swim only when the flags are green or yellowFrom roughly May to October the Andaman swell and rip currents make Kata dangerous, and red flags mean stay out of the water. In those months use a pool or go to a sheltered bay.
- Choose Kata Noi for a quieter beachKata Noi sits around the headland and is smaller and calmer than Kata Yai. It has fewer restaurants, so decide whether you want evening choice or peace.
- Compare Kata with Patong before you bookPatong has the nightlife and the crowds; Kata is easier and family-friendly with a short ride to Karon. If bars are the point, look at Patong, otherwise Kata keeps the beach mood.Hat Patong
- Fix the airport transfer price firstThe drive from Phuket airport takes roughly an hour. Use a pre-booked transfer or an app, and agree a fare before moving, since street taxi quotes vary.Phuket
- Keep scooter rentals for dry-season daylightThe south end has steep, curving roads and rain makes them slippery. Wear a helmet, check your travel insurance covers riding, and photograph any damage before taking a rental.
Need to know
- Airport
- Phuket International (HKT), about 1 hour by road
- Getting there
- Taxi, pre-booked transfer or minivan from the airport
- Getting around
- Taxis, ride apps and short walks; songthaews between beaches
- Best base
- Kata Yai for choice; Kata Noi for quiet
- Time needed
- 3 to 5 days
Weather by month
- Rainy days
- Days with storms
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- Poor
- JanuaryPartly cloudy12 rainy daysHigh30°Low25°Dry, calmJanuaryPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 30°
- Low
- 25°
- Precipitation
- 89 mm
- Rainy days
- 12
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Dry, calm
- FebruaryClear8 rainy daysHigh30°Low25°Dry, calmFebruaryClear
Best
- High
- 30°
- Low
- 25°
- Precipitation
- 48 mm
- Rainy days
- 8
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Dry, calm
- MarchClear12 rainy daysHigh31°Low26°Dry, hotMarchClear
Best
- High
- 31°
- Low
- 26°
- Precipitation
- 71 mm
- Rainy days
- 12
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Dry, hot
- AprilRain20 rainy daysHigh31°Low27°Songkran, hotAprilRain
Mixed
- High
- 31°
- Low
- 27°
- Precipitation
- 149 mm
- Rainy days
- 20
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Songkran, hot
- MayRain28 rainy daysHigh30°Low27°Monsoon startsMayRain
Poor
- High
- 30°
- Low
- 27°
- Precipitation
- 284 mm
- Rainy days
- 28
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Monsoon starts
- JuneRain24 rainy daysHigh29°Low27°Surf, red flagsJuneRain
Mixed
- High
- 29°
- Low
- 27°
- Precipitation
- 260 mm
- Rainy days
- 24
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Surf, red flags
- JulyRain24 rainy days1 day with stormsHigh29°Low27°Surf, wetJulyRain
Mixed
- High
- 29°
- Low
- 27°
- Precipitation
- 243 mm
- Rainy days
- 24
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 1
Surf, wet
- AugustRain25 rainy daysHigh29°Low26°Surf, wetAugustRain
Mixed
- High
- 29°
- Low
- 26°
- Precipitation
- 268 mm
- Rainy days
- 25
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Surf, wet
- SeptemberRain25 rainy daysHigh29°Low26°WettestSeptemberRain
Poor
- High
- 29°
- Low
- 26°
- Precipitation
- 341 mm
- Rainy days
- 25
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Wettest
- OctoberRain28 rainy daysHigh29°Low26°Wet, swellOctoberRain
Poor
- High
- 29°
- Low
- 26°
- Precipitation
- 333 mm
- Rainy days
- 28
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Wet, swell
- NovemberRain26 rainy daysHigh29°Low25°Drying outNovemberRain
Mixed
- High
- 29°
- Low
- 25°
- Precipitation
- 264 mm
- Rainy days
- 26
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Drying out
- DecemberRain18 rainy daysHigh29°Low25°Peak seasonDecemberRain
Good
- High
- 29°
- Low
- 25°
- Precipitation
- 133 mm
- Rainy days
- 18
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Peak season
Average daily high and low in Kata, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.
Right now in Hat Kata
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
26
- Feels like
- 30°
- Humidity
- 87%
- Wind
- 7 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 58%
Hat Kata
04:57 AM
Tuesday, November 3
- Today29°25°58%Tuesday: Drizzle. High 29°, Low 25°. Chance of rain 58%.
- Wed29°24°74%Wednesday: Rain. High 29°, Low 24°. Chance of rain 74%.
- Thu29°25°75%Thursday: Rain. High 29°, Low 25°. Chance of rain 75%.
- Fri29°24°82%Friday: Rain. High 29°, Low 24°. Chance of rain 82%.
- Sat29°24°84%Saturday: Drizzle. High 29°, Low 24°. Chance of rain 84%.
- Sun29°24°100%Sunday: Rain. High 29°, Low 24°. Chance of rain 100%.
Updated 12:59 AM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Money
Mid-market rate1 USD = 33.76 THB
Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API
Day trips by train
- Phuket Townabout 30 to 40 min by roadOld shophouses, cafes and a market, easy in the wet months.Read the guide
- Ko Phi-Phiabout 1.5 to 2 hours by boat and transferSpeedboat and ferry days leave from the south and east piers.Read the guide
- Hat Patongabout 25 to 40 min by roadEvening trips to the nightlife strip and back.Read the guide
Before you go to Hat Kata
We may earn a commission. It never decides our picks.
Rules for Hat Kata, checked
- Many nationalities can enter Thailand without a visa, but entry rules change. Check the Thai Immigration Bureau site before you book.Source
- Remove your shoes and cover shoulders and knees before entering temples in Phuket.
- Save the police, ambulance and Tourist Police emergency numbers in your phone before you travel.
- Insulting the Thai royal family is a criminal offense in Thailand, and this includes online posts.
Plan around Hat Kata
Regions, islands, entry rules and the season map
Read the guidePhuketThe island hub: beaches, old town, boats
Read the guideHat PatongThe busiest beach, with Bangla Road nightlife
Read the guidePhuket TownSino-Portuguese shophouses and street food
Read the guideKo Phi-PhiIsland day trips from the south coast
Read the guideBest time to visit ThailandWhich coast is dry in which month
Read the guideHat Kata FAQ
Is Kata Beach good for swimming?
In the dry season, yes, with gentle surf and a long sandy bay. From about May to October it is rough and rip currents can be dangerous, so follow the lifeguard flags and avoid red-flag days.
Is Kata or Patong better?
Kata is calmer, with a family beach feel. Patong has the nightlife, the biggest crowds and the most restaurants. If you want to be near bars, choose Patong; for a quiet beach week, choose Kata.
How far is Kata Beach from Phuket airport?
About one hour by road, depending on traffic and the time of day. A pre-booked transfer or an app is simpler than negotiating at the curb.
What is the difference between Kata and Kata Noi?
Kata Noi is the smaller, quieter beach south of the headland, with fewer restaurants. Kata Yai is the main bay with more shops and a livelier strip. They are a short ride apart.
Do you need a car in Kata?
No. Taxis, ride apps and songthaews cover most trips, and walking works within the town. A scooter or car only helps if you plan to explore the island independently.