Patong or Kamala, Which is better to stay?

Patong and Kamala are two popular areas to stay in Phuket. They are known for its beaches, wide range of tourist amenities, and relatively central location to explore the island.

In this article, I will outline the similarities and differences between Patong and Kamala. These include aspects like location, nightlife, shopping, accommodations, food, and attractions.

I stayed in several areas around Phuket including Patong. I traveled around the island on the scooter and visited Kamala. Additionally, I’ve traveled extensively throughout Thailand, so I hope to provide you with the best suggestions possible.

Is it better to stay in Patong or Kamala Beach?

Both Patong and Kamala are great places to stay in Phuket for beaches. As the nightlife hub of Phuket, Patong is the best place to go for nightlife. This area also has a great shopping scene with a modern shopping mall Jungcelon and many night markets.

Even if you’re not into nightlife (like me), staying in Patong is still a great option because of its central location. Phuket is known for its traffic jams and expensive taxis, so staying in the central area will help you to save time and money on taxis.

Kamala, located just 10km north of Patong, is a better location for those who want a quieter atmosphere while still being close to the nightlife heart of the island. Kamala also has a more family-friendly vibe than Patong. You can always take a short taxi ride to Patong for a night out or for shopping.

Patong has a better location than Kamala. It is closer to major sights of Phuket like the historic old town, Big Buddha, Wat Chalong, Karon, and Kata Beach. Kamala is closer to the airport and beaches on northwest Phuket like Surin, Bang Tao, Nai Thon, and Mai Khao.

My recommended hotels in Patong:

Top recommended stays in Kamala:

luxury: InterContinental Phuket Resort by IHG
Mid-range: Sunprime Kamala Beach
Budget: PapaCrab Boutique Guesthouse

Location

Patong and Kamala are neighboring beach areas located on the west coast of Phuket, 10km apart. Kamala is located between Patong and Surin. It is around 26km south of Phuket Airport, and 26km northwest of Phuket Old Town.

Patong is located between Karon and Kamala. It is further away from the airport but closer to the old town. It is around 15km west of the old town and 37 km south of Phuket International Airport.

Patong has a bit more central location than Kamala. It is an excellent base to explore the south part of Phuket. Most major attractions on the island are located on the south of Phuket. You will be closer to the old town, Big Buddha, Wat Chalong, or Promthep Cape Viewpoint.

Kamala, on the other hand, is a great base to explore the beaches on the north part of Phuket. You will be closer to Bang Tao, Banana, Nai Thon, and Mai Khao Beach. It is also 10km closer to the airport than Patong, which is a big deal in Phuket due to its heavy traffic congestion and expensive taxi services.

See more: How to Get to Patong & Get Around

Accommodations

Both Patong and Kamala have a wide range of accommodations for all budgets. You can find luxury beachfront resorts, mid-range hotels, and budget-friendly backpacker hostels. They both have accommodations on the beachside, inside the village, and on the hillside area.

These two beach towns are popular destinations in Phuket, so make sure to book your accommodations well in advance to secure your spot. Hotels often sell out in the high season from November to May.

See more:

Beach

I personally prefer the beach in Patong more than the beach in Kata. During my visit, Patong Beach was clean with white sand, which is ideal for swimming, sunbathing, and chilling.

I visited Kamala Beach at low tide. The southern part of the beach was a bit muddy, and it was more swimmable in the central to northern areas.

Patong Beach is a bit larger than Kamala Beach. It is a 3km long beach while Kamala is around 2km long. Both beaches are lined with sunbeds and umbrellas for rent. There are also plenty of natural shades from palm trees and casuarina trees.

In Patong, the Beach Road 4030 runs parallel with the beach. This road is lined with restaurants, beach bars, and shops. It is a very busy road with traffic. In Kamala, the island’s main road 4030 is located around 200-300 meters away from the beach, creating a quieter atmosphere, away from traffic.

In addition to the beach within each town itself, Kamala and Patong are within a short drive to couples of their beautiful beaches, which offer more beach activities. Kamala is closer to Surin and Haad Laem Sing Beach. Patong is closer to Freedom Beach and Tri Trang beach.

See more: Best Things to Do in Patong

Nightlife

Patong is, without a doubt, the best place to go in Phuket for nightlife. It is the party center of the island, packed with bars, clubs, restaurants, and entertainment options.

The nightlife is scattered around Patong, but concentrated in the Bangla Walking Street. This is a red-light district in Phuket, packed with neon-lit shops and bars.

In addition to the bars and nightclubs, you can enjoy the nightlife at the many night markets in Patong, including Banzaan, Malin Plaza, and OTOP Night markets. You can also watch Muay Thai matches or ladyboy shows.

The nightlife in Kamala is much quieter with some nice bars and restaurants. Famous beach clubs in this area are the Café del Mar Phuket Beach Club. You can spend a night watching shows at the Phuket FantaSea themed park.

Shopping

Patong has a better shopping scene than in Kamala. It has modern shopping malls and several night markets, which offers everything you would need from luxury brands to cheap souvenirs.

The Jungcelon Mall in Patong is one of the biggest malls on the island. It is home to many shops selling both international and Thai products. The building is huge with beautiful architecture. There are also department stores, fast food restaurants, and upscale dining in Jungcelon.

For more budget-friendly shopping, Patong has a range of local markets for you to explore. I prefer Banzaan Night Market, but you can also check out the OTOP mall or Malin Plaza. You can find Thai handicrafts, souvenirs, as well as reasonably priced street food in these places.

Kamala has a smaller shopping scene compared to Patong. It has a good selection of small shops and malls for a comfortable stay. You can check out Kamala Friday Night Market, Big C Supermarket, Kamala Beach Plaza, or Kamala Walk Way.

Remember that if you stay in Kamala, you can always travel to Patong for more shopping. It is located just around 10km south of Kamala.

Food

Both Patong and Kamala have a wide range of food options, including local Thai food and international dishes. As the most popular tourist destination, Patong has more choices. You can find fine dining restaurants as well as cheap eats at local night markets.

Kamala was originally a Muslim fishing village, so you can find more halal food options in this area.

Cultural Attractions

There are no significant cultural attractions in either Patong or Kamala. Both towns have some local Buddhist temples. In Kamala, you can find some local Muslim mosques in addition to the temple.

Patong is closer to famous cultural attractions in Phuket like the Big Buddha and Wat Chalong. But you can still see these attractions from Kamala, it just takes longer to reach.

Family-friendly Atmosphere

Both Patong and Kamala have a wide range of family-friendly resorts and tourist amenities for families. Kamala has a quieter atmosphere, which is more suitable for families with kids.

The wild nightlife in Patong around Bangla Walking Street can make the area noisy, busy, and crowded, which is not ideal for families.

If your family still wants to stay in Patong for its central location and lively atmosphere, you can choose to stay in the northern part of the beach, which is a bit further away from the walking street area.

Hiking Opportunities &Viewpoints

Both Patong and Kamala are backed by the hillside area, so they offer good opposites for hiking enthusiastics.

In Patong, you can hike to the area around Wat Doi Thepnimit. You can even head to Kalim Viewpoint and Bang Wan Waterfall. There are also trails to Bang Wan Waterfall and Kalim Viewpoint in Kamala. You can also check out the trail to Kathu Waterfall from Kamala.

Within a short drive from Kamala Beach, you can take a look at the Laem Sing Beach Viewpoint on Road 4030. It has stunning views of Laem Sing Beach below.

Getting to and Getting Around

The two areas are easily accessible by road. There are plenty of metered taxi and riding share services that take you to Patong and Kamala.

Within its area, you can easily get around on foot. Most of the attractions are located within walking distance from each other. If you want to avoid the heats, you can always use local tuk tuk, songthaews, or riding share services like Grab, Bolt, or InDrive to get around.