Things to Do in Karon Beach

Karon is one of the most popular beach towns in Phuket, known for its beautiful beach, quiet atmosphere, and close proximity to Patong. It is located on the west coast of Phuket, around 10 km south of Patong, the party heart of the island.

In this article, I will show you some of the best things to do and see in and around Karon. This includes beach activities, local temples, night markets, and viewpoints.

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9 Best Things to do in Karon, Phuket

1. Karon Beach

Karon Beach is the main attraction of Karon. It is a 3km long beach with white sand, clean water, and lots of water activities. You can swim, sunbathe, have a massage, or try jet skiing and parasailing.

The Beach is lined with umbrellas and sunbeds for rent. You can pay for around 100 baht for a day. You can find beach vendors selling beach accessories such as hats, sunglasses, and souvenirs. There are also lots of restaurants and shops along the beach road.

At the area around Karon Beach Roundabout and Karon Park, you can find a range of street food stalls where you can buy food and drink to bring to the beach.

You’ll spot most resorts on 4030 Road, which is just a quick walk across the road to reach the beach. If you want to stay right on the beach, you can find Marina Phuket Resort and Beyond Karon at the southern end as well as Centara Grand Beach Resort at the northern end of Karon Beach.

2. Karon Temple and Karon Night Market

Karon Temple is a temple located on Pasak road, around 500m from the beachfront area. If you stay in Karon, it is worth checking out to just wander around, take photos, admire its architecture and enjoy its peaceful atmosphere.

There are the night markets at the ground of this temple on Tuesday and Friday. It is a great place for buying souvenirs and trying local street food at a reasonable price.

Like most Thai markets, you’ll find typical items such as T-shirts, handbags, scarves, as well as Thai food like grilled meat, pad thai, or fried rice.

3. Karon Park

Karon Park is located near the Karon Circle in the northern part of Karon Beach. The park is home to a lake, exercise equipment, and playgrounds where you can relax, jog, run, walk, or have a picnic.

Karon Park is a popular location for local festivals and events such as the Loy Krathong festival in November. There is a toilet at the park as well as several restaurants, shops, and 7-Eleven nearby.

4. Dino Park Mini Golf

Dino Park Mini Golf is a family-friendly attraction located at the southern end of Karon Beach, very close to Kata Beach. It is a dinosaur‑themed mini‑golf course, with 18 holes, with lots of dinosaur models, caves, waterfalls, jungle styling at each hole.

It also has a themed restaurant, so you can grab food and drinks. It’s ok to visit the park for scenery, taking photos, and restaurants without playing golf.

The best time to visit the park is in the late afternoon, when the sun isn’t as intense and you get both day and evening vibes.

5. Kata Night Market

Kata Night Market is located just a few minutes drive from Karon and is a great place for shopping and dining. The market is packed with stalls selling delicious Thai street food, fresh fruits and juices, and lots of souvenirs.

Karon has a night market but only open on Tuesday and Friday at Wat Karon, so if you want more night markets experience, it is a good idea to check the neighboring Kata Night Market, which is open daily.

6. Kata Beach

If you want to change the scenery of Karon Beach, you can just drive for around 5 minutes to reach the neighboring Kata Beach. Kata is another long beach in Phuket with white sand and clean water where you can swim, sunbathe, snorkel, and surf.

Kata Beach is one of the few beaches in Phuket with a market right on the beach road, perfect for grabbing tasty street food and drinks. It has all other beach facilities such as sun loungers, bedchairs, and watersport equipment for rent.

Other beaches with nice beach markets on Phuket are Nai Harn Beach and Surin Beach. Nai Harn is around 10km south of Karon Beach and Surin is around 20km north of Karon Beach.

7. Karon Viewpoint

Karon Viewpoint is one of the popular viewpoints in Phuket along with Cape Promthep and Windmill Viewpoints. Karon Viewpoint is located 5km south of Karon Beach.

This viewpoint is free to visit and has stunning views of three beaches including Karon, Kata, and Kata Noi Beach. It is located right on the main road, making it very easily accessible by car and scooter.

8. Freedom Beach

Freedom Beach is a remote beach located just 5km north of Karon Beach. This beach is a great place to relax, swim, and snorkel. If you’re coming by road, it’ll take about a 30-minute hike down to the beach, making it more secluded than most other beaches around Phuket.

The beach is just around 500m long but has white soft sand and crystal clear water. There are no resorts or hotels on the beach, just a beach bar where you can order a cold drink and enjoy the beach activities.

9. Phuket Big Buddha

Phuket Big Buddha is the most famous cultural attraction in Phuket. The Big Buddha has stunning views of the surrounding beaches and mountains. The Big Buddha is around 30 minutes from Patong. You can rent a scooter, take Grab Taxi, or join a sightseeing tour around the island.