Post updated Jan 2024

In this post, I’ll be sharing 10 fun things to do at Kata Beach in Phuket. 

Kata Beach is both the name of a small town on Phuket’s west coast and its popular beach. The 1.5 km long, postcard-perfect crescent of white sand beach is lined with trees throwing shade to relax and enjoy the sound of the calm waves breaking on the sand.

For me, Kata Beach in Phuket is much more relaxing than the popular Patong Beach, only 10km away.

Let’s cover the 10 best things to do in Kata Beach in Phuket

1) Take Surf Lessons in Kata Beach Phuket

Toward the Southside of Kata Beach, a couple of swim schools offer surfing lessons. You can’t miss these guys on the beach, they’ve got a set-up with a range of large surfboards that are perfect for practising your skills (or wipe-outs). The small waves here at Kata Beach Phuket are ideal conditions to learn this awesome water sport and have loads of fun at the same time. 

Prices start from about 1200 THB for a private lesson for 1 person or 1500 THB for a 1.5-hour lesson. Or if you’re travelling with a friend, take the 1.5-hour lesson for 2 students with 1 instructor for 2600 THB.

Alternatively, if you’d just like to hire a surfboard and get out there, surfboard hire at Kata Beach in Phuket starts at 200THB for 1hr, 500 THB for half-day or 800THB for 1 day hire.

2) Get a Thai massage

Get a traditional Thai massage. This is my favourite thing to do in Kata Beach Phuket and probably in the entire country.

There are massage places everywhere, but I prefer to walk to the back streets away from the main streets across from Kata Beach Phuket. In my opinion, this is where you find the places that take care to deliver a more authentic massage. A traditional Thai massage price is now 300 THB ($9 USD), and a relaxing massage or maybe just a relaxing foot massage is the same price.

It’s always so nice to escape the heat and be welcomed into a calm, air-conditioned establishment to take an hour for yourself to relax.

3) Learn to Cook Thai Food 

I’ve been saying this for as long as I’ve been travelling the world, Thai food is one of the best cuisines ever! There’s nothing quite like it. Why not learn how to cook this wonderful cuisine by joining a Cooking Class in Kata Beach Phuket?

There are several different cooking schools, yet my favourite is this Thai Food Cooking Class.

4) Book an Island Hopping Tour

There are so many awesome day trips from Phuket to the surrounding islands. The most popular day tours are:

• Phi Phi Islands & Maya Bay Day Trip with Lunch
• James Bond Island Excursion by Longtail Boat

5) Go to Karon Viewpoint

As Phuket is a large and mountainous island (almost the size of Singapore, and that’s an entire country) you can guess there are a bunch of fantastic viewpoints. One of the most famous ones is the Karon View Point.

This place used to be a super popular spot with tourists taking selfies and hanging out, but not so much anymore. These days it’s a little more serene. 

It’s a perfect ten-minute ride here from Kata Beach Phuket.

I’d recommend that you hire a scooter in Kata Beach Phuket and take a ride up here. You can see the Andaman Sea on one side, yet the other side has views of three different bays of Kata Noi, Kata Yai and Karon beaches. 

If you’re keen to check out a few other viewpoints on the island, I’d also recommend Kata Noi Viewpoint, Khao Rang Hill, and Ya Nui Viewpoint

6) Go Scuba Diving in Kata Beach Phuket

Diving and exploring the underwater world is a bucket list item in Kata Beach Phuket. The Thai Islands are all blessed with such beautiful marine life just under the surface.

Given that there are MANY dive schools to choose from, try and make the best choice. Go with ones that have great reviews and safety standards. I’d recommend Oceanic Dive Centre.

These guys also offer some awesome Liveaboards if that’s something you’re interested in.

A Liveaboard is all about diving! Essentially you book your place on a trip, and you sleep on the boat, go diving all day between all meals provided to you. 

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7) Eat Amazing Food at the Street Vendors along the Beach

I’m a huge fan of street food, especially in Thailand. I don’t think I’ve ever had a bad meal here and the street food vendors in Kata Beach Phuket are fantastic. They start parking up along Soi Parking Rd, directly across from the beach from about 8.30 am.

They set up their mobile kitchens and cater for locals and tourists all day until the evening, or until it gets quiet. Most of the classic Thai dishes are priced from 30 – to 60 THB, but the variety is fantastic.

Fruit stalls, coffee and iced teas, Thai salads, grilled chicken, pad thai and everything in between. This was my favourite place to eat in Kata Beach Phuket for taste and price too. It feels good to support the locals directly by buying breakfast, lunch and dinner at their food stalls. 

Bonus: Take your food across to the beach or enjoy it in the beautiful green Community park just behind the food stalls on the other side of the fence.

8) Go snorkelling at Kata Noi Beach

If you can leave the beauty of Kata Beach Phuket, just 2km south is another cute little bay named Kata Noi. It’s another stunning little beach that is perfect for relaxing, swimming and snorkelling. 

TIP: Pick up a snorkel from one of the shops in Kata Beach Phuket before you make your way here. The best time to snorkel is around midday. Head to the northern part of the beach to enjoy the highest water visibility.

There are sunbeds offered for hire by locals along this beach or just throw your towel down on the sand and relax. As usual, there are a few small bars where you can buy cold drinks and snacks.

NOTE: Kata Beach Phuket is fantastic for snorkelling. Another great spot is a small coral reef between the northern tip of Kata Beach and the nearby Koh Pu. Check it out if you’re keen to spot more marine life!

9) Take the local bus to explore Phuket Town

This is the coolest, and cheapest way to get to Phuket Town. It departs on the hour from 06:00 in front of the Municipal Office, very near to Kata Beach in Phuket. The journey takes close to an hour, it’s 40 THB per person and it’s an open air bus, so you can see everything as you ride along.

There are buttons you can press if you need to alert the driver and get off at any point too. The bus takes the route along Karon Beach first to pick up more passengers, then it cuts across the island and heads to Phuket Town.

Note: The last bus back to Kata Beach in Phuket departs Phuket Town at around 5 pm, so plan your day accordingly. If you miss it, then the next cheapest option to get back to Kata Beach in to get a taxi or Grab (ride-sharing app). A Grab ride is approximately 420 THB.

TOP TIP: I recommend a visit to Phuket Town to indulge in some excellent food! Read more in my Food Guide for Phuket Town with 15 fantastic recommendations on the best places to eat!

10) Kata Seafood and Ska Bar

This place is easy to find because of its location right on the end of the beach, next to a giant tree. The perfect spot to watch the sun go down with a cold beer. The restaurant serves Thai food and freshly caught seafood.

Yes, it’s quite popular with tourists because it offers great views, but the prices are reasonable and the food is great. 

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Take advantage of these basic Thai phrases! Make your travels smoother and connect better with the locals. 

Where to Stay in Kata Beach

There are various places to stay in Kuta Beach to suit every budget. Usually, the closest to the beach drives the prices higher for accommodation; however, I’ve found some great value properties that are less than a 10-minute walk to the beach.

Luxury Resort Accommodation – Chanalai Flora Resort: We’ve enjoyed a very comfortable stay at this resort and loved the two on-site pools to relax! We highly recommend this property, located just a 5-minute walk to the beach. Check availability & prices.

Mid-Range Accommodation – Sugar Ohana Poshtel: Clean, fresh and new! Excellent beds, fantastic location, and the included breakfast is delicious. Check availability & prices.

Budget Accommodation – The Color Kata: Clean and comfortable place to stay in a great location! This accommodation offers excellent value for money. Check availability & prices.

Is it Safe in Kata Beach in Phuket?

Absolutely. The biggest concern to be honest, when it comes to tourist travelling around Thailand is to wear a helmet and shoes when driving a scooter or a motorbike. I’ve seen many tourists in the past that ride around at top speed with flip flops, shirtless and no helmet.

Accidents happen, and they really do happen in Thailand, I’ve seen the huge bandages covering bodies and scrapes to prove it. So be prepared and at the very least, wear a helmet.

Getting travel insurance that will cover you for any type of accident when you travel is ESSENTIAL. They say that if you can’t afford travel insurance, then you can’t afford to travel. We agree with this, and for travel in Thailand and Southeast Asia, we recommend you get covered.

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More Tips for Thailand

We’ve got a list of 26 useful tips for travel in Thailand to help you out on arrival. Some of our favourite places include Kata Beach, on the island of Phuket (here are 10 awesome things to do in Kata Beach).

Our other favourite place in Thailand is Chiang Mai. Find out more about where to stay in Chiang Mai; our accommodation guide includes what neighbourhoods will suit individual needs. 

And, our Complete Food Guide to Chiang Mai is unmissable! 

If you’re a remote worker or digital nomad looking for a new place to call home, Thailand is perfect!

Read our detailed digital nomad guides for Ko Samui vs Ko Pha-Ngan & Chiang Mai vs Chiang Rai. These two guides will provide you with insight into what to expect from the remote worker’s lifestyle in Thailand. 

Check out our Ultimate Southeast Asia Packing List for your adventures and you might enjoy reading our Best Travel Tips from Over 15 Years of Travel.

For more of our best travel tips and helpful advice, visit our Travel Resources Page.