Burgas

Lakes and Bird Migration

Burgas lies at the westernmost point of Burgas Bay and is surrounded by three lakes: Atanasovsko, Lake Burgas (Vaya) and Mandrensko. The city is also a starting point for exploring a landscape where bodies of water and bird migration play an important role. The Via Pontica, one of Europe’s largest bird migration routes, passes over the Poda protected area. Every year, tens of thousands of white storks, Dalmatian pelicans, birds of prey and songbirds pass through.

At the Poda Nature Conservation Centre, you can learn about the area’s and region’s biodiversity. Its permanent exhibition offers a year-round point of contact: the centre is open all year. For nature observation, binoculars and spotting scopes are available, as well as observation terraces on two levels. Ornithologists lead themed discussions, and outdoor interactive modules round out the offering. There are several ways to take part—from the exhibition and discussions to watching wildlife and getting involved.

Insights into Old Burgas

The Ethnographic Museum of Burgas is housed in the Brakalov House. Built in 1873, it is considered the only surviving Bulgarian urban house of the Balkan-house type from the 19th century in Burgas. The museum explores the traditional culture and everyday life of old Burgas. A visit therefore offers a different perspective from exploring the lakes and birdlife, focusing instead on the city’s ways of life and cultural history.

The main railway station is also part of the city’s history. It was declared an architectural monument in the 1970s. Anyone interested in architectural history will find a tangible historic landmark here, alongside the themed insights offered by the Ethnographic Museum.

Beach and Active Time by the Water

Burgas Central Beach offers an almost two-kilometre stretch of golden sand for swimming and sunbathing. When planning your holiday, you can make beach days a focus in their own right or combine them with nature and cultural experiences. The beach also has courts for volleyball, football and beach tennis. These activities add a sporting dimension to time by the water; what you choose depends on what you feel like doing on holiday.

Getting There and Special Experiences

The main railway station is next to the “South” bus station. From there, bus routes run to all destinations on the southern Bulgarian Black Sea coast, as well as to Varna and Burgas Airport.

The Burgas Aviation Museum offers an unusual way to explore the experience of flying: using virtual reality headsets, visitors can take on the role of a pilot and fly an aircraft of their choice. This offers a different way to experience Burgas than the beach, city history or nature observation, and may be a factor when choosing activities.

When looking for a holiday apartment, you can start by considering which aspects of Burgas you want to shape your stay: birdlife and lakes, beach activities, city history, or a mix of interests. The pages for Sarafovo, Rudnik, Burgas, Kraymorie and Bryastovets offer further guidance within the municipality.

For the broader travel overview: Burgas Province.

More destinations

More places in the same destination:

Karnobat, Sozopol, Aytos.