The area combines wetlands and freshwater, saltwater and brackish bodies of water, and is home to an exceptionally rich variety of birds.
For visitors arriving by air, the transfer from Sofia Airport to the Poda Conservation Centre is a convenient way to reach the natural attraction directly and begin a walk through one of the most valuable coastal habitats in Bulgaria.
Poda Protected Area – a natural treasure near Burgas
The Poda Protected Area lies right beside the E87 international road between Burgas and Sozopol. Its area is about 100.7 hectares, and it was declared a protected area in 1989 to preserve the natural habitats of rare and protected waterbirds.
Poda holds a special place in the history of nature conservation in Bulgaria. It is the first protected area in the country handed over for management to a non-governmental conservation organisation – the Bulgarian Society for the Protection of Birds (BSPB).
Today the protected area is managed by BSPB, and the Conservation Centre plays an important role in promoting nature-friendly tourism and bird conservation.
One of the richest bird sites in Europe
The main reason Poda is such a special place is its impressive diversity of birds.
According to the Bulgarian Society for the Protection of Birds, in an area of about one square kilometre 321 bird species have been recorded – roughly a quarter of all bird species found in Europe.
Residents of the area include:
- the Eurasian spoonbill;
- the glossy ibis;
- the pygmy cormorant;
- the night heron;
- the purple heron;
- the squacco heron;
- the little egret;
- the grey heron;
- pelicans;
- terns;
- various birds of prey.
Poda is also home to the only mixed colony on the Bulgarian Black Sea coast, including the Eurasian spoonbill, glossy ibis, pygmy cormorant and various species of heron.
Poda and the Via Pontica migration route
The location of the protected area is one of the reasons it is so valuable to ornithologists. The area lies along Via Pontica – one of the main migration routes for birds along the western Black Sea coast.
During the migrations a huge number of birds can pass over the area. Particularly impressive are the periods when autumn migration begins and storks and birds of prey pass over Poda. In August 2026, for example, BSPB reported the first white storks heading south – a sign of the start of the autumn migration.
This makes Poda an excellent place for people who want to watch birds in their natural environment.
The Poda Conservation Centre
The Conservation Centre was established in 1997 on the territory of the protected area. Its main task is to help protect the area, present its natural wealth and encourage nature-friendly tourism.
Visitors can spend here either a short stop or several hours in nature. The centre offers bird watching, and binoculars and spotting scopes are available. BSPB specialists can help identify the different species and tell you more about their lives.
Bird watching and photography
Poda is an especially good place for photographers and ornithology enthusiasts.
The protected area has visitor trails and specially designated observation points that allow you to watch the birds' behaviour without disturbing their natural way of life. The centre also offers photography hides for visitors who want to take nature photography more seriously.
This is a chance to observe rare species in their natural environment, rather than behind glass or in a zoo.
A variety of wetland habitats
The special richness of "Poda" comes not only from its birds, but also from the variety of its habitats.
The protected area contains three main types of aquatic environment: freshwater, saltwater and brackish bodies of water. It is this diversity that creates the conditions for many plant and animal species to thrive.
In the area you can observe not only birds, but also various plants, reptiles, insects and other wetland wildlife.
International conservation importance
"Poda" matters far beyond Burgas and Bulgaria. In 1989 the site was designated an Important Bird Area by BirdLife International. In 1998 it was recognised as a CORINE biotope, and in 2003 it was declared a wetland of international importance under the Ramsar Convention.
These international designations show the importance of the area as a habitat for rare, endangered and migratory birds.
"Poda" is also included in the list of 100 National Tourist Sites of Bulgaria.
What can you do at "Poda"?
A visit to the "Poda" Conservation Centre can be relaxed and tailored entirely to visitors' interests.
Options include:
- watching birds from the centre's terraces;
- walking along the visitor trails;
- using binoculars and a spotting scope;
- watching birds from specialist hides;
- nature photography;
- visiting the interactive exhibition;
- talking to experts and conservationists;
- combining the visit with other natural and tourist sights around Burgas.
This makes "Poda" an interesting stop for a family outing as well as for a specialist birdwatching or photography trip.
What else to visit near "Poda"?
The centre's location makes it easy to combine your visit with other interesting places in the Burgas area and on the Southern Black Sea coast.
Depending on your route, you can visit:
- Burgas – the sea garden, the seafront and the cultural sights of the city;
- Atanasovsko Lake – another significant wetland for birdwatching;
- Lake Mandra – part of the Mandra–Poda nature complex;
- Sozopol – one of the oldest and most popular towns on the Southern Black Sea coast;
- Kraimorie – a coastal district of Burgas, right on the route to "Poda".
A trip to the "Poda" Conservation Centre can thus turn into a full day devoted to nature and the Southern Black Sea coast.
For tourists arriving at Sofia Airport, direct road transport is a convenient way to reach Burgas and the protected area without several changes.
With transfer from Sofia Airport to the "Poda" Conservation Centre you can travel directly to the area of the centre and combine the visit with other destinations on the Southern Black Sea coast.
The service is suitable for:
- individual tourists;
- families;
- foreign visitors;
- small and larger groups;
- bird lovers;
- nature photographers;
- tourists planning a combined route around Burgas and Sozopol.
A comfortable journey with Tsenov Group
Tsenov Group offers private transport for tourists who prefer a direct and comfortable journey from Sofia Airport to their chosen destination.
For a visit to "Poda", the transfer can be adapted to your itinerary, so you can combine the conservation centre with Burgas, Atanasovsko Lake, Sozopol or other interesting places on the Southern Black Sea coast.
Visit the "Poda" Conservation Centre in comfort
The "Poda" Conservation Centre is a place for people who want to see nature in its natural state. Here the wetlands, the sea climate and the birds' migration route create an exceptionally rich ecosystem right next to Burgas.
