Discover Sarafovo

Sarafovo combines a beach about 1.5 kilometres long with a history of its own and a cycling route that also includes the archaeological harbour and fortress. The Atanasovsko Lake, with its visitor trails and recorded birdlife, offers another distinct natural attraction.

Sarafovo Beach

The beach stretches for about 1.5 kilometres and has fine sand. In places, the sand is darker; these areas are associated with iron and magnetite. The water is shallow, and the seabed slopes gently. Breakwaters along the beach help protect the bay from strong currents and large waves. Planes are another possible sight at the beach: visitors may see aircraft flying very low near Burgas Airport.

Local History and Harbour

Sarafovo was founded in 1920 by refugees from Eastern Thrace. The ancient and medieval harbour and the town fortress of Sarafovo date from the 4th to the 6th century. The remains of a Roman settlement lie about two kilometres north of the town, with part of the settlement underwater. The historical attractions thus span different periods: the founding of Sarafovo, the harbour and fortress complex, and the remains of the Roman settlement.

Sarafovo’s fishing harbour is a separate site: its berths have electricity and water points. This specific provision applies to the harbour’s berths.

Nature and Cycling Route

Atanasovsko Lake is a managed protected area and a Ramsar wetland. This shallow hypersaline lagoon has an average depth of 30 centimetres. A total of 333 bird species have been recorded in the area. There are two designated visitor trails at the lake: a short one and a long one. Their different lengths make it easy to compare the two routes.

The municipal Green Corridors cycling route is 20.2 kilometres long. It connects Burgas, Atanasovsko Lake, Sarafovo’s archaeological harbour and fortress, and the Thracian tomb near Camp Europa. The route alternates between cycle paths, asphalt and sections on unpaved roads. Both the total distance and the surface are therefore useful details when planning your route.

Getting Around

Sarafovo has bus connections to Burgas, Pomorie, Nessebar and Sunny Beach. Sarafovo Beach is accessible on city bus line 15. A coastal promenade connects Sarafovo with Burgas Sea Garden for pedestrians and cyclists. As bus routes may change, check the latest connections before travelling.

In the Wider Burgas Destination

In the wider Burgas destination, 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. The Poda Nature Conservation Centre is open year-round and has a permanent exhibition on the biodiversity of the area and region. Facilities and activities include binoculars and spotting scopes, themed talks led by ornithologists, observation terraces on two levels, and interactive outdoor modules. Check the centre’s latest information before visiting.

The Ethnographic Museum of Burgas is also part of this wider city context. It is housed in the Brakalov House, built in 1873 and considered Burgas’s only surviving 19th-century Bulgarian town house in the Balkan style. The museum presents the traditional culture and everyday life of old Burgas.

Discover more destinations: Burgas, Kraymorie, Bryastovets, Rudnik

Go to the wider travel overview: Burgas.