There are four protected areas on the territory of Municipality of Plovdiv, declared according to the Protected Areas Act: the natural monument "Mladezhki Halm" (Youth Hill), "Danov Halm" (Danov Hill) and "Halm Na Osvoboditelite" (Hill of the Liberators), and the protected site "Noshtuvka Na Malak Kormoran - Plovdiv" (along the Maritsa river). The three hills - natural monuments, are located in the urbanized part of the city.

The "Youth Hill" is located in the southwestern part of the Central District of Plovdiv. The territory of the hill is included in the green system of the city as a public park. The largest in area, the tallest and furthest from the city center, "Youth Hill" is relatively least affected by human activity. The hill together with its low park part were declared a natural monument in 1995 by the Ministry of Environment and Water, for protection of landscape of unique geomorphologic formations - part of the hills in Plovdiv, as well as the specific landscape, rare and protected species of flora and fauna.

The "Hill of the Liberators" is located in the central part of Plovdiv and administratively belongs to the Central District. The territory of the hill is included in the green system of the city in its role of a public park. Until the end of the 19th century, the hill was outside the city, and subsequently it was landscaped and became an attractive place for recreation. In 1990, the National Institute for Cultural Monuments (now the National Institute for Immovable Cultural Heritage) declared the hill a monument of garden and park art, and in 1995 the Ministry of Environment and Water declared it a natural monument.

The "Danov Hill" is located in the most urbanized, central part of Plovdiv, about 60-70 m west of the main pedestrian street "Knyaz Alexander I". The "Danov Hill" is better known with its old name - Sahat (clock) hill because of the clock tower, rising there for centuries. Until the end of the 19th century, the hill was not a popular place for recreation. Currently, "Danov Hill" combines the functions of a public city park, cultural and historical landmark (monument of park and garden art) and a protected area - a natural monument, preserving biodiversity and the unique landscape of the hill. Valuable plant and animal species are also subject to protection, including Balkan endemics, species included in the Red Book of Bulgaria, rare plants and others.

Protected site "Noshtuvka Na Malak Kormoran - Plovdiv" was declared in 2006 (Order №RD-644 / 05.09.2006 of the Ministry of Environment and Water) for protection of habitat, places for resting, and congregation place during the migration of the Phalacrocorax pygmaeus.