Korean Bicycle Path Map Routes

Routes

A guide to Korea's bicycle paths.

Want to explore Korea by Bike? You’re in luck. The country maintains thousands of kilometers of bike paths that follow rivers, sail coastlines, and pass historic landmarks.

Looking for a quick cycle? How about an epic cross-country tour? Korea by Bike has all the resources you need. Find breakdowns of Korea’s certification cycling paths and more.

Ride the length of Korea, from Incheon to Busan.

Ride the length of Korea, from Incheon to Busan.

Travel the sun-soaked seascapes on Korea’s east coast.

Travel the sun-soaked seascapes on Korea’s east coast.

Find ancient forts, bamboo groves, and watergates along bike paths in Korea’s west.

Find ancient forts, bamboo groves, and watergates along bike paths in Korea’s west.

Circle Korea’s tropical getaway. Ride to a romantic city. And complete the east coast.

Circle Korea’s tropical getaway. Ride to a romantic city. And complete the east coast.

About the Routes

South Korea operates a Bicycle Certification System. Also known as a “stamp tour,” the system allows cyclists to document their biking adventures around Korea in a Bike Passport.

The Certification System includes 12 certification bike paths, which I group into four buckets:

  1. Cross-Country Route (4 certification bike paths)
  2. East Coast Route (2 certification bike paths)
  3. Western Routes (4 certification bike paths)
  4. Jeju & More Routes (2 certification & 2 non-certification bike paths)

As you travel the certification bike paths, find certification centers or red stamp booths spaced between 10 to 30 kilometers apart. Inside, find stamps to mark your Bike Passport.

Collect all the stamps on a certification bike path to receive a certificate. Ride a group of bike paths, like the Cross-Country Route, to earn an Olympic-style medal.

Korea by Bike provides a set of guides for each certification bike path:

  • A bike path profile which gives a general overview (e.g. Saejae Bike Path).
  • City-to-city breakdowns that guide you through one-day rides (e.g. Seoul to Yeoju).
  • A Highlights page which profiles the most noteworthy sites.
  • A description of the local geography (i.e. The Han River).
  • And info about How to Get There.

Scroll to explore!

Cross-Country Routes icon.

Cross-Country Route

Ride the length of Korea, from Incheon to Busan.

The Cross-Country Route follows a series of cycling paths and picturesque country roads from South Korea’s northwest to the southeast tip of the peninsula.

Four separate certification bike paths create the route, each strung together to form a continuous path.

The Stats

Start
Incheon City
(인천시)
← 633 km →
34 hours
End
Busan City
(부산시)
An elevation graph of the Cross-Country Route.
Checkpoints Logo
Stamps (29)
Bus Icon
Bus Terminals
Link button to Kakao Maps directions.
Directions
Link button to Kakao Maps Highlights.
Highlights

Cycle a short stretch from the Yellow Sea, down a canal, and onto the edge of Seoul.

Cycle a short stretch from the Yellow Sea, down a canal, and onto the edge of Seoul.

Ride the Han and South Han Rivers through Seoul, into tunnels, over weirs, and by river isles.

Ascend two mountain passes near an ancient highway in the middle of Korea.

Ascend two mountain passes in Korea’s middle near an ancient highway.

Ascend two mountain passes near an ancient highway in the middle of Korea.

Track the Nakdong River by architectural wonders, ancient academies, and bird sanctuaries.

Track the Nakdong River by architectural wonders, ancient academies, and bird sanctuaries.

Overview

The Ara Bicycle Path starts near the Yellow Sea in Incheon City. It rides east for a quick 21 kilometers and ends on the Han River in Seoul.

The Han River (Hangang) Bike Path continues the Cross-Country Route. It flies through the capital’s core, offering glimpses at iconic highlights.

After leaving the mega-city, travel the pastoral South Han River. Ride old rail bridges and tunnels, by watergates, and past river islands filled with migrating birds.

In the middle of Korea, the Saejae Bike Path takes over the Cross-Country Route. It ascends two mountain passes near the highest point of an ancient highway. Discover waterfalls, hot springs, and high-angle views along the way.

Dive onto the Nakdong River (Nakdonggang) Bike Path, the last leg of the Cross-Country tour. Wind south down the Nakdong River, the nation’s longest. Zig past eight weirs. Zag around Daegu City. And climb spiky hills overlooking ancient Confucian academies and hanok villages.

The Cross-Country Route ends near where the Nakdong River spills into the Korea Strait in Busan City on the southwest corner of the peninsula.

Korean East Coast Bicycle Route icon.

East Coast Route

Cycle Korea’s east coast and explore beaches and rocky coastline.

The East Coast Route travels along the shores of Korea’s East Sea (동해; map). Two bike paths navigate from North Gyeongsang Province, a third of the way up the nation’s coastline, to the DMZ (Demilitarized Zone) on the North Korean border.

The Stats

Start
Yeongdeok County
(영덕군)
← 353 km →
23.5 hours
End
Goseong County
(고성군)
East Coast Route Bicycle Map
An elevation graph of the East Coast Route.
Checkpoints Logo
Stamps (17)
Bus Icon
Bus Terminals
Link button to Kakao Maps directions.
Directions
Link button to Kakao Maps Highlights.
Highlights

Traverse a hilly route by seafood ports, ancient pavilions, and oversized snow crab statues.

Traverse a hilly route by seafood ports, ancient pavilions, and oversized snow crab statues.

An epic cycling path to the DMZ past beaches, resorts, and sea-spritzed rocks.

An epic cycling path to the DMZ past beaches, resorts, and sea-spritzed rocks.

Overview

Planners mapped out the East Coast Route in two separate bike paths with a cyclist-friendly 4.8-kilometer gap between them:

Gyeongbuk Bicycle Path

The Gyeongbuk Bicycle Path forms the East Coast’s southern section. It travels between the neighboring Yeongdeok and Uljin Counties on the bottom third of Korea’s coastline.

At 122 kilometers, the Gyeongbuk course is shorter than the northern Gangwon Bike Path. But it’s more challenging, traversing a series of spiky hills between sleepy fishing ports.

Western Routes bicycle path logo.

Western Routes

Discover historic sites and quiet towns along Korea’s western mountains, plains, and waterways.

Four bike paths in Korea’s western regions create the Western Routes. They follow three rivers (Geum, Yeongsan, Seomjin) and five mountain streams (Ocheon). Each explores unique topographies and local cultures.

The Stats

Western Routes Bicycle Map
← 105 km | 6 hours→
An elevation graph of the Ocheon Bike Path.
Link button to Kakao Maps directions.
Directions
Link button to Kakao Maps Highlights.
Highlights
← 146 km | 8 hours→
An elevation graph of the Geumgang Bike Path.
Link button to Kakao Maps directions.
Directions
Link button to Kakao Maps Highlights.
Highlights
← 149 km | 7.5 hours→
An elevation graph of the Seomjingang Bike Path.
Link button to Kakao Maps directions.
Directions
Link button to Kakao Maps Highlights.
Highlights
← 133 km | 7 hours→
An elevation graph of the Yeongsangang Bike Path.
Link button to Kakao Maps directions.
Directions
Link button to Kakao Maps Highlights.
Highlights
Checkpoints Logo
Stamps (26)
Bus Icon
Bus Terminals

Follow five streams through mountain valleys onto the Geum River.

Follow five streams through mountain valleys onto the Geum River.

Cycle a historic river past ancient settlements and forts to the Yellow Sea.

Cycle a historic river past ancient settlements and forts to the Yellow Sea.

Sail the Yeongsan River through flat, foodie provinces to the southwest tip of Korea.

Sail the Yeongsan River through flat, foodie provinces to the southwest tip of Korea.

Ride the Seomjin River along railroads and cherry blossoms to the bottom of Korea.

Ride the Seomjin River along railroads and cherry blossoms to the bottom of Korea.

Overview

The Western Routes feature four bike paths. None of them connect end-to-end. But they share similar features:

  • The cycling paths explore smaller cities, towns, and quiet countrysides.
  • They cross only a handful of challenging hills along their tame waterways.
  • Each bike path will take one or two days to complete.

Let’s look closer at them.

Jeju & More Routes logo.

Jeju & More Routes

Explore a tropical paradise, romantic city, and more bike paths.

Jeju & More Routes sends you around Jeju Island, up to Chuncheon City, down the rest of the east coast, and on more cycling courses. Only two of these cycling courses are certification bike paths. But each provides unique and picturesque backdrops.

The Stats

← 234 km | 13 hours→
An elevation graph of the Jeju Fantasy Bike Path.
Link button to Kakao Maps directions.
Directions
Link button to Kakao Maps Highlights.
Highlights
← 70 km | 4 hours→
An elevation graph of the Bukhangang Bike Path.
Link button to Kakao Maps directions.
Directions
Link button to Kakao Maps Highlights.
Highlights
Checkpoints Logo
Stamps (14)
Bus Icon
Bus Terminals

Explore beaches and resorts as you circle Jeju, Korea’s island destination.

Explore beaches and resorts as you circle Jeju, Korea’s island destination.

Follow the North Han River through valleys to Korea’s romantic city.

Follow the North Han River through valleys to Korea’s romantic city.

Complete the rest of Korea’s east coast, from Yeongdeok County to Busan City.

Ride the Taehwa River through the heart of Ulsan City and onto the east coast.

Jeju & More Routes cast a wide net. It explores two certification bike paths, a cycling course at the bottom of the east coast, and more biking routes.

These bike paths encompass a diverse range of landscapes and regions.

Let’s look closer at each.