The official East-Coast Route covers only the top two-thirds of South Korea’s east coast. The course features two separate bike paths with a rideable 4.8-kilometer gap between them:

A cyclist cruises down the Nakdonggang Bike Path along the Nakdong River.

You won’t find stamp booths or an official Certification Bike Path between Yeongdeok County and Busan Metropolitan City along the bottom third of Korea’s east coast. However, a series of coastal roads allows cyclists to conquer this lower section (directions).

Covering about 247 kilometers, you will traverse the following districts as you make your way up to the Gyeongbuk Bike Path:

I suggest starting at the top of Igidae Park (map; directions) in Busan Metropolitan City. It offers a spectacular view of Gwangan Bridge (map). Then ride eastward through Busan and encounter a wealth of highlights:

The stretch between Busan and Ulsan offers the biggest challenge in terms of traffic: single-lane coastal roads with lots of sightseeing cars on their way to seaside coffee shops (map) and pensions.

If you have the time, take a quick detour to Haedong Yonggungsa (map), a famous temple among jagged rocks and crashing waves.

On the bottom edge of Ulsan City, just before Jinhwa Beach (map), come upon Cape Ganjeolgot (map), the most eastward bit of land on the Korean peninsula. Every New Year’s Day it holds a festival to celebrate the nation’s “First Sunrise of the Year.”

Pass oil refineries as you enter downtown Ulsan. Cycle through the city center, then zoom down the peninsula known as Dong-gu (East District). There you’ll find one of the world’s largest shipyards and car factories, and the famous Daewangam Park (map).

Ride north into Gyeongju City along calmer seaside roads and interesting volcanic rock formations. Hop inland around a nuclear power plant, then cross into Pohang City.

Just before a giant horn on the coast, pass Guryongpo, an old Japanese fishing village. It boasts a hilltop monument, cultural street (road view; map) and a history museum (map) converted from a historic house (map).

Now ride to the tip of the horn in Pohang City. Meet Homigot Sunrise Square (map), a park with two giant hands, one nestled amongst the waves. Like Cape Ganjeolgot, this eastward bit of land also holds a festival celebrating one of Korea’s first “New Year’s Sunrises.”

Next, ride into downtown Pohang and pass Yeongildae Beach (map). Before and after, you’ll encounter POSCO steel mills and other mega-factories. The city paved roads around these parts for industrial output. Not recreation. So you’ll encounter some sidewalks in disrepair.

As you cross into Yeongdeok County, where the Gyeongbuk Bike Path begins, hop between coastal highways with sidewalks and tiny port settlements with low houses and beaches.

After passing Ganggu, a town with endless snow crab restaurants, climb a hill and meet Yeongdeok Sunrise Park (map). It holds the first Certification Center (stamp booth; map) along the Gyeongbuk Bike Path.

One more note: The “Haeparang Trail” or “해파랑길” travels the full length of Korea’s East Coast, from Busan to the DMZ. It also mirrors the Gyeongbuk and Gangwon Bike Paths. However, planners created the “Haeparang Trail” for hikers, not bikers. It follows a mix of dirt trails through hillsides and coastal sidewalks.