Guides, Maps, and Map Information for the Bicycle Traveler
This page contains information and links to maps we have actually used while traveling by bicycle in various countries.
Maps and Guide Books That Covers Many Areas
OpenStreetMap is built by a community of mappers that contribute and maintain data about roads, trails, cafes, railway stations, and much more, all over the world." Covers most of the World with a varying amount of detail. Included in various apps.
Cicerone Produces a range of over 350 guidebooks to walking, trekking, climbing, mountaineering and cycling. Covers the UK and Europe, and has many guides to other regions of the world. Publishes about 30 new guides and fully updated editions each year.
Bikeline (VerlagEsterbauer) A wealth of guides and maps for Europe mostly in German. This is a link to their English language guides but take a look at their other guides. They are fairly easy to follow even if you don't speak German. GPS tracks are available and there are regular updates to the publications.
Kompass Guides Has detailed maps of cycleways in Europe, available on Amazon.
Omnimaps Has maps in stock specifically designed for cyclists for many countries.
Mapping Apps and Online Guides
There are many cycling apps with maps available for iPhone and android. Some of the better apps have the ability to show OpenCycleMap. OpenCycleMap is based on OpenStreetMap and shows cycleways around the world. It works well in some countries such as Portugal and does not work in countries such as the Netherlands where almost all roads are marked as cyclepaths.
Look for offline mapping apps since you never know if there will be a cell phone connection on your ride.
Maps.me is listed here because it is the app we use most often for navigation on roads or on trails. It is based on OpenStreetMap and covers most of the planet. It does not display OpenCycleMap. Import GPS routes in the form of KML files into the Maps.Me bookmarks folder to see your route in the app. To import the KML file "open" the file with Maps.Me (press and hold and open with the app.) In android the file is stored in \MapsWithMe\bookmarks. Just to let you know, a KMZ file is a zipped KML file. Change the file extension to ZIP and Windows file manager will open the folder.
Guru Maps has the ability to show map types other than OpenStreetMap, in particular it will display OpenCycleMap. KML files can be imported by "opening" the file with Guru. To import the KML file place the file in a folder or email it to your device, press and hold and open with the app. The route will appear in "collections" A good user manual is available for the app.
Cycle.Travel is based in the UK but uses OpenStreetMap and covers most of the planet. Its strongest feature is the ability to plan a route to any location and download a GPS track or PDF guide for offline use.
Velo Planner is based on OpenStreetMap and does a good job of showing the names of bicycle routes by clicking on the line on the map. It also does a good job of planing a route to any location and allows download a GPS track for offline use.
Backcountry Navigator is another possibility. It can store offline maps and can record GPS tracks that can be exported to other apps. Has a wide range of map choices.
Korea
Naver Maps This the "Google Maps" of Korea only better. Has amazing detail and shows bike paths. Has an app. Click on 자전거 to turn on cycle paths.
Daum Maps The other big mapping site for Korea. Has an app. Does not show bike paths but does a better job with hotels than Naver.
Downloadable guides in PDF format. These are out of print. Nakdonggong, Hangong,
Sweden
Cykelkartan From the site: "is the map for those who want to discover Sweden by two wheels. The map series covers Götaland, large parts of Svealand and the area around Siljan. The maps are detailed and contain suggestions of suitable cycling routes and their road conditions – gravel or asphalt."
Sweden By Bike Has some good route suggestions and basic maps.
Cycling the Western Balkans
Here's a ride we might do someday if we want to ride hills. The new 4,000-kilometer (2,500 mile) Trans Dinarica cycling route is now open and connects Albania and the other countries in the Western Balkans through the Dinaric Alps, known as the “Accursed Mountains.” The route starts in Slovenia, crossing through remote parts of Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Montenegro, Albania, Kosovo and North Macedonia on public roads with a mix of gravel, dirt and asphalt. Here is a link to the 
Trans Dinarica site and a New York Times description.
Poland: Green Velo
Something we might do, this site has a detailed map of the route and a description Poland Green Velo site.