Method and apparatus for searching a route

Method and apparatus for searching for a navigation route search a tentative route from a start point to a destination, based on hierarchical map data. The methods and apparatus search for a start-area route from the start point to a point on the tentative route at which wide-area map data is connected to local-area map data, based on the local-area map data and traffic information and search for a destination-area route to the destination from a point on the tentative route at which the wide-area map data is connected to the local-area map data, based on the local-area map data and the traffic information. The methods and apparatus determine a navigation route from the start point to the destination, based on the start-area route, the tentative route, and the destination-area route.