Provided are a method and apparatus for generating a stereoscopic image bitstream. The method includes dividing a base view image and an additional view image into blocks having a predetermined size, generating a combined image by combining the blocks of the base view image and the blocks of the additional view image, recording the combined image in a payload area of the stereoscopic image bitstream, and recording block combination pattern information about a pattern of arranging the blocks of the base view image and the additional view image in the combined image, in a header area of the stereoscopic image bitstream.