Ttareungyi Seoul Bike for Tourists: How to Rent and Prices

Ttareungyi Seoul Bike for Tourists: How to Rent and Prices

 

Ttareungyi, the green Seoul Bike, is the cheapest fun you can have in Seoul.

Tourists can buy a pass in the Seoul Bike app or at bikeseoul.com without joining as a member: 1,000 won gives you one-hour rides for a day and 2,000 won gives you two-hour rides, as of November 2026.

Go over your ride time and you pay 200 won for every extra 5 minutes.

Our family rides these along the Han River almost every warm weekend, and we have helped many visiting friends rent one.

The system is simple once you know the two or three things that confuse first-timers.

How much does Ttareungyi cost?

Prices are set by the Seoul city government.

 

Pass	Price (as of November 2026)	What it covers
Day pass, 1-hour rides	1,000 won	Rides of up to 1 hour each, all day
Day pass, 2-hour rides	2,000 won	Rides of up to 2 hours each, all day
Overtime	200 won per 5 minutes	Charged when a single ride goes over the base time

 

The key detail is that the pass lasts all day, but each ride has a limit.

Dock the bike, take it out again, and the clock resets.

We dock at a station halfway through a long ride and grab the same bike again, which avoids any overtime.

How do tourists rent a Seoul Bike?

1. Download the Seoul Bike app (따릉이) or open bikeseoul.com. Both have English.

2. Choose the foreigner or non-member option and buy a day pass.

3. Pay with a card. Seoul Facilities Corporation notes that the foreigner pass is paid with an overseas-issued card, and one card buys one pass at a time.

4. At a bike station, scan the QR code on the bike's lock with the app, or enter the bike number.

5. The lock opens. Ride.

6. To return, park at any Ttareungyi station and close the lock until the app confirms the return.

Step 6 is where people get caught.

If the app does not show the return, the clock keeps running.

We always wait for the confirmation before walking away.

Can my kids ride Ttareungyi?

Ttareungyi bikes are adult-sized, and the rules require riders to be at least 13 years old.

There are smaller «Saessak» bikes for shorter riders in some areas, but they are still not for young children.

For little kids, the Han River parks have private rental shops with child bikes, tandem bikes and bikes with child seats.

That is what we used when our kids were small.

Where are the best places to ride a Seoul Bike?

The Han River bike paths are the obvious choice.

They are flat, separated from cars and run along both banks of the river for kilometers.

 

Area	Why we like it	Note
Yeouido Hangang Park	Wide paths, lots of stations	Busy on weekends and during festivals
Banpo Hangang Park	Rainbow fountain bridge in season	Great at sunset
Ttukseom Hangang Park	Easy from the subway	Good for a short loop
Cheonggyecheon stream	Central Seoul	Walking path, ride on nearby roads with care
Seoul Forest	Shaded, near Seongsu cafés	Mix of park and city streets

 

Are there rules for riding in Seoul?

Helmets are recommended.

Ride on bike paths where they exist, and on the right side of the road where they do not.

On shared paths, slow down near pedestrians and ring the bell politely.

Do not ride after drinking.

Korea treats drunk cycling as a traffic offense, and the Han River parks are full of people enjoying chicken and beer, so be careful in the evenings.

Bikes are not allowed on subway trains on weekdays, and only on limited cars and times on weekends, so plan to dock and ride back.

What if there is no free dock or no bike at a station?

Popular riverside stations can run out of bikes on sunny afternoons, and some fill up with no docking space in the evening.

The app map shows how many bikes are at each station in real time.

If a station is full, the app lets you return next to the station rack at many locations; follow the instructions on screen.

If in doubt, ride to the next station a few minutes away.

Is it worth renting a Seoul Bike in winter?

On a sunny, windless winter day, yes.

The river paths are quiet and the light is beautiful.

But the wind along the river is cold, so wear gloves and a hat, and keep rides short.

After snow or ice, we skip it.

What does a good first ride look like?

For a first ride, we suggest a flat loop along the river with an easy start and end at subway stations.

One we like: start near Yeouinaru Station on Line 5, ride east along Yeouido Hangang Park, cross under the bridges and turn around when you feel like it.

Docking at a station halfway and checking out again resets your ride time.

An hour of easy riding, a stop for a drink, and back is a perfect afternoon.

For the evening, Banpo Hangang Park is lovely around sunset, when the city lights come on across the river.

What problems do first-timers run into?

 

Problem	What happened	Fix
Lock will not open	App lost signal or wrong bike number	Check the number, move a few steps for signal, try again
Return not confirmed	Lock not fully closed	Push the lock firmly until the app shows the return
Card declined	Domestic card in a foreign card menu, or one pass per card limit	Use another overseas card or the Discover Seoul Pass
Flat tire or broken bike	Bikes get heavy use	Return it and report it in the app, take another
No bikes at the station	Popular area on a sunny day	Check the map and walk to the next station

 

Before you ride off, squeeze both brakes, check the tires and adjust the seat.

It takes ten seconds and saves a lot of trouble.

Can I take photos and use my phone while riding?

Please do not ride with a phone in your hand.

The river paths are busy with fast road cyclists, runners and kids, and collisions happen.

Stop at the side of the path for photos.

If you need directions, use a phone mount or check the route before setting off.

Is a private rental better than Ttareungyi?

For adults, Ttareungyi is cheaper and easier, because you can pick up and return at hundreds of stations.

Private rental shops in the Han River parks are better for families with young kids, couples who want a tandem bike, or anyone who wants a nicer bike for a longer ride.

They charge by the hour and usually ask for ID.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a Korean phone number to rent Ttareungyi?

The foreigner option is designed for visitors. You buy the pass with an overseas card in the app or on the website.

Can two people use one pass?

No. One pass is for one rider, and one card buys one pass at a time.

What happens if I go over one hour?

You pay 200 won for every extra 5 minutes. Dock the bike and take it out again to reset the time.

Can I ride Ttareungyi at night?

Yes, the service runs 24 hours, but use lights and stay on lit paths.

After your ride, do what Seoul does on a warm evening by the river and read MARU on Seoul's Han River parks and the chicken-and-beer habit called chimaek.

 

Related on MARU Magazine: Why Do Koreans Eat Ramen at the Han River?

Sources: Seoul Metropolitan Government, «Public Bicycle Ttareungi» (english.seoul.go.kr); Seoul Metropolitan Government press release on the 3-hour pass (November 2025); Seoul Bike (bikeseoul.com).