Official Seoul Bike and Seoul Metropolitan Government information checked: .
You see a row of green-and-white bicycles beside a Seoul subway exit. The app shows bikes available, the price is only a few thousand won, and the Han River is nearby.
Then the first screen asks whether you are a member or a foreigner.
The hardest part of Seoul's public-bike system is usually not riding the bicycle. It is understanding which pass you bought, how long one rental can last, and whether the bicycle actually registered as returned when you finished.
For a first Ttareungi ride, use the official Seoul Public Bike app, choose the Foreigner route when appropriate, buy a short pass, inspect the bicycle, scan its QR code, and do not walk away at the end until the app or message confirms that the return is complete.
This guide is for visitors and foreign residents using Seoul's public bicycles, commonly called 따릉이—Ttareungi.
Your first-ride checklist
1. Install the official Seoul Public Bike app.
2. Select Foreigner if you are using the visitor flow.
3. Buy the pass you actually need.
4. Find a station with bicycles in the app.
5. Check the brakes, tires, chain and seat.
6. Tap Rent and scan the bicycle's QR code.
7. Ride within the pass's basic rental time.
8. Return to a designated Ttareungi station.
9. Push the lock lever fully down.
10. Wait for the return-complete confirmation before leaving.
Jump to: Visitor passes · Buying a pass · Renting · Returning · Safety · Problems · Han River rides
What is Ttareungi?
따릉이 is Seoul's public bicycle-sharing system.
The Seoul Metropolitan Government currently reports more than 2,700 rental stations around the city, with stations commonly placed near subway entrances, bus stops, residential areas, public offices and other busy locations.
You do not rent a bicycle from a person at a shop.
You use an app, unlock a bicycle at one Ttareungi station and return it to another official Ttareungi station.
That makes it useful for trips that are:
- too far to comfortably walk,
- short enough that taking the subway feels unnecessary,
- along a separated cycle path, or
- part of a recreational ride along the Hangang.
It is not the same system as the private rental bicycles you may see inside Hangang parks.
Can foreign tourists use Ttareungi?
Yes.
Use the official app and follow the visitor options it displays. Seoul Bike's current guest-pass guidance, checked October 27, 2026, confirms account-free pass purchase with an overseas-issued credit card. Check the current app screens for these steps; Discover Seoul Pass has separate activation instructions:
- download the Ttareungi / Seoul Public Bike app,
- select Foreigner,
- choose a pass, and
- pay using an overseas-issued credit card or Discover Seoul Pass where applicable.
The visitor flow is important because it avoids beginning with the ordinary resident membership process when you do not have Korean mobile identity verification.
Do not borrow a Korean friend's phone identity merely to create an account.
If you are staying in Korea longer and want a regular member account, that is a separate setup.
How old do you need to be?
Seoul's current guidance says ordinary Ttareungi use is available from age 13.
A family pass was introduced in 2025 for younger children riding under a guardian’s supervision. Eligibility and documentary verification are separate from the ordinary visitor pass; check the current guardian-registration process before planning a ride with a child under 13.
Do not assume that the family pass is a simple tourist workaround for a child under 13.
Families visiting Korea should confirm current eligibility before planning a bike day around it.
How much does Ttareungi cost in 2026?
Seoul's official bicycle-policy page, updated March 10, 2026, lists these standard day passes for both members and non-members:
- 1-hour pass: ₩1,000
- 2-hour pass: ₩2,000
- 3-hour pass: ₩3,000
The three-hour option was introduced in November 2025 after Seoul found that more riders were using Ttareungi for longer leisure rides, particularly around the Hangang and parks.
Official source: Seoul Metropolitan Government — Seoul Public Bike Ttareungi.
Source: Seoul Ttareungi fares and safety; checked October 9, 2026.
The number means time per rental—not “you only get one bicycle ride”
This is one of the most important Ttareungi rules.
A one-hour pass gives you a basic rental time of 60 minutes for one checkout.
A two-hour pass gives 120 minutes.
A three-hour pass gives 180 minutes.
If you return the bicycle within that basic time, you can rent again under the pass conditions without paying an overage for that ride.
The official Seoul fare page specifically explains:
- 1-hour pass → return before 60 minutes and re-rent,
- 2-hour pass → return before 120 minutes and re-rent,
- 3-hour pass → return before 180 minutes and re-rent.
So a one-hour ticket is not intended to mean:
“You are allowed exactly one hour of cycling in total today.”
It means you need to finish each rental within its base period to avoid overage.
Example
You buy a one-hour day pass.
10:00 — rent Bike A
10:40 — return it normally
11:15 — rent another Ttareungi
11:50 — return again
You have made two separate rentals while keeping each ride within the basic one-hour rental period.
Always check the actual expiry shown for your purchased pass in the app.
What happens if you go over the time?
The current additional charge is:
₩200 for every five minutes beyond the basic rental time.
Unpaid extra charges can prevent another rental.
If you are using a one-hour pass, the practical rule is simple:
Do not plan to reach the return station at minute 59.
Leave enough time for:
- a wrong turn,
- traffic lights,
- a full or unavailable station,
- finding the correct return area, and
- confirming that the return registered.
What is the foreigner All-Day Pass?
Source: Seoul Bike guest-pass guidance; checked October 27, 2026.
Seoul Bike's current guest-pass guidance lists an:
All-day Pass — 24 hours — ₩5,000.
This product is useful if you expect to ride repeatedly or for a longer period.
Do not treat the phrase “24 hours” as permission to ignore the specific rental instructions shown for the pass you purchased.
The Seoul Bike terms define a foreigner all-day product separately, while linked products such as the Discover Seoul Pass publish their own return and re-rental instructions.
Read the active pass inside the app before starting a long ride.
If your goal is simply a 30-minute ride along the river, the ₩1,000 option may be easier than buying the largest available pass.
Discover Seoul Pass users
Discover Seoul Pass currently includes a Ttareungi transportation benefit.
Its official instructions say pass holders can receive 24-hour Ttareungi access by:
- opening the Ttareungi app,
- selecting Foreigner,
- choosing Purchase Pass,
- selecting Discover Seoul Pass,
- entering the pass's 10-digit QR code and an email address, and
- completing the displayed registration process.
The Discover Seoul Pass instructions currently tell its users to return the bicycle at the applicable rental interval and rent again rather than assuming one uninterrupted 24-hour ride.
If you are using DSP, follow its current instructions rather than mixing the rules with another Ttareungi pass.
Source: Discover Seoul Pass current bicycle instructions; checked October 9, 2026.
How to buy a Ttareungi pass as a foreign visitor
1. Download the official app before you are standing beside the bike
Search for Seoul Public Bike / Ttareungi in your phone's official app store.
Open it while you have a stable connection.
The official app supports Korean, English, Japanese and Chinese.
2. Select Foreigner
Use the tourist/foreigner flow rather than trying to complete ordinary Korean membership authentication if you do not have the required local setup.
3. Choose the pass
For a first ride, I would start with the shortest realistic option.
Do not buy the all-day product simply because it appears to be the best theoretical value.
First check whether:
- the bicycle fits you,
- you are comfortable riding in Seoul,
- the route has suitable bike infrastructure, and
- the app works correctly with your phone.
4. Enter an email you can actually access
Seoul's visitor instructions use email as part of the foreigner purchase process and for recovering pass information.
Do not enter a throwaway address and then discover that you need the confirmation later.
5. Pay
Seoul Bike's guest-pass guidance says that Ttareungi passes can be purchased with an overseas-issued credit card, limited to one pass per card.
Card authorization still depends on your issuer.
A Visa or Mastercard logo does not guarantee that every transaction will be approved.
Your overseas card is declined
Do not immediately make the same payment five times.
First check:
- whether the first transaction is pending,
- whether your bank blocked the transaction,
- whether overseas use is enabled, and
- whether the app shows a pass despite the payment message.
If you have another supported overseas card, try that after confirming the first transaction did not complete.
If you already have Discover Seoul Pass, first check whether its current Ttareungi benefit applies to your pass and is available to use. Follow that product's activation, return and re-rental instructions before buying a separate bike pass.
Our Paying in Korea guide explains why unattended terminals and Korean online payment systems can behave differently from ordinary card purchases.
Save your pass information before walking away
After successful purchase, confirm that the pass appears inside the app.
When a rental or pass code is shown, keep it accessible.
Discover Seoul Pass specifically recommends saving the rental code because it can be used if the user is logged out; the code is also sent by email.
A screenshot of a pass code is useful.
A screenshot of your full card information is not.
How to rent a Ttareungi bicycle
Step 1: find a station in the app
The app map shows official Ttareungi stations and available bicycles.
Do not use a random public bicycle rack simply because it has a green bike beside it.
Station availability can change quickly during commuting hours and weekends.
Seoul's ten-year usage analysis found particularly heavy weekday use around:
- 07:00–09:00, and
- 17:00–19:00.
On weekends, afternoon leisure use is especially high.
If a station has one bicycle left, treat that as a possibility—not a reservation guaranteed until you arrive.
Step 2: inspect the bike before renting
Seoul's current safety guidance tells users to check:
- brakes,
- tires,
- chain, and
- seat security
before riding.
Also look for:
- a visibly damaged wheel,
- a loose pedal,
- a broken basket,
- a twisted handlebar, or
- another obvious problem.
If something looks wrong, choose another bicycle.
Do not rent it and hope the brake improves once you are moving downhill.
Step 3: adjust the seat
Set the saddle height before unlocking where practical.
You should be able to pedal comfortably without your knees being excessively compressed or your hips rocking from side to side.
Ttareungi is designed as a stable urban bike, not a performance road bicycle.
Step 4: tap Rent
Open the app's rental function when you are actually beside the bicycle.
The current Seoul Bike rental guide tells users to scan the QR code under the bicycle's saddle after tapping Rent. If scanning fails, follow the help options actually displayed in your app or contact the operator.
Step 5: wait for the unlock confirmation
The rental begins when the lock releases and the bicycle gives the appropriate audio confirmation.
Do not pull, kick or force the lock if it does not open.
Check that you selected the correct bicycle.
The bike appears in the app but will not unlock
Try these checks:
- Confirm the bicycle number or QR code.
- Check that the pass is active.
- Make sure the app has a working data connection.
- Wait for the rental confirmation rather than repeatedly pulling the lock.
- If it fails, cancel or allow the failed rental process to clear as instructed and choose another bicycle.
If the system shows that a rental started but you never gained control of the bicycle, contact Ttareungi rather than simply renting a second one and ignoring the first record.
Where should you ride?
Seoul's current Ttareungi safety rules make one useful point very clearly:
A bicycle is a vehicle.
Wear a safety helmet: this is required by the current Seoul Bike terms (effective September 1, 2026).
Where a bicycle path is provided, use it.
Where there is no bicycle path, Seoul's guidance tells riders to travel along the right-hand edge of the road.
Do not ride rapidly through crowded pedestrian space because the bike feels slower than a car.
At crosswalks
Seoul's published Ttareungi rules say riders should dismount and walk the bicycle across a pedestrian crossing.
Do not use your phone or earphones while riding
The same safety guidance specifically warns against:
- using a mobile phone,
- using earphones while riding, and
- riding after drinking alcohol.
If you need navigation, stop somewhere safe and check the map.
Bad weather
The current Seoul Bike terms say users should not rent a bicycle when conditions such as rain, fog or strong gusts make riding difficult.
A little cloud cover is not the same as a storm, but Ttareungi should not become your plan for proving that a heavy-rain warning is exaggerated.
Use the subway instead when road conditions become unsafe.
A good first Ttareungi route
For someone who is not used to Seoul traffic, I would not make the first ride:
“Cross central Seoul through whichever roads the map chooses.”
Use a clear recreational bicycle route first.
The Hangang is one obvious option because long stretches have dedicated cycling infrastructure and Ttareungi stations near major parks.
Other park-based or separated cycling routes can also work.
Use Naver Map or KakaoMap to plan the approach to the cycle path rather than assuming the entire route from your hotel is bike-friendly.
Our Essential Korea Travel Apps for Foreign Visitors guide explains why Korean map apps are particularly useful for local navigation.
How to return a Ttareungi correctly
This is the part worth learning before your first ride.
1. Find an official Ttareungi station
You can return the bicycle to a different Ttareungi station from the one where you rented it.
Use the app to find the destination station.
2. Park the bicycle in the designated station area
Position it properly without blocking:
- pedestrian space,
- tactile paving,
- shop entrances,
- vehicle access, or
- other bicycles.
3. Push the lock lever fully down
On current smart-lock bicycles, lower the rear lock lever completely.
4. Wait for the return confirmation
Seoul's official instructions tell users to confirm both:
- the bicycle's return voice notification, and
- the return-complete message or app notification.
Do not walk away just because the wheel is physically locked.
Locked does not always mean returned.
If the app says the bicycle is temporarily locked or your rental timer is still running, the bicycle has not been fully returned.
Stay with it and resolve the return before leaving.
Temporary lock vs. return: the difference that causes extra charges
Ttareungi's smart lock can also be used to temporarily secure a bicycle during an active rental.
Discover Seoul Pass's official instructions describe this function:
- pull the lock lever down,
- the app shows a temporary-lock status, and
- use the app's Unlock function when you want to continue.
This is useful for a short stop.
It is not the same as returning the bicycle to the system.
If you lock the bicycle somewhere outside an official Ttareungi return station and walk away, your rental may continue.
The return station is there, but the return will not register
Do not leave the bicycle and hope the app catches up later.
Try this:
- Confirm that you are at the official station shown in the app.
- Move the bicycle into the designated parking/return area.
- Push the lock lever fully down.
- Wait for the voice and app/message confirmation.
- Check whether the app still shows an active rental.
If the return still does not complete, contact the Ttareungi customer center at:
1599-0120
Have these details ready:
- bicycle number,
- station name or number,
- approximate return time, and
- a screenshot showing the active rental or error.
따릉이를 대여소에 반납하고 잠금장치를 잠갔는데 앱에서 반납 완료가 안 됩니다. 자전거 번호는 [번호]이고 대여소는 [대여소명]입니다.
I returned the Ttareungi at a station and locked it, but the app does not show the return as complete. The bike number is [number], and the station is [station].
Common Ttareungi problems
The app says there are bikes, but none are usable
Availability is live operational information, not a reservation.
A bike may:
- have just been rented,
- be temporarily unavailable,
- need maintenance, or
- not yet match the display because the station status is changing.
Use the app to check the nearest alternative station.
Do not spend twenty minutes trying every visibly damaged bicycle when another station is five minutes away.
There are no bikes near the subway station
This is common during peak commuting periods.
Walk one or two stations away on the app map rather than waiting beside an empty rack.
Seoul actively redistributes bicycles because commuter districts can become unbalanced.
Your destination station disappears or is closed
Stations can occasionally be temporarily suspended for construction, large events or traffic-control measures.
That does not mean the whole Ttareungi system is closed.
Check the app for another active station nearby.
You went over the basic rental time
Return the bicycle as soon as it is safe to do so.
Do not keep riding simply because an overage charge has already started.
The current additional charge is ₩200 per five minutes.
After return, settle any required extra charge before attempting another rental.
You were charged after you thought you returned the bike
Check your return history and the return-complete message.
If you never received confirmation, give support:
- bike number,
- station,
- time, and
- any photograph or screenshot showing where you left it.
The useful question is:
“At what time does the system show this bicycle as returned?”
That is easier to investigate than simply saying “I definitely returned it.”
The bicycle develops a problem during the ride
Stop somewhere safe.
Do not continue if the problem affects:
- braking,
- steering,
- wheel stability,
- pedals, or
- another safety-critical part.
Return it to a nearby station if that can be done safely and report the fault through the official system or customer center.
Do not attempt roadside mechanical repairs to a shared bicycle beyond ordinary user adjustments such as seat height.
You crash or are injured
Move out of traffic if you can do so safely.
For an urgent medical emergency in Korea, call 119.
For a road accident involving another person or vehicle where police assistance is needed, call 112.
Record the location and bicycle number and notify Ttareungi after immediate safety needs are handled.
Using Ttareungi along the Han River
The Hangang is one of the easiest places for visitors to understand why Ttareungi is popular.
Instead of renting a bicycle from a park shop and returning it to the same business, Ttareungi lets you use the city's broader station network.
That can work well for a one-way ride.
But plan the return station before you start.
Do not cycle 90 minutes downstream and only then discover that:
- the nearest station is farther from the river than expected,
- your rental time is almost finished, or
- a large event has temporarily closed nearby stations.
A simple first-ride strategy
Choose:
Park → bicycle path → another Ttareungi station → subway.
That is often easier than planning a long circular ride back to the starting point.
Do not plan a ride only from distance
Five kilometers on a protected riverside cycle path and five kilometers through dense city traffic are not the same experience.
Check the actual route.
If the approach to the river looks uncomfortable, take the subway to the park first and rent the bike there.
Can you take Ttareungi on the subway?
Do not plan your route around carrying a public-share bike onto the subway.
Ttareungi is designed to be returned to the public-bike station network.
If your planned cycling route becomes too long or weather changes, return the bicycle normally and continue by transit.
That is one of the main advantages of a station-based public-bike system.
What if it starts raining?
If conditions make cycling unsafe, return the bicycle at the nearest suitable station.
The current Ttareungi terms tell users not to rent when weather such as rain, fog or gusty wind makes riding difficult.
Do not attempt to “get your money's worth” from a ₩1,000 ticket by continuing in unsafe road conditions.
A subway ride is cheaper than an accident.
Can you use Ttareungi with a Climate Card?
Seoul has offered Ttareungi benefits through the Climate Card and TmoneyGO ecosystem.
However, this route involves separate card registration and app-account requirements and is more relevant to residents or longer-stay visitors than somebody wanting one tourist ride.
If you already use a Climate Card, check its current Ttareungi conditions through the live Seoul Climate Card and TmoneyGO instructions.
If you are a short-term visitor, the Ttareungi Foreigner purchase route is usually easier to understand.
Useful Korean for Ttareungi
Where is the nearest Ttareungi station?
가장 가까운 따릉이 대여소가 어디예요?
This bike will not unlock.
이 따릉이 잠금장치가 열리지 않아요.
The bicycle has a problem with the brake.
이 자전거 브레이크에 문제가 있어요.
I returned the bike, but the return is not showing as complete.
자전거를 반납했는데 반납 완료 처리가 안 됐어요.
Is this a Ttareungi return station?
여기가 따릉이 반납 대여소가 맞나요?
My rental is still running in the app.
앱에서 아직 대여 중으로 표시됩니다.
Before your first Ttareungi ride
- Download and open the official app.
- Use the Foreigner route if appropriate.
- Confirm your overseas card can pay.
- Choose the correct pass.
- Check the pass's basic rental time.
- Look at the intended return station before starting.
- Inspect brakes, tires, chain and seat.
- Use a route appropriate for your cycling confidence.
- Do not use your phone or earphones while riding.
- Allow extra time for the return.
- Do not leave until the return-complete notification appears.
Related AllThingsK8282 guides
Our Essential Korea Travel Apps for Foreign Visitors explains why Naver Map and KakaoMap are worth preparing before you plan a Ttareungi route.
If this is your first trip to Seoul, 3 Days in Seoul for First-Time Visitors groups the city by neighborhood. Use Ttareungi for a short useful connection inside a suitable area rather than trying to replace every subway ride with a bicycle.
The rule worth remembering
Renting is easy.
Returning correctly is the skill you need to learn.
A Ttareungi ride is not finished when you stop pedaling.
It is finished when you are at an official station, the bicycle is locked, and the system confirms:
Return complete.
Check that before you walk away and most Ttareungi problems become much easier to avoid.
Official sources used:
Seoul Metropolitan Government — Seoul Public Bike Ttareungi, fare and safety information, updated March 10, 2026.
Seoul Bike — Guest-pass guidance and English Rental & Return instructions, checked October 27, 2026.
Seoul Metropolitan Government — How to Rent and Return Seoul Bike.
Seoul Metropolitan Government — Ttareungi Hits 250 Million Riders in Ten Years as New 3-Hour Pass Launches, November 2025.
Seoul Public Bike — current Terms of Use.
Discover Seoul Pass — current Ttareungi transportation instructions.
Current official prices are ₩1,000 for a one-hour daily pass, ₩2,000 for two hours and ₩3,000 for three hours, with ₩200 charged for each additional five minutes beyond the basic rental period. Seoul Bike's current guest-pass guidance lists a separate ₩5,000 24-hour All-Day Pass. Pass conditions can differ between products, so the active pass displayed in the app governs how you should use it.
Seoul also temporarily closes Ttareungi stations when required by major events or traffic restrictions. Always use the live app map rather than an old screenshot of station locations.
The first-ride route, timing buffers, visitor troubleshooting, Korean messages and recommendations about when to use the subway instead are editorial guidance. Bike availability, station status, app interfaces and payment authorization can change in real time.
Update — October 27, 2026: Added the helmet obligation, replaced the unavailable visitor-pass reference with current operator guidance, and aligned the QR step with the English rental guide. Pass products remain separate; actual app checkout and rentals were not tested.
Updated October 29, 2026: Removed the two references to an unrefreshed March 2026 event example while preserving the general temporary-station-closure advice and live-map checks. This does not assert that the historical closure did not happen, or certify current station availability or an individual rental.
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