Seoul by bicycle, from first Ttareungi to riverside afternoon.
Set up the right login, understand that every ride has its own clock, and never walk away until the app confirms the return. Then start beside the river.
- Ttareungi (Seoul Bike) suits short trips; Hangang Park shops are a separate system with their own returns.
- Each rental has its own time limit, even on a day pass.
- A temporary lock is not a return: confirm the rental has ended.
Three ways to get on a bike
The rental loop is simple: set up, ride, finish. Choose the option that fits your day.
Ttareungi / Seoul Bike
- Short city trips and flexible returns at official Seoul Bike stations.
Hangang Park rental shops
- Leisure rides, tandems and children's bikes, with different prices and return rules.
Specialist rental shop
- For a fitted road bike, e-bike or full-day tour: ask about equipment, deposits, breakdown support and returns.
Start with the right login
The visitor payment route and the resident member route are different. Install the official app (Seoul Bike / 서울자전거 따릉이, published by Seoul Metropolitan Government).
Visiting or using an overseas card
- Choose Foreigner on the start screen and select the language and pass offered.
- Enter an email you can access; keep the purchase email and pass code for recovery.
- The operator specifies an overseas-issued credit card, one pass per card. Each adult arranges their own access.
- At the station: mobile data, battery, Bluetooth, camera and location permissions.
Resident member account
- If you can complete the app's member verification, compare local payment options and longer passes.
- A Korean-issued card belongs in the domestic checkout, not the overseas-card visitor route.
One pass, a clock for every ride
Standard day passes (published rates, checked 12 October 2026): 1-hour ₩1,000 (up to 60 minutes per rental), 2-hour ₩2,000 (120 minutes), 3-hour ₩3,000 (180 minutes). The foreigner menu may show a different product; read its terms before paying.
How the clock works
- Rent at 10:00, return at 10:45, rent again at 11:15, return at 12:00: two 45-minute rides fit a 1-hour pass.
- A stop between properly completed rentals uses no riding time.
- The day pass expires 24 hours after the first rental; returning a bike does not restart that period.
Staying longer: member passes
- 7 days ₩3,000 / ₩4,000 · 30 days ₩5,000 / ₩7,000 (1-hour / 2-hour rides).
- 180 days ₩15,000 / ₩20,000 · 365 days ₩30,000 / ₩40,000.
- Non-members are limited to daily passes; confirm eligibility in your app.
₩200 per 5 minutes beyond the included time — 15 minutes over adds ₩600. Set a reminder early enough to reach a station and confirm the return.
Check the bike, then scan and go
Choose a bike that fits and looks ready to ride. Report a fault instead of taking it onto the path.
- 01Tyres
Look for obvious damage or a flat.
- 02Brakes
Squeeze both levers and test stopping gently.
- 03Chain & pedals
Check for loose parts or a displaced chain.
- 04Saddle
Adjust it to fit and secure the clamp firmly.
- 05Scan and unlock
Start a rental in the app and scan the rear-wheel QR code (or enter the bike number). Wait for confirmation; never force a locked bike.
- 06Practise first
Note the return deadline and practise a slow start and stop away from traffic.
Park. Lock. Confirm.
A bike that looks parked may still be on your rental. Check the completed return before walking away.
- 01Find an official station
Use the app's station map. A general rack or a Hangang shop is not a Seoul Bike return point.
- 02Park neatly
Keep entrances, tactile paving and the walking route clear.
- 03Close the lock
Pull the QR bike's locking lever fully into place; do not force it against a spoke.
- 04Check the rental ended
Listen for the return message and check the app. Keep the record if in doubt.
Away from a station, locking a QR bike can put it into temporary-lock mode. For a long stop, return the bike properly first. No confirmation? Stay with the bike if safe and call support on 1599-0120; a photo does not end the rental.
Ride predictably, leave room
For a first outing, choose daylight and a short riverside ride before adding busy streets.
Where to ride
- Use a designated cycle path where available; on ordinary roads keep right.
- A normal pavement is not automatically a cycle path: follow signs and walk when unsure.
- Dismount at pedestrian crossings unless a dedicated bicycle crossing permits riding.
People come first
- In Hangang parks, ride at 20 km/h or below, much slower around people.
- Watch for children, dogs and blind corners; a bell does not give you priority.
Before you set off
- Wear a properly fitted helmet — arrange one before reaching an unattended station.
- Stop clear of the path to check your phone; ride sober; use lights after dark.
- Skip the ride in strong wind, ice, poor visibility or heavy rain.
Begin beside the river
A suggested practice plan, not a mapped route: find a Ttareungi station near Yeouinaru in the app, walk the bike to the riverside path, ride 10–15 minutes out and back, and return to a station you already know.
Green Shade Trail · 4 km
- Seoul's suggested route from the Olympic Park area via Seongnaecheon to Jamsil Hangang Park.
Ring Ring Bike Park Tour · 9 km
- Links the Nodeul Station area, Yeouido's Saetgang and Yanghwa Hangang Park, ending near Seonyudo Station.
Open the official route description, then check today's station availability, closures, daylight and a return point before your pass deadline.
A different bike, a different system
Park rental shops are separate from Ttareungi. Selected published rates (1 hour / 2 hours, checked 12 October 2026): standard bike ₩3,300 / ₩6,600; with child seat ₩5,000 / ₩10,000; adult tandem ₩6,600 / ₩13,200; family cycle for 3–4 people ₩20,000 / ₩40,000.
Rent at the shop
- Choose the bike and duration at the kiosk, enter a phone number and pay.
- Take the receipt to staff and keep it for the return.
Return to the same shop
- Other-shop returns need a qualifying, pre-arranged weekday rental.
- A Ttareungi station cannot complete this return. Some branches close in winter.
Riding with children
- Ordinary Ttareungi use is listed for ages 13 and over; age 13 requires membership.
- A separate family pass has household-verification conditions — don't assume the visitor checkout includes it.
- Never improvise a passenger seat on a single-person bike.
Stop first, sort the next step
Keep the bike number, station name, rental time and a screenshot ready.
Payment or QR problems
- Check you chose the right member or foreigner route, and look for an existing purchase before paying again.
- If QR won't scan, check camera, Bluetooth and location settings, or enter the bike number.
Faults and returns
- Stop riding a faulty bike and report it through the app or helpline.
- If a return isn't confirmed, check the station and lock, and contact support; a photo or temporary lock doesn't end the charge.
Get to safety and help anyone injured. Call 119 for medical help and 112 for police, then notify the rental operator. Useful words: 대여 rent · 반납 return · 대여소 rental station · 고장 신고 report a fault.
Adapted from the Cycling field guide, reviewed 12 October 2026. Recheck fares, prices and service notices before you travel. Individual PDF pages retain their own source-review dates. Not independently verified — confirm official requirements before acting.