How to Rent a Seoul Public Bike (Ttareungyi) as a Visitor
Seoul's green-and-white public bikes, officially Seoul Bike and known locally as Ttareungyi (따릉이), are one of the cheapest ways to see the city at street level. A one-day pass costs ₩1,000, and stations sit next to subway exits and bus stops across the city. Visitors can use it too. Prices below are from the Seoul Metropolitan Government's pass page as read in October 2026; the city says the 3-hour pass started November 13, 2025.
1. How the system works
Seoul describes Ttareungyi as an unmanned rental system that anyone can use. Rental stations are placed in busy pedestrian spots: subway entrances and exits, bus stops, residential complexes, public offices, schools, and banks. You can rent from any station and return to any station, so one-way trips are normal.
Each station has docking points with a lock that binds to the bike when you return it.
2. Buying a pass as a foreign visitor
The city's instructions for international tourists describe two routes:
- In the Seoul Bike app. On the main screen, select Foreigner. Choose your pass (if you already bought one, enter the code sent by email). Enter your email address, which lets you re-register if something goes wrong, agree to the terms, and pick your card company to pay.
- Through the Discover Seoul Pass website. Choose a rental pass under the Discover Seoul Pass tab, then enter the pass's 10-digit code in the app.
Seoul also launched an English chatbot for Seoul Bike, which answers questions such as how to rent, where to rent, and what to do when a rental fails. The city says users can also be connected to interpreters through the Dasan Call Center.
3. What passes cost
For a short trip, the one-day pass is what most visitors need. The official price list:
| Pass | Riding time per rental | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One-day, general | 60 minutes | ₩1,000 |
| One-day, premium | 120 minutes | ₩2,000 |
| One-day, 3-hour pass | 180 minutes | ₩3,000 |
| 7-day, general | 60 minutes | ₩3,000 |
| 7-day, premium | 120 minutes | ₩4,000 |
Season passes also exist for 30, 180, and 365 days.
4. The rental-time rule most people miss
The minutes in the table are per rental, not per day. A one-day general pass lets you ride as many times as you like during its validity, but each ride must end within 60 minutes. The premium pass gives you 120 minutes per ride.
Go over, and extra charges start: about ₩200 for every 5 minutes past the limit, up to a maximum of ₩30,000. Seoul's tip for avoiding this is simple: return the bike at any station and rent again, which resets the clock. You can keep riding all day without extra charges as long as you dock within each rental window.
Example: on a general one-day pass, a 75-minute ride is 15 minutes over, or three 5-minute blocks. At ₩200 each, that adds roughly ₩600. Docking at the 55-minute mark and re-renting costs nothing.
Two more rules from the city:
- A bike not returned within 4 hours (general) or 6 hours (premium) is treated as stolen or lost and reported to the police.
- You cannot rent again until unpaid extra charges are settled.
5. When the pass starts
The rental period starts at your first rental, not at purchase. Seoul's example: buy a one-day pass at 1 p.m., first ride at 3 p.m., and it is valid until 3 p.m. the next day. One-day passes are not refundable once used, so buy when you are ready to ride.
6. Renting and returning
Seoul's step-by-step guide:
- Download the Seoul Bike app and buy a pass.
- Open the app and scan the QR code on the bike or enter the bike number to unlock it.
- To return, ride to any station and pull the lock to lock the bike.
- Check your phone for the return confirmation message.
That last step matters. If you have trouble returning a bike, Seoul lists the operation center at 1599-0120.
7. Before you ride
One practical point: because each rental is capped at 60 or 120 minutes, plan routes with a station along the way so you can dock and re-rent.
8. Key takeaways
- Visitors buy passes in the Seoul Bike app by tapping Foreigner, or through Discover Seoul Pass.
- A one-day general pass is ₩1,000 and allows unlimited rides of up to 60 minutes each.
- Going over costs about ₩200 per extra 5 minutes; dock and re-rent to reset the clock.
- The pass starts at your first rental and lasts 24 hours from then.
- Always wait for the return confirmation message after locking the bike.