How To Rent a Bike in Seoul: Seoul Bike, Han River Rentals & Bike Tours

Last Updated on August 5, 2026

Do you want to see Seoul, Korea in a different way? I’ve seen more and more tourists on bike tours in downtown Seoul. Wonder how easy it is to rent a bike in Seoul? Getting around the city can be super fun. I know for me, when I want to make a day of traversing around the city, I want to make it more memorable. Of course walking is a great way to explore any city, but sometimes you want to put the pedal to the metal.

Korea has so many different options for biking and scooter rentals to ride around the city and parks. The ones I’ll be telling you about in this post are located in Seoul but there are bike rentals all over Korea almost everywhere you go. When you hop off the bus in Gangneung, there are bikes to rent near Gyeongpo Beach to take you around the lake and down the beach and when you get off the ferry on Sindo, Modo, and Sido Island you can get a bike to take you around all three.

There are plenty of other places to get a bike and enjoy a ride.  Just keep your eyes peeled. Are you ready to get biking in Seoul? Here’s how to rent a bike in Seoul.

There are different ways to rent bikes and they vary depending on what you’re looking to do so feel free to skip around:

• What Is Seoul Bike (따릉이)?
• Seoul Bike Comparison At A Glance
• Short Term Bike Rental
• Rent A Bike On The Han River
• Heukseok Station Bike Rental
• Bike Nara (자전거나라)
• Bike Tour In Seoul
• FAQ

(This post contains affiliate links, which means I receive a certain percentage of a sale if you purchase after clicking at no cost to you. Thank you for your support.)

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What Is Seoul Bike (따릉이)?

Quick bit of vocab before we get into it, because you’ll see this word everywhere once you start looking: Seoul’s public bike-share system is officially called 따릉이 (Ttareungi), “Seoul Bike” is just the English name for it. I still catch myself calling it “Ttareungi” out loud after all these years, so don’t be shy about using the Korean name when you’re asking someone for directions to a station. It’ll actually get you further than “Seoul Bike” will.

The system launched in 2015 and now has bikes parked at unmanned docking stations all over the city — near subway exits, bus stops, apartment complexes, you name it. You’ll notice two kinds of bikes out there: the older LCD bikes, which you rent by punching a code into a screen on the bike itself, and the newer QR bikes (added in 2020), which you unlock straight from the app by scanning a QR code and connecting over Bluetooth. Functionally they do the same job — the QR ones are just a little faster to get going on, especially the first time.

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Seoul Bike Comparison At A Glance

Option	Best for	Rental length	Approx. cost	Where to find it
Seoul Bike (따릉이)	Point-to-point city trips, commuting	1hr / 2hr / 3hr / 24hr passes	1,000 / 2,000 / 3,000 / 5,000 KRW	Docking stations citywide
Han River kiosk (e.g., Yeouido)	Scenic Han River rides, date-night tandem rides	Hourly	~3,000 KRW/hr solo, ~6,000 KRW/hr tandem	Yeouido, Ttukseom, Banpo, Ichon, Mangwon
Bike Nara	Day trips or multi-day/cross-country cycling	Daily or weekly	~20,000–30,000 KRW/day	Mapo-gu
Guided bike tour	First-timers, sightseeing with a guide	Half day/full-day	Varies by tour	Booked through Get Your Guide or Viator

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Short Term Bike Rental: Get From Point A To Point B

In 2015, Seoul joined thousands of other cities worldwide that offer a bike-sharing system in order to promote a healthier and more eco-friendly travel option for citizens. Seoul Bike (따릉이) has rental stations around the entire city of Seoul. This bike rental system is perfect for riders looking for short-term, hour-long trips from point A to point B in Seoul, and honestly, it’s also become a real commuting tool. I know plenty of people now who use these bikes to get to work, weaving along Seoul’s stream paths instead of dealing with a bus transfer. That’s not how I personally use it (more on that in a minute), but it tells you how legit the system has become as actual transportation, not just a tourist novelty.

For this option, the bike rental drop off and pickup location can be found almost anywhere using the map on the website or app. On the maps, there is a blue pin that will tell you how many bikes are available to use at each location.

Pricing

Pass	Base time	Price
Day pass	1 hour	W1,000
Day Pass	2 hours	W2,000
Day Pass	3 hours	W3,000
All-day pass	24 hours	W5,000

Go over your base time and you’re charged 200 KRW per 5 minutes past it, that adds up faster than it sounds, so keep an eye on the clock. The trick to avoiding it: return the bike and re-rent before your base time runs out. Docking and undocking within your pass window doesn’t cost extra, so if you’re planning a longer outing, it’s cheaper to hop off, dock, and start a fresh rental than to just keep riding past the limit.

The 24-hour, 5,000 KRW all-day pass is probably the best deal if you’re planning to ride more than a couple of times in a day, since you can dock and re-rent freely within that window without paying per trip. It’s also the pass foreign tourists get automatically when going through the Discover Seoul Pass flow below, so if that’s you, you’re already getting the best rate by default.

Minimum Age & Who Can Ride

Seoul Bike is open to anyone 15 and older. If you’re under 19, you’ll need a parent or legal guardian’s consent to register — something to plan around if you’re traveling with teens.

No Korean Phone Number? Here’s Your Workaround

This is the question I get asked most, so let’s deal with it head-on: you don’t need a Korean phone number to use Seoul Bike as a tourist. The easiest route is through the Discover Seoul Pass app, which is built specifically for foreign visitors:

1. Open the Ttareungi (Seoul Bike) app and select “Foreigner” on the login screen.
2. Tap “Purchase Pass,” then choose the “Discover Seoul Pass” menu.
3. Select the “All day 24h, 5,000 won” option under Rental Pass.
4. Enter the 10-digit QR code from your Discover Seoul Pass and your email address.
5. Agree to the terms and pay.
6. Screenshot your 8-digit rental code, you’ll need it to log back in if you get logged out, and it’s also emailed to you as a backup.

From there, renting is simple: tap “Rent” in the app, scan the QR code on the top of the rear wheel, and pull the bike off the dock once it unlocks.

Renting With Tmoney GO

If you already have a T-money card (and if you’re using Seoul’s subway or buses, you probably do), the Tmoney GO app is another way into the system, it bundles Ttareungi rentals in with buses, taxis, and other transit options, and lets you earn transfer rewards when you switch between them. The interface leans more toward residents and long-term users than the Discover Seoul Pass flow does, so if English-language, tourist-specific steps matter to you, I’d start with Discover Seoul Pass instead and treat Tmoney GO as a backup once you’re more settled in.

How To Use Seoul Bike

Step 1: Log into the website Seoul Bike or download the app associated with the site. There are multiple language options, so just choose which best suits you.

Step 2: Check the site or the app to see which rental station is nearest and if it has bikes available.

Step 3: To purchase, select “Purchase a voucher” and follow the directions, select the payment, make the payment. When the payment is successful, you will receive an 8-digit registration number.

Step 4: Head to the bike station and press the power button on the screen on the bike and you will be prompted to input the first four digits of the rental number and then the last four digits of the rental number.

Step 5: Remove the lock on the side of the bike and pull out. You’re ready to roll.

Locking Up The Bike During Your Ride

There is a lock on your bike. Unravel the cable lock on the left side of the bike and secure the bike to a nearby post just as you would any other bike and connect it again in the slot on the right side of the bike. To unlock it, just re-enter your 8-digit code into the home button when you’re ready to go again.

How To Return Seoul Bike

Step 1: Find the nearest bike rack on your app or the website. You do not have to return the bike to the same rental station that you took it from.

Step 2: Simply find an available space, and lock it in. If you get to the docking station and it’s full, you can still return your bike. Connect your bike to another docked bike by securing the docked bike’s white lock to your bike. Make sure it’s properly attached and you’re good to go.

A few safety notes worth actually reading: An alarm goes off if you try to take a bike that’s still locked, so don’t panic if that happens to you, it’s just the system working as intended. Check your brakes and chain before you take off, stay off the sidewalks where there’s a marked bike lane (Seoul’s been cracking down on this), and don’t ride after drinking or with earphones in, both are treated seriously here, not just frowned upon. If you get stuck mid-return, the Ttareungi customer service line is 1599-0120.

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Rent A Bike On The Han River

The Han River (Hangang) which is one of the main outdoor attractions in Seoul no matter what the season is offers visitors a ton to do and the easiest way to get around is by bike. There are 12 Han River Parks to visit and you can do everything from go swimming to yachting and picnicking there.

Honestly, this is my favorite way to use a Seoul bike, not commuting, but a slow, no-agenda ride along the Han. I’m not renting to get somewhere; I’m renting because I want an excuse to be outside by the water for a couple of hours. If that’s more your speed too, this section (not the commuter Ttareungi network) is where you’ll want to look.

The Han has a convenient bike rental shop located right at the Yeouido subway station which is popular with tourists that want a quick easy access no fuss no muss ride on the Han River. There are a variety of bikes to choose from and a designated path for the riders. The cost is around W3,000 per hour, but if you’re on a date, you can choose the two seater bike for around W6,000. These bike rental stations are available in most Han River parks as well. This is definitely something I recommend if you plan to hang out by the Han river.

Bike Rental Kiosk Locations

As I mentioned, Yeouido happens to be one of the most popular places to hop on a bicycle in Seoul but it is absolutely not the only place to rent a bike on the Han River. I’ve seen bike rental kiosks in Ttukseom, Banpo, Ichon, and Mangwon Han River sides.

You can really find bike rental options in every park and again, you just have to keep your eyes peeled. Just in case though, here’s a map with addresses so you can find the best bike rental location for you.

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Bike Nara (자전거나라)

This is one of my favorite recommendations for anyone thinking bigger than a city joyride. Bike Nara has grown into a proper touring and cross-country rental shop, they carry everything from hybrid and road touring bikes up to carbon race bikes, e-bikes, and even a kids’ bike trailer, and every rental comes with a helmet, rear rack, lock, multi-tool, spare tube, pump, safety lights, and a water bottle cage thrown in free, plus luggage storage while you’re out riding. I have a friend who rented from them a while back and raved about the bike selection, and the catalog has only gotten more serious since.

Here’s the rough shape of what they offer, by category:

Bike type	1 day	1 week
Hybrid touring (Giant Escape, Toughroad, etc.)	20,000–25,000 KRW	120,000–150,000 KRW
Road/gravel touring (Giant Revolt, Contend)	35,000 KRW	210,000 KRW
E-bikes	50,000–70,000 KRW	300,000–400,000 KRW
Carbon road/gravel bikes	50,000–70,000 KRW	250,000–400,000 KRW
Kids bike trailer	20,000 KRW	120,000 KRW

They also discount for week-long rentals, which is worth knowing if you’re planning anything longer than a weekend loop.

The part that surprised me on a recent update: Bike Nara now supports cross-country cycling, the kind where you ride from the Seoul area all the way down to Busan along Korea’s river bike paths. If that’s your plan, they’ll arrange transport out to the Incheon starting point (price depends on how many bikes), a one-way bike return once you finish in Busan (50,000 KRW per bike, 100,000 KRW for e-bikes), and pannier bag rental (20,000 KRW/week per bag) if you need to carry gear along the way. That’s a serious undertaking most visitors won’t touch, but if you’re the kind of reader who came here looking for more than a Han River loop, it’s worth knowing this exists. It’s something that is becoming more popular with visitors.

• Address: 50 Yanghwa-ro, Mapo-gu, Seoul (서울시 마포구 양화로 50 (합정동 414-1))
• Hours: November – February: Wednesday – Sunday: 10:00am ~ 8:00pm (CLOSED Mondays & Tuesdays); March – October: Wednesday – Monday: 9:30am ~ 9:00pm (CLOSED Tuesdays); Holidays: 10:00am ~ 8:00pm
• Website: bikenara.co.kr

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Bike Tour In Seoul

Maybe it’s your first time out in Seoul and you want to make sure you know where you’re going. Want to have a guide show you the Korean bike path ropes? Get some photo-ops and have fun with a local? Another great option is to take a whole or half day biking tour that goes by popular spots like the Ihwa Mural Village, Deoksugung Palace, and other lovely downtown spots.

There are great Seoul bike tour options available on Viator, from morning or evening tours along the Han River to downtown jaunts into historical locations. Definitely check them out.

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FAQ

What is Seoul Bike (따릉이)?

Seoul Bike, known locally as Ttareungi (따릉이), is Seoul’s city-run public bike-share system. You’ll spot the bikes by their docking stations all over the city, near subway exits, bus stops, and parks, and you can pick one up at one station and drop it at another.

Do I need a Korean phone number to rent a Seoul Bike?

No. Foreign visitors can register through the Discover Seoul Pass option inside the Ttareungi app using just a QR code and email, no Korean number required. See the step-by-step above.

How much does it cost to rent a bike in Seoul?

A Seoul Bike day pass starts at 1,000 KRW for 1 hour (2,000 KRW for 2 hours, 3,000 KRW for 3 hours), or you can get a 24-hour all-day pass for 5,000 KRW, which lets you dock and re-rent freely within that window. Go over your base time and it’s 200 KRW per 5 minutes, so return and re-rent rather than riding past the limit.

Can I rent a bike in Seoul for a multi-day trip, like riding to Busan?

Yes, Bike Nara rents touring, e-, and carbon bikes by the day or week and supports cross-country cycling down to Busan, including transport to the starting point and a one-way return option once you finish. It’s a bigger undertaking than a Han River loop, but it’s a real option if that’s what you’re after.

What’s the minimum age to rent a Seoul Bike?

15 years old, with parental or guardian consent required for anyone under 19.

Can I rent a Seoul Bike with just Tmoney?

Yes, Tmoney GO integrates Ttareungi rentals alongside buses, taxis, and other transit. It’s a solid option if you’re already using T-money for transit, though I’d point first-timers toward the Discover Seoul Pass app since it’s built specifically for foreign visitors.

Is it safe to bike along the Han River?

Generally, yes, the paths are well-marked and well-used. Stick to the marked bike lanes, don’t ride after drinking (it’s enforced, not just discouraged), and check your brakes and chain before you set off, same as you would anywhere.

What’s the best time of day to bike the Han River?

My personal pick is early evening, you get the heat of the day easing off and the city lights starting to come on over the water by the time you’re winding down. Weekday mornings are your best bet if you want the path mostly to yourself.

Are Seoul Bikes electric?

No, the Ttareungi fleet is standard pedal bikes. If you specifically want an e-bike, that’s where the guided tour operators (like the Viator e-bike tours mentioned above) come in.

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Do you like biking? Don’t leave this mode of transportation out the next time you’re in Seoul. Renting a bike in Seoul is easy and convenient and is a great way to see the city or see the Han riverside. Hop on the seat the next time you want to get around and see Seoul in a different way.

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