How to Reunt a Ttareungyi
When traveling, we frequently run into the exact same dilemma: our next destination is awkwardly close—too short to justify waiting for a cab, bus, or subway, but just a bit too far to comfortably walk.
If you are traveling in South Korea, especially in Seoul, you never have to stress about those vague, in-between distances again. Why? Because the city of Seoul offers an amazing public bike-sharing program for under $1USD. It's called Ttareungyi (따릉이)
I think this is incredibly useful information for international travelers, especially if you plan to roam around and explore multiple nearby spots in one day. Here is your absolute, step-by-step guide to using Seoul's favorite public bikes!
Step 1: Download the App & Check Bike Locations
The very first thing you need to do is download the official app.
Simply head to the App Store or Google Play or whatever store on your phone and search for 'Seoul Bike' or 'Ttareungyi'(따릉이).
The best part? No sign-up or login is required for tourists!
You can use the app completely as a guest.
Once you open it and agree to share your GPS location, a real-time map will pop up showing you exactly where the nearby bike stations are and how many bicycles are currently parked at each dock.
Pro Tip: Buy Your Ticket Indoors!
Before you walk out to a station, open the app and check if there are actually bikes available near you.
If there are, purchase your voucher (이용권) while you are still comfortably indoors—like at your hotel, a cafe, or a restaurant.
Buying a voucher requires you to input your credit card details, which is much easier to do where you have stable Wi-Fi and a place to sit, rather than standing out on a busy street corner in the heat or rain!
Step 2: How to Unlock and Ride and Return
Once you've bought your pass, it's time to move!
Head to any Ttareungyi station you like—whether it's right around the corner or a short walk away.
Simply open the Ttareungyi app, tap the 'Rent' (대여) button, and scan the QR code located just under the seat. The bicycle will instantly unlock, and your rental timer (1, 2, 3hours depending on the ticket you chose) will begin. Now you're ready to hop on and enjoy your ride around Seoul!
How to Return 'Ttareungyi'
Returning your Ttareungyi is incredibly simple and takes less then 10 seconds.
You don't even need to open your phone!
① Pull over at any official Ttareungyi station with an open parking spot.
② Park your bike neatly in the stand with lowering the seat to make it fit comfortably.
③ Simply slide down the green lock lever attached to the rear wheel frame.
④ Listen for the Chime. You'll hear a cheerful digital chime and a voice. You will also receive a n alert confirming the return.
Pro Tip: The 24-Hour Unlimited Ride Trick
This is a detail that trips up a lot of tourists, but it is an absolute game-changer: Your ticket is actually valid for a full 24 hours!
Even if you only purchase a 1-hour ticket, that doesn't mean you can only ride for one hour total. It means each individual ride has a 1-hour limit.
How to abuse this legally:
You can rent a bike, ride it for 50 minutes, and return it to any station.
And right after returning, you can unlock another or the same bike and ride for another hour. As long as you return the bike to a dock within your time limit(1or 2hours) each time, you can repeat this process as many times as you want for a full 24 hours from your purchase time!
