SetPaying for Seoul transport
Hi, I’m SeoulAslanHan River Bus and Ttareungyi Bikes for Visitors (2026)
Checked Sept 29, 2026
Yes, visitors can use both. The Han River Bus (한강버스) is running on two routes that meet at Yeouido, from about 11 am to about 10 pm. It costs 3,000 won and takes cards only: tap a T-money card, or buy a ticket at the pier machine with a foreign card. Ttareungyi (따릉이), Seoul's public bikes, cost 1,000 won an hour, paid in the Seoul Bike app with a credit card issued abroad.
The Climate Card tourist pass covers neither. And the boats stop for bad weather, so check the notices on the day.
Before a trip abroad, I always check the same few things: does cash work, do cards work, can I just tap, and where do I get a pass. Here are those answers for Seoul's river boat and its public bikes.
Jump to: Is the boat running? · Routes and piers · Paying for the boat · Boat tips · Ttareungyi passes · Buying as a foreigner · Renting and returning · FAQ
Is the Han River Bus running in 2026?
Yes. The service opened on September 18, 2025 and had a rough first year, with several stops. It has run on both routes since March 1, 2026. By August 2026 there were about 40 sailings a day, from about 11 am to 10 pm.
It's more of a river trip than a commute. The boats have never run in the 7 to 9 am rush. The city says morning boats will come gradually as more vessels arrive.
Weather still stops it. In July 2026, the operator suspended sailings more than once for heavy rain and water released from the Paldang Dam upstream. Events change the timetable too: boats skipped Yeouido pier on September 4 and 5 for the fireworks festival. Always look at the notices on hgbus.co.kr before you go.
Where does the Han River Bus go?
There are two routes, and you change boats at Yeouido (여의도).
- West route: Magok (마곡), Mangwon (망원), Yeouido. The first boat leaves at about 11:20 am.
- East route: Yeouido, then Apgujeong (압구정) or Oksu (옥수), which boats take in turn, then Seoul Forest (서울숲), Ttukseom (뚝섬) and Jamsil (잠실). The first boat leaves at about 11 am.
Seoul Forest pier opened on June 8, 2026 for the Seoul International Garden Expo, and runs only until late October 2026. Boats also skipped it from Sept 21 to 23, so check that it's open.
In August the city added evening boats, including from Jamsil toward Yeouido at 6:50 and 7:20 pm, and from Yeouido toward Magok at 8:25 and 8:55 pm. Times change, so treat these as a guide and check the timetable on the day.
How do I pay for the Han River Bus?
No cash. You have two ways to pay:
- Tap a transit card at the pier gate before you board, as you would on the subway. T-money works. You also get the usual transfer discount to and from the subway and buses.
- Buy a single ticket (1회권) at the ticket machine on the pier. The operator says foreigners can pay easily this way, but the machine takes cards only, debit or credit. The ticket works only at the pier where you bought it, and only that day.
| Who | Fare | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Adult | 3,000 won | Card only |
| Teen (13–18) | 1,800 won | Card only |
| Child (6–12) | 1,100 won | Card only |
Climate Card: the tourist pass (1 to 7 days) does not cover the Han River Bus. If you've read about a Climate Card with the boat included, that was an option on the 30-day card for residents, which ends on October 1, 2026.
Price change ahead: Seoul wants weekend and holiday fares of 5,000 to 10,000 won. It will hold public hearings and decide by April 2027. Weekday fares would stay at 3,000 won.
When my family went to Paris and Italy in September 2024, we got around smoothly just by tapping. One travel card issued in Korea was all we needed. The Han River Bus isn't that simple yet: your own card works at the pier machine, but not at the gate.
Tips for riding the Han River Bus
- Go near sunset. The evening boats are the reason to ride. On September 26 the city gave sunset as 6:24 pm, and it gets earlier through October.
- Track the boat. A September 2026 KakaoMap update shows ferry locations live, with their routes.
- No free shuttle. The free shuttle buses to the piers stopped on August 10, 2026. Walk from the nearest subway station, or ride a Ttareungyi bike.
How much is Ttareungyi, and what can I buy?
Ttareungyi is Seoul's public bike share, with about 45,000 bikes at about 2,800 stations. Visitors buy a day pass:
| Pass | Price | Over time |
|---|---|---|
| 1 hour | 1,000 won | 200 won per 5 minutes |
| 2 hours | 2,000 won | 200 won per 5 minutes |
| 3 hours (since Nov 13, 2025) | 3,000 won | 200 won per 5 minutes |
The 3-hour pass came in as the number of foreign riders grew. Among foreign riders, the busiest stations are at Yeouinaru Station, Seoul Forest and Ttukseom Hangang Park, all near Han River Bus piers.
The Climate Card tourist pass doesn't include Ttareungyi.
How does a foreigner buy a Ttareungyi pass?
- Open the Seoul Bike (서울자전거 따릉이) app, or bikeseoul.com with English, Chinese or Japanese selected.
- Choose the Foreigner option and buy a pass.
- Pay with a credit card issued outside Korea. One card can buy one pass, so two people need two cards. The Discover Seoul Pass also works.
Use Korean data or Wi-Fi. In the App Store, the app's developer has told users that its security policy blocks connections from overseas networks. If you're roaming on your home SIM, the app may not load. A Korean SIM, an eSIM with a Korean network, or Wi-Fi gets around it.
How do I rent and return a Ttareungyi bike?
- Unlock: scan the QR code on the bike with the app.
- Ride: you must be 13 or older.
- Return: at any Ttareungyi station. Park it there, close the lock on the back wheel, then wait until the app confirms the return before you walk away.
- Don't keep it too long: a bike kept over 4 hours is treated as lost or stolen.
FAQ
Is the Han River Bus running today?
It has run on both routes since March 1, 2026, but rain and dam releases can stop it at short notice. Check the notices on hgbus.co.kr on the day.
How much is the Han River Bus?
3,000 won for adults, 1,800 won for teens and 1,100 won for children, as of Sept 29, 2026. Seoul plans to decide on higher weekend fares by April 2027.
Can I pay cash on the Han River Bus?
No. Tap a transit card at the gate, or buy a ticket at the pier machine with a card.
Does the Climate Card cover Ttareungyi or the Han River Bus?
Not the tourist pass. Neither is included.
Can I rent Ttareungyi with a foreign credit card?
Yes. In fact you must: the Foreigner pass is paid with a card issued outside Korea, one pass per card.
Things I could not confirm:
- The full Han River Bus timetable for October 2026. The official timetable is published as images I couldn't read.
- Whether the Han River Bus will keep running through the winter of 2026–27.
- When the city's plan to run boats every 15 minutes will start.
- Which card brands the Ttareungyi app accepts. Guides mention Visa, Mastercard and JCB.
- Whether a Ttareungyi day pass lets you return a bike and rent again within 24 hours. Korean guides say it does.
- Whether every Han River Bus pier has a Ttareungyi station right beside it.
Cash won't help on either. Your own card works at the pier machine and in the bike app, and there's no pass to buy. That's my list covered.
Sources
- Han River Bus official site, fares, payment and notices: hgbus.co.kr, fare page
- Kyunghyang Shinmun on hours, 40 sailings a day and no rush-hour boats (Sept 23, 2026): khan.co.kr
- Seoul Metropolitan Government, Seoul Forest pier and routes (June 2026): mediahub.seoul.go.kr
- Seoul Metropolitan Government, evening boats from Aug 15, 2026: mediahub.seoul.go.kr
- MTN on the first year and weekend fare plan (Sept 17, 2026): mtn.co.kr
- Etoday on the Sept 5, 2026 fireworks and Han River Bus changes: etoday.co.kr
- Seoul Metropolitan Government, Climate Card tourist passes (updated Sept 28, 2026): news.seoul.go.kr and end-of-service FAQ: news.seoul.go.kr
- Seoul Metropolitan Government, Ttareungyi passes and prices (updated Mar 10, 2026): news.seoul.go.kr
- Seoul Facilities Corporation FAQ, how foreigners use Ttareungyi: sisul.or.kr
- Newsis on the 3-hour pass and foreign riders (Nov 12, 2025): newsis.com
- Seoul Metropolitan Government, how to use Ttareungyi: mediahub.seoul.go.kr
- Seoul Bike (따릉이) app, App Store listing and developer replies: apps.apple.com
- KakaoMap, App Store listing (live ferry locations): apps.apple.com
— SeoulAslan
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