Hangang River Bus 2026: Seoul's New 3,000-Won Ferry, Stops, Schedule, and What to Watch Out For

Bottom line: Before booking an expensive river cruise ticket to see the Han River at night, consider the Hangang River Bus, a Seoul city-run ferry service. The fare is 3,000 won — about the same as a subway ride — and it crosses the river from Magok to Jamsil, giving you downtown skyline views along the way. Just know it doesn't take cash — transit cards only.

If you didn't know: The Hangang River Bus doesn't accept cash at all — you need a T-money or other transit card to board. Show up with only cash and you simply can't get on. Service also still runs at roughly hourly intervals, so miss one boat and you're waiting an hour for the next — Seoul announced plans to cut that to 15 minutes for the service's first anniversary, but as of this writing it hasn't reached that level yet.

At a glance: Fare 3,000 won (transit card only, no cash). Seven piers: Magok, Mangwon, Yeouido, Apgujeong, Oksu, Ttukseom, Jamsil (plus a temporary Seoul Forest stop). Regular route to the Jamsil terminus: 28.9km, about 75 minutes. Express route: 25.8km, about 54 minutes. Current interval roughly 1 hour (Seoul's target: 15 minutes). Official service launched September 18, 2025.

The seven piers — Magok, Mangwon, Yeouido, Apgujeong, Oksu, Ttukseom and Jamsil — span the river from the west side to the east, and as you pass under bridges like Hannam and Dongjak, the downtown skyline shifts angle each time, giving you a changing view throughout the ride. The regular route takes 75 minutes end to end, a similar length to a cruise tour, while the express route runs a bit faster at 54 minutes. Service generally runs from morning until 10:30 p.m., though start times reportedly vary by day of the week, so it's worth double-checking the day's schedule with Seoul's official information before you go. Piers are within reach of seven subway stations, so getting there isn't a problem.

As of September 2026, one year after full launch, cumulative ridership has passed 600,000, and Seoul says it's weighing cutting the interval to 15 minutes and introducing a roughly 10,000-won weekend fare. Both fares and schedules may change, so check Seoul's official Hangang River Bus page right before your visit.

Journey stage: ④ During the trip · Verified 2026-10-13 · Source Seoul Metropolitan Government, MTN News