Fetch your bags walk out of arrivals at Essen Airport (ESS-Essen - Mulheim), and collect your rental car. Which one you motor off in depends on where you plan to go. If you’ll be spending the majority of the time driving in downtown Essen, around 5 miles from the terminal, you’ll want something zippy and small. A compact car with good handling will be perfect for navigating those busy city streets. But with a smorgasbord of things to see, like the glorious rolling hills of the surrounding area, you may want to add some pit stops. A bigger vehicle, like a full-size car or an SUV, will make longer road trips a joy.