If your trip to Essen is all locked in but your itinerary is looking a little empty, we can give you a few hints and tips.Not far from the heart of the city, Zollverein Coal Mine World Heritage Site is one attraction you might like to put on your to-do list. Colosseum Theater and Red Dot Design Museum are also close by and worth a detour.

Situated 19 miles from Essen, Düsseldorf is a favorite stop on most people’s itineraries. Head here to access Rhine Tower and Duesseldorf City Hall, a couple of top attractions to mark on your map. Moenchengladbach, 30 miles away, is another road-trip destination that’s worth the drive. Visit Borussia Park and Rheydt Castle, two top-notch sights in the area.

If you enjoy the smell of fresh sea air and the sight of seabirds gliding high above your head, jump in the car and spend some time strolling along the water’s edge at Seaside Beach Baldeney. You’ll find this lovely stretch 4 miles from Essen.

Constantly traveling for work-related purposes? Convention centers are most likely a second home to you. With easy access to hotels, restaurants and cafés, your trip is sure to be a success if you’re heading to any of these places:

• Messe Essen (2 miles away).
• Gasometer (7 miles away).
• Oberhausen Congress Centre (7 miles away).

Having your own car in Essen will give you more flexibility to go wherever you want at your leisure. Maybe you want to leave town, hit the country roads, and see where the wind takes you. If so, pick up the keys to one of our full-size or mid-size SUVs and check out the rolling hills in the area. If you’re all about the bright city lights, opt for something small. Dashing around busy streets will be a lot less stressful in a compact or economy car.

Sometimes it’s all about the journey, which makes finding the right car important. If you’re about to embark on an unforgettable road trip around Essen, a roomy SUV could be your perfect match. If you want the best possible deal and plan on doing a lot of city driving, a budget compact is a smart pick. All you have to do is work out what’s the best fit, load up the car, and start clocking up those miles.

In Essen, you’ll have to keep to the right-hand side. When exploring a new place, it’s always a good idea to opt for a vehicle with automatic transmission. That way, you can concentrate on the road and not stress about gear changes.

Getting a car space in Essen isn’t always easy. That’s why many look for a hotel that comes with a parking lot. When leaving the car around the city, make sure you check the signage. Overstaying the maximum time limit could get you a large fine.

One of the advantages of escaping to a smaller city is less traffic, so you won’t need to stress too much about peak-hour gridlock. With a population of about 593,100, you can look forward to a smooth Essen driving experience.

The residential areas in the city of Essen have a 30km/h speed limit. Outside these areas, the speed limits usually range between 30km/h and 130km/h.

One of two things will happen. Your rental car company may bill the amount of the fine to your credit card. This is the usual approach. On the other hand, it may give your contact details to local law enforcement agencies so the fine is issued directly to you.

If you have Bluetooth or similar functions enabled, it’s fine to use your cell phone while behind the wheel in Essen. But ensure you stay focused on the road.

In Essen, it’s a criminal offence to drive with a BAC (blood alcohol content) over 0.05%. If you’re in the mood for a few drinks with dinner, leave the rental car at your hotel.

It’s prohibited to turn on a red light in Essen. When you come across one, take the opportunity to enjoy a mindful moment or two until the light switches back to green.

Subject to some exceptions, seat belts must be fastened when the vehicle is in motion in Düsseldorf Government Region.