I recently went on a trip with my family to visit Rome (along with Pompeii, Herculaneum and Florence, all of which are sites that have been on my bucket list for a long, long time), and as a certified Georgia girl, I can confirm: it was hot.

A record heat wave — the kind that is pervasive and seemingly all-encompassing — had settled in over the continent.

But I did learn a lot about how to stay safe and make the most of a trip during extreme heat, because there was no way I was letting the sunshine rain on my parade (forgive the metaphor). Here are some of the tips and tricks I learned that any travelers headed to Europe can keep in mind:

Weather in your inbox

Forecast Location

Sign Up

By signing up you agree to the Terms & Privacy Policy. Unsubscribe at any time.

No problems with hydration here!

I’m a big fan of my emotional support water bottle, which I usually fill up in the morning and then bring with me in my car. But it’s too big and bulky to carry while out exploring all day.

Luckily, Rome (like many other European cities) has a system of drinking fountains known as the nasoni that are constantly flowing. The water is cool and fresh at all times of the day, and they’re easy to find on maps.

You can use them to fill up your water bottle (I recommend a lightweight, collapsible one that you can easily clip on to your purse), wash your hands, or just to splash water on your face and neck for a bit of relief from the heat.

Rome isn’t the only European destination with this sort of system. Paris has the Wallace Fountains, and Zürich, Switzerland, has an estimated 221.89 water fountains per 100,000 people.

Make use of the local infrastructure that’s in place to help you cool off — it could be essential in the searing heat.

The local favorites are favorites for a reason

I’m a big iced latte fan (yes, even in the winter), but they definitely aren’t as widespread in Italy, so no iced mochas for me in the mornings to get my day started. But that was a great motivator to investigate local delicacies and cold treats that I may never have tried otherwise.

I can say with certainty that my trip was powered by crema di caffè, a cold, blended espresso dessert, and spritzes. I personally fell in love with limoncello spritzes, but a good Aperol spritz or a Hugo spritz also hit the spot on a hot day.

It’s worth noting, however, that you should be careful drinking alcohol in extreme heat. Alcohol can worsen dehydration and make it harder for your body to regulate its internal temperature, which can be potentially dangerous.

Always make sure you’re hydrating and drinking water along with your spritz (but ice cubes don’t count).

(MORE: Tips for safe summer drinking)

Do as the locals do (within reason!) to make the most of the chilled favorites.

Scarves, wraps and shawls, oh my

The sun is already brutal in the summer, but add in a heat dome with basically zero cloud cover, and sun exposure becomes a significant threat, especially if you burn when you so much as think about the sun (like I do).

My solution (and I acquired one or two more while I was in Italy): scarves.

I packed the scarves so I could cover my shoulders in religious sites like the Pantheon and St. Peter's Basilica, but they’re also really useful for covering up your shoulders and face while you’re outside in the sun.

Just make sure you’re sticking with lightweight fabrics, preferably in light colors, so they allow the breeze to pass through and don’t absorb too much sun.

Heat rash is a pain — here’s how to handle it

I am extremely susceptible to heat, and by Day 4 in Italy, the itchy, red bumps on the skin behind my ear had spread across the front of my neck. The symptoms were spot-on for a heat rash, which happens when sweat glands become clogged (thereby trapping sweat in the deeper levels of skin), usually due to humid climates, hot weather and excessive sweating.

(MORE: Is it heat rash or eczema? How to distinguish between the summer skin conditions)

Thankfully, it’s pretty easy to manage and is a short-term condition once you get things handled.

If you’re stuck outside, try to cool down the area with the rash by wiping it off with cool water, and remove any tight-fitting clothing. I also had a handheld fan, which was pointed at my neck for most of my trip while we were out exploring.

Then, when I got back to the hotel, I cranked the air conditioner as much as I could (which wasn’t much), took a cold shower and rested with a cool, wet compress on my neck.

I also used an overnight moisturizer that’s designed to soothe irritated skin and encourage healing before bed to help repair the irritated skin.

If you have a history of skin conditions and sensitive skin, talk to a dermatologist before you go on vacation so they can give you the best advice and potentially prescribe some topical ointments.

Speaking of air conditioning ...

When I'm home, I like a nice, cold air conditioner setting somewhere in the low 70s. But air conditioning is very different in Europe, and many AC units simply don't go as low as those in America.

In Italy, there are limits on the lowest temperature setting for air conditioners in public buildings at 80 degrees Fahrenheit to conserve energy.

And many major museums either have weak air conditioning or none at all. Some even have to adjust their hours or close entirely due to extreme heat, as the Louvre had to do earlier this year.

My family thankfully had a tour in the Vatican Museums early in the morning before the doors opened to the public at large, which meant we benefited both from the cooler hours of the day and the lack of crowds heating up the spacious hallways even more.

There were air conditioning units in a few of the rooms, and I can tell you that my family gravitated toward them as we took every opportunity to cool off in the already pervasive heat.

Visiting popular locations early in the day, before the temperature starts to climb, is definitely the way to go. And ask about accessibility accommodations if you need them (did you know the Colosseum has an elevator?)

Sara Tonks is a content meteorologist with weather.com and has a bachelor’s and a master’s degree from Georgia Tech in Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, along with a master’s degree from Unity Environmental University in Marine Science.