One of the oldest zoos in all of Europe, ARTIS contains multiple species of land and marine animals, as well as an aquarium and a planetarium. The zoo grounds invite for a pleasant stroll among the trees and give the visitors the opportunity to admire a myriad of animals ranging from chimps to elephants.

Each year, about 340,000 visitors come to see the Royal Coster Diamonds craftsmen at work. Free guided tours demonstrating the process of cutting and polishing diamonds are led by Coster’s accommodating staff. The tours are available in more than 24 languages.

To really get a deeper understanding of the area, head inland towards the golden sand dunes that are home to a myriad of hidden treasures. One not-so-hidden treasure is the amphitheatre of El Jem which was a set for the film Gladiator and is classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site owing to its size and importance during the Roman Empire. Due to the drifting sands of the desert, archaeologists periodically make discoveries here, the most recent of which is a large racetrack that had gone unnoticed for centuries. A private tour, which can last anywhere between four hours and three days, will take adventurers from Monastir through the surrounding Bedouin villages, past Kairouan to El Jem.