Kremlin Armoury, Moscow (must see)

Established in 1806 by Tsar Alexander I, The Kremlin Armoury (Russian: Oruzheinaya Palata) is the first public museum in Moscow. Located in the Moscow Kremlin it is now part of Moscow Kremlin Museums. The Armoury itself originated as the royal arsenal in 1508, charged with producing, purchasing and storing weapons, jewelry and various household items of the royal family.

In 1700, it was enriched with treasures from the Golden and Silver chambers of the Russian tsars. After the Bolshevik Revolution, the collection grew further with treasures looted from the Patriarch sacristy, Kremlin cathedrals, monasteries and private collections. Apart from the numerous pieces of Russian and European weaponry, the museum also holds tens of arms and armours from Persia and Turkey.

The Armoury is also home to the Russian Diamond Fund, holding unique collections of the Russian, Western European and Eastern applied arts spanning the period from the 5th to the 20th centuries. Some of the highlights include the Imperial Crown of Russia, Monomakh's Cap, the ivory throne of Ivan the Terrible, and the largest collection of Fabergé eggs owned by a single proprietor.

Why You Should Visit:
A unique collection of Russia's historic artifacts, from Alexander the Great's boots to crowns, jewels and gem-encrusted items, splendid costumes, royal coaches, religious artifacts, state gifts, a beautiful Fabergé display and so on...

Tip:
Getting tickets online is a great time-saver because all you have to do is go to the ticket office and claim your pre-purchased tickets.
Tickets to the Armoury are for a specific time and separate from the Cathedral tickets, so make sure you check for your entrance time.
Once inside, you can easily borrow audio guides (deposit required) and can stroll through the halls.
Visit Duration: approximately 2 hours