Kremlin and Armory visit including optional Diamond Fund exhibition tour

The tour takes place within the working hours of the museum (1000 - 1800) and is typically 3 hours in duration. You will meet the guide at the Kremlin entrance in Alexander Garden.

The tour includes:

The walls and the towers of the Kremlin fortress

The walls of the Kremlin are the oldest fortifications in Russia, fully preserved to this day. They were built at the end of the 15th century under the leadership of Italian masters and still impress with their martial spirit. Kremlin towers are of exceptional beauty and have no architectural analogues in the world.

The Senate

The Senate Palace, built in the Kremlin by order of Empress Catherine the Great, is a masterpiece of Russian classicism of the 18th century. In Soviet times, this building housed the apartments of Lenin and Stalin. Currently it houses the office of the President of the Russian Federation.

The Tsar Cannon

This unique fortification artillery was cast in Moscow at the end of the 15th century. t is one of the biggest large-calibre guns in the world. Mounted on a 19th century carriage, the gun looks very impressive. Kremlin visitors like to take pictures and selfies against its background.

The Tsar Bell

The largest bell in the world weighing about 200 tons was cast in the Kremlin in 1733. Its surface is decorated with relief images of the Empress Anna Ioannovna and Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich. It was damaged during a big fire in the Kremlin. Mounted on a pedestal next to the Kremlin bell tower, it has become one of the most unusual bronze sculptural monuments in the world.

Cathedral Square

One of the most unique and beautiful squares in Russia. The main palace buildings of different centuries overlook the square, combined into the Grand Kremlin Palace and the facades of the main Kremlin cathedrals. All the buildings surrounding the square are architectural masterpieces of world significance.

Assumption Cathedral

The largest and most ancient gold-domed church of the Moscow Kremlin, where all coronations of Russian tsars took place. It impresses with the majestic simplicity of its architecture and the luxury of the interiors. The walls of the cathedral are completely covered with ancient frescoes. The temple presents one of the best collections of Russian icons in the world. Here you will find a real masterpiece painted by an unknown Novgorod master in the 11th century - the icon of St. George.

Archangel Michael's Cathedral

Outwardly resembling a beautiful Italian palazzo, the cathedral serves as the tomb to the Russian Tsars. The temple icon of the Archangel Michael is one of the masterpieces of ancient Russian painting of the Moscow school.

Annunciation Cathedral

A small house church of the Russian tsars, decorated with nine golden domes shining like candles on a cake. The iconostasis of the cathedral is one of the oldest in Russia.

The Belltower and the Bellfry

The Kremlin bell tower and the belfry together are, on the one hand, an unusually beautiful architectural complex, and on the other, a unique musical instrument, which includes 34 bells of different sizes and tones.

You can hear their ringing on those rare events when a church service is being held in some of the Kremlin cathedrals.

The Grand Kremlin Palace

Built in the mid of the 19th century, the ensemble includes the palace buildings of the 15-17th centuries that have survived to this day in a single complex. Currently the former royal palace is the official ceremonial residence of the President of the Russian Federation. State receptions and ceremonies are held here.

The Kremlin Gardens

Taynitsky Garden is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The part of the park bordering Ivanovskaya Square is called the Bolshoi Kremlin Square. Here you can relax a bit in the shade of trees and enjoy the birdsong. From May onwards the garden is buried in bunches of lilacs, and flowers bloom in its flower beds till autumn. In the garden there is an oak planted by Yuri Gagarin, the first man in space.

The Armoury Chamber building

The building is part of the Grand Kremlin Palace that is accessible to visitors. It houses the Armory Museum and the Diamond Fund of Russia exhibition. The Armory is a unique museum that displays the treasures of the rulers of Russia from the 12th century till 1917. At the Diamond Fund exhibition, you can see collections of unique gems, gold and platinum nuggets, as well as coronation regalia and masterpieces of Russian jewelry art of the 18-20 centuries.

Collection of Armoury Chamber museum

Russian Jewelry Art

The collection, covering the period from the 12th to the beginning of the 20th century, presents the masterpieces of Russian artists. Among them are frameworks of miraculous icons richly decorated with pearls and precious stones, gospel covers, Moscow church officials' pictorial crosses, gold and silver dishes, and jewelry.

Faberge Easter Eggs

Faberge items hold a special place in the jewelry collection. It includes 10 Easter eggs made by the company for members of the Romanov Imperial House. They are of the highest quality, and each egg contains an incredible surprise inside.

Ceremonial Arms

The collection includes the best samples of military and ceremonial weapons of Russian and foreign production. Armaments and armor for the ceremonial trips of the Russian Tsar, as well as some diplomatic gifts, are decorated with precious stones.

The collection includes orders of the Russian Empire, which belonged to representatives of the Romanov dynasty.

Western Silver

The collection consists mainly of diplomatic gifts brought to Russia by foreign ambassadors and items purchased for imperial use. It is unique in its diversity and volume. Some samples were preserved in single copies and can only be found in this collection of the Armory. The exhibits are distinguished by the highest artistic taste, rich decor and elaborate work.

Costumes and Tapestries

The collection includes church vestments of the Moscow metropolitans and patriarchs, made of precious fabrics, richly decorated with embroidery, pearls and gems. Among the secular costumes, the ceremonial outfit of the Russian Tsar Peter I and the coronation dresses of the Russian Empresses stand out.

Thrones

The collection features 7 unique throne chairs of the 16-18th centuries. Among them are two thrones of oriental work, luxuriously decorated with precious stones, the Golden Throne of Mikhail Romanov and the Diamond Throne of his son Alexei Mikhailovich.

Royal Regalia

In a separate showcase, the crowns of the Russian rulers from the Monomakh hat of the 14th century to the crown of the Empress Anna Ioannovna, decorated with two and a half thousand diamonds, are preserved to this day.

Carriages

The ceremonial carriages of both Russian and foreign production of various designs are presented in the collection. They were intended for both ceremonial trips and long-distance travel. Made with the latest technology of the time, they delight in the richness of the decor, magnificent wood carvings and paintings.

Horse Gala Harness

This collection contains magnificent examples of horse harnesses of Eastern and European work. Here you can see saddles richly decorated with gold embroidery and precious stones, on which Russian rulers rode on horseback and luxurious attire, which decorated the best horses from the royal stables for ceremonies.

Diamond Fund

The Diamond Fund presents the crown jewels of the Russian Empire of the 18th century, decorations and military orders made by the best jewelers of the country in the period of the 18-20 centuries. It also exhibits unique gems mined in Russia, large diamonds and gold and platinum nuggets.

The Diamond Fund of Russia does not belong to the museums of the Kremlin, but is a permanent exhibition of the State Treasury of the Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation.

By the rules of the Diamond Fund, foreign citizens are allowed only independent visits without a guide. Visitors are provided with an audio guide.

Tour description

The tour will introduce you to the architectural ensemble of the Moscow Kremlin, with its eventful history, which is inextricably linked with the history of the Russian state.

A visit to Kremlin cathedrals will help explain the role of the Orthodox Church in the political, spiritual, and everyday life of the country, and will introduce you to the best examples of ancient Russian art.

The treasures of the Armory will make it possible to imagine the splendor of the Moscow court, its customs and traditions, to learn about Russia's political, economic and diplomatic ties with neighboring and remote states and to penetrate even deeper into the secrets of Russian history. The Kremlin is surprisingly photogenic. Fans of traveling with a camera will surely get plenty of wonderful photo trophies.

The service includes:

• professional guide services
• entrance fees to the Kremlin grounds and Armoury chamber

The service does not include:

• entrance tickets to Diamond fund
• gratuity to the guide

Tour duration

Minimum 3 hours (if you start from the Kremlin entrance)