8 Reasons to Spend Your Honeymoon in Moscow and St. Petersburg, Russia

The fairytale history of the royal Romanovs comes to life at the Kremlin’s Armory Museum, where real-life royal artifacts are on display. The amount of gold, diamonds, rubies, emeralds, ivory, and precious stones is mind-boggling, with glittering rocks encrusted on everything from bibles and crowns to scepters, thrones, dinnerware, and jewelry. The clothing on display feels like it’s from a behind-the-scenes tour of Hollywood’s most opulent film sets, and the meticulously preserved gowns and cloaks make royal fantasies come to life. But perhaps the most jaw-dropping display of all is the royal carriages, which are straight out of Cinderella. Giant wooden wheels, beautiful stained glass, lush velvet interiors, and intricately painted carriages are the stars of the museum—and it’s fascinating to imagine these exquisite pieces of art making the long trek from St. Petersburg to Moscow.

Temporary exhibits at the Kremlin are heavy on the diamonds too. Recently, luxury brand Bulgari put together a retrospective of some of their most stunning creations from the collections of real-world princesses, silver screen stars, and private owners. Walk through the exhibits, pick out your favorites, and imagine what life is like as a present-day royalty.

And if you’re feeling inspired to pick up some bling for your betrothed, you needn’t look too far. Just across Red Square, you’ll find GUM, Russia’s most famous luxury department store complete with Bulgari-branded ice cream stands, diamonds on display, and tons and tons of fur.