Heaven Hell & the Snake Walking Tour by PhD Historian in Vilnius
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Quick answer
Is Heaven Hell & the Snake Walking Tour by PhD Historian in Vilnius worth booking?
Heaven Hell & the Snake Walking Tour by PhD Historian in Vilnius is a 2-hour experience in Vilnius, Lithuania, from $35 per person. It scores 53 out of 100 on the Outty Ranking, which we label “Worth a Look”. Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before the start time. Same-day spots are currently showing.
- Outty Ranking
- 53 / 100
- Rating
- Not yet rated
- Duration
- 2 hours
- From
- $35 per person
They kept a snake in the house and fed it milk by hand; killing it brought disaster. That is where the walk opens, at the Bastion, with the Basilisk the city invented to explain its dead. From there: the Gate of Dawn and
What you get
- A ~2-hour guided walking lecture in English, led by a PhD historian
About this experience
They kept a snake in the house and fed it milk by hand; killing it brought disaster. That is where the walk opens, at the Bastion, with the Basilisk the city invented to explain its dead. From there: the Gate of Dawn and its wall of 8,000 silver hearts, legs and eyes left to buy a cure from heaven; three martyrs killed in 1347 whose bodies still refuse to decay; the Basilian Gate, built by the church that went over to Rome in 1596 to keep Moscow from claiming it; St Casimir's, built by a son to undo the nation his father turned Protestant; where Stendhal watched Napoleon's army freeze in 1812; the lane where a mob burned the rival church; and Cathedral Square, where a pagan fire burns under the cathedral of the last country in Europe to give up its gods. Led by Dr Simonas Strelcovas, PhD historian and former museum director, from his own research, not a script. Not what year a building went up, but how ordinary people believed. For curious travellers and readers of history.
What's included
Included
- A ~2-hour guided walking lecture in English, led by a PhD historian
Not included
- Meals
- Any optional church donation
What you'll see and do
Artillery Bastion (Basteja)
This is the meeting point and the tour's opening scene — the site of the pagan household snake, once fed milk by hand as a sacred guardian, and the reputed lair of the Basilisk of Vilnius, a monster whose gaze alone could kill.
15 minutes here
Gate of Dawn
The miracle icon of the Blessed Virgin Mary and the wall of roughly 8,000 silver votive offerings — hearts, legs, eyes — left by pilgrims seeking a cure, viewed from the street and the chapel entrance.
15 minutes here
Orthodox Church of the Holy Spirit
The resting place of the three martyrs of 1347 — the holy dead whose bodies, tradition holds, never decayed.
15 minutes here
Holy Trinity Church and Basilian Gate
The gate and former Uniate church, created after Vilnius's Orthodox congregations entered union with Rome in 1596 while keeping their Eastern rite.
15 minutes here
Church of St. Casimir
The first Baroque church built in Vilnius, and the story of the family that turned the nation Protestant and back again within two generations.
15 minutes here
Didzioji Gatve
The building where a young French officer, Henri Beyle — later famous as the novelist Stendhal — took shelter during Napoleon's frozen 1812 retreat. Thousands in army's mass grave, found in 2001.
15 minutes here
St. Michael's Church (Sv. Mykolo Baznycia)
Two rival churches facing off across one narrow lane, and the mob confrontation that settled the dispute between them.
15 minutes here
Vilnius Cathedral Square
The saint whose body reportedly never decayed, the mysterious three-handed painting, the pagan temple believed to lie beneath the cathedral, and the eternal flame marking the last pagan state in Europe. The walk ends here.
15 minutes here
Where it starts and ends
Meeting point
Vilnius
Meet in front of the main entrance to Bastėja (the Bastion), on Bokšto g. 20.
Hotel pickup
No pickup: everyone meets at the start point.
Ends at
The walk ends at Vilnius Cathedral and Cathedral Square, next to Gediminas' Tower.
Before you book
- Cancellation
- For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
- Languages
- en
- Ticket
- Mobile Only
- Runs on
- Every day
- Group size
- Up to 15 travelers per booking
- Operated by
- Simonas Strelcovas
Know before you go
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Photos
Good to know
- Duration
- 2 hours
- Free cancellation
- Up to 24h before
- Minimum age to book
- All ages
- Availability
- Bookable today
- Runs on
- Every day
- Hotel pickup
- No pickup, meet at start point
- Booked in 30 days
- 0
- Verdict
- Worth a Look
Why this scores 53
The Outty Ranking is a weighted composite. Here is how this experience performed on each component.
Heaven Hell & the Snake Walking Tour by PhD Historian in Vilnius: questions travelers ask
Practical detail on this experience, plus the wider planning questions for Vilnius.
How much does Heaven Hell & the Snake Walking Tour by PhD Historian in Vilnius cost?
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Prices start at $35 per person. The final price depends on the date, the time slot and the number of travelers, and peak weekends in Vilnius usually price higher than midweek mornings. Live pricing and remaining availability are confirmed on the booking screen before you pay.
How long does Heaven Hell & the Snake Walking Tour by PhD Historian in Vilnius take?
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Plan for about 2 hours from start to finish, not counting travel to the meeting point. Most travelers leave another 30 minutes on either side so the rest of the day in Vilnius is not rushed.
Is Heaven Hell & the Snake Walking Tour by PhD Historian in Vilnius worth it?
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It holds an Outty Ranking of 53 out of 100, which we label "Worth a Look". That score blends traveler sentiment (0/5 across 0 reviews), the depth of that review evidence, recent booking momentum, value for money against comparable last minute in Vilnius, and how flexible the cancellation terms are.
Can I cancel or reschedule Heaven Hell & the Snake Walking Tour by PhD Historian in Vilnius?
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Yes. Cancel free up to 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Inside that window the booking is non-refundable, and no-shows are not refunded.
Is Heaven Hell & the Snake Walking Tour by PhD Historian in Vilnius suitable for kids and families?
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Yes, all ages are welcome. Families should still weigh the 2-hour running time, and strollers are easier on the earlier, quieter departures.
How far in advance should I book Heaven Hell & the Snake Walking Tour by PhD Historian in Vilnius?
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Around 0 people booked this in the last 30 days, so popular slots go early. Two to three weeks ahead is comfortable in shoulder season, while summer weekends and holidays in Vilnius can sell out a month out. Same-day spots do open up when other travelers cancel, so it is worth checking if you are already in town.
What should I bring or wear?
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Bring photo ID, your booking confirmation on your phone, a refillable water bottle and comfortable shoes. Dress for the weather in Vilnius and add a light layer if any part of the 2-hour experience runs outdoors or after sunset.
Where does Heaven Hell & the Snake Walking Tour by PhD Historian in Vilnius start and how do I get there?
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The exact meeting point and directions are on your voucher once you book, and they sit in central Vilnius within reach of public transport. Arrive 15 minutes early: late arrivals are treated as no-shows by most operators.
What are the best things to do in Vilnius?
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On Outty we rank every Vilnius experience on the same 0 to 100 scale, and alongside this one the highest scorers right now include Admission Ticket at Auto Museum Vilnius, Regular walking tour of Soviet Vilnius, Regular walking tour of Jewish Vilnius. The city page groups everything into most popular, highest reviewed, last minute and family-friendly so you can build a day around what actually delivers.
When is the best time to visit Vilnius?
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Booking patterns follow the same curve: prices and queues climb in peak weeks, while shoulder season gives you better availability on the top-ranked experiences and more room to change plans.
How many days do you need in Vilnius?
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Three full days covers the headline sights without sprinting. A workable rhythm is one anchor experience each morning, such as this one, an unhurried afternoon in a single neighborhood, then a food or nightlife booking in the evening. Five days lets you add a day trip outside the city.
Do I book through Outty or through the operator?
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Outty ranks and explains the experiences, then hands you to Viator to complete the booking with the operator directly. The price is the same as booking on Viator yourself, and Outty earns an affiliate commission on the referral, which is how the rankings stay free to read.
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