Behind the scenes eiffel tower tour including champ de mars underground bunker

Go behind the scenes at the Eiffel Tower and discover the places that few visitors get to see! On this intriguing 1.5-hour Eiffel Tower tour, explore the Champ de Mars’ underground bunker, and visit the engine room that controls the tower’s important hydraulic lifts. Head up to the 2nd level and enjoy privileged views from the rooftop terrace at the esteemed Alain Ducasse restaurant, Le Jules Verne.

Meet your expert guide in front of the world-famous Eiffel Tower, located on the bustling Champ de Mars in Paris. As you gaze up at this incredible monument, your guide will get you up to speed about its history: hear how it was built for a world fair (the International Exposition of 1889), and learn how the locals’ opinions of it changed from ‘eyesore’ to ‘much-loved architectural icon.’

After your introduction, leave the tourist crowds behind and head underground to a little-known bunker, directly beneath the Champ de Mars. Explore the bunker with your guide, hearing wartime tales of this secret place that so few have seen. In its early days, the Eiffel Tower was used to house army communications equipment, and at the onset of World War I, the need for an easy evacuation route became apparent. The answer was the creation of the bunker, complete with secret tunnels, in a complex underground network beneath the tower.

Head back into the daylight and on to your next behind-the-scenes site – the Eiffel Tower engine room. Housing the machinery that powers the monument’s hugely important hydraulic elevators, the engine room represents the functional part of the tower’s day-to-day operations, as well as containing some beautiful infrastructure.

Take a ride in the hydraulic elevators to the 2nd level of the Eiffel Tower, home to Alain Ducasse’s prestigious Le Jules Verne restaurant. Michelin-starred, the restaurant is one of the few places in the world where top views and top food go hand in hand. Normally reserved for Eiffel Tower employees only, the restaurant’s private rooftop terrace boasts incredible panoramic views over Paris – and you’ll be one of the privileged few to see them!

Your tour finishes back on the 2nd-level balcony, where you can spend as much time as you want walking around independently, taking in breathtaking views of the city. Before leaving, your expert guide will point out where you can purchase tickets for the 3rd level, should you wish to experience the Eiffel Tower from the very top!