Marseille is France’s oldest city — founded in 600 BC — and it feels like a deliberate collision: ancient history smashed into gritty, loud, modern port-city energy.In this episode of The Audio Travel Guide, we go beyond the French Riviera clichés and give you a practical deep dive into Marseille’s vibe, neighborhoods, must-do experiences, food, transport, safety, and the best time to visit.You’ll learn:• Why Marseille feels so different from Paris and postcard-Provence• The Old Port (Vieux-Port): fish market, sunsets, and the city’s beating heart• Le Panier: the oldest neighborhood + the Vieille Charité• Noailles: Marseille’s “bazaar” (a full sensory overload)• Cours Julien + La Plaine: street art, nightlife, and the best markets• The Corniche + Vallon des Auffes (hidden fishing port under a viaduct)• L’Estaque: the fishing port linked to Cézanne and the birth of modern art• Notre-Dame de la Garde (“The Good Mother”) and the best panoramic view• Château d’If (Count of Monte Cristo) + booking and weather tips (Mistral wind)• The Calanques: how to see them, hiking access rules, and summer fire closures• MuCEM + Fort Saint-Jean (the footbridge from modern to historic)• Le Corbusier’s Unité d’Habitation (UNESCO “vertical city”)• Stade Vélodrome and Olympique de Marseille (OM)• What to eat: bouillabaisse (and how to avoid tourist traps), pizza culture, navettes biscuits, and pastis• Getting around: RTM metro/trams/buses, the tiny Old Port ferry, and why you should not drive• Arrival tips at Gare Saint-Charles (save your knees with luggage)• Safety reality check + areas tourists should avoid• Best time to visit: May/June/September/October (and why summer is tricky)Chapters00:00 Marseille: A City of Intense Contrast00:50 Why Marseille Feels Nothing Like “Postcard Provence”01:38 Marseille’s Origins (600 BC) + Port-City Identity02:19 Vieux-Port: Fish Market & Sunsets02:47 Le Panier + Vieille Charité03:45 Noailles: The Bazaar District04:20 Cours Julien + La Plaine (Street Art, Nightlife, Markets)04:56 The Corniche + Vallon des Auffes05:27 L’Estaque & Cézanne05:54 Notre-Dame de la Garde (Best View)06:39 Château d’If (Monte Cristo) + Booking/Wind Tips07:17 The Calanques: Hiking, Boats & Fire Closures08:00 MuCEM + Fort Saint-Jean Footbridge08:25 Le Corbusier: Unité d’Habitation (UNESCO)08:54 Football: OM & Stade Vélodrome09:08 Food: Bouillabaisse, Pizza, Navettes, Pastis10:27 Getting Around: RTM + Old Port Ferry + Walking11:03 Arrival: Gare Saint-Charles Luggage Tip11:21 Safety: What’s True, What’s Not11:56 Best Time to Visit (Shoulder Seasons)12:12 Final Takeaway: Earn the Beauty