Begin at Mercado de Jamaica, where colorful displays of flowers and plants share space with produce, prepared foods, and everyday market stalls. Sample a traditional tamales with atole (corn-masa parcels with savory or sweet fillings served with a warm, thick corn drink) for breakfast or a morning snack, then continue browsing the market's food stalls and specialty products.

Continue to Mercado de San Juan, one of the city's most distinctive food markets, known for specialty ingredients, fresh produce, seafood, cheeses, and unusual meats used by chefs and adventurous home cooks.

Optional add-on: Visit the Museo del Chocolate for an introduction to Mexico's long history with cacao and chocolate, including exhibits and opportunities to sample chocolate.

Continue into the Historic Center of Mexico City Centro Histórico for lunch. Consider Café de Tacuba, a historic Mexico City institution known for traditional Mexican dishes and its atmospheric early twentieth-century setting, or El Cardenal, celebrated for classic Mexican cooking and traditional breakfast and lunch specialties.

Browse shops specializing in Mexican food products before stopping at a mezcal specialist to learn about Mexico's agave spirits and shop for bottles from different regions and agave varieties.

Continue to a traditional cantina, where you can experience one of Mexico City's enduring social traditions while sampling Mexican snacks and drinks.

Browse the artisan stalls and shops of Mercado de la Ciudadela to see traditional crafts from across Mexico and pick up souvenirs.

Begin an informal taco crawl through the neighborhood, sampling several of Mexico City's essential taco styles rather than settling on a single dinner destination. Make sure to include:

• tacos al pastor (sliced marinated pork)
• carnitas (slow-cooked pork)
• suadero (tender beef from the brisket area)
• tacos de canasta (small steamed tacos carried in baskets)

Along the way, try elotes and esquites (grilled or boiled corn, served on the cob or in a cup with mayonnaise, cheese, chile, and lime), another quintessential Mexican street food.

End at Churrería El Moro for churros and hot chocolate (crisp fried dough dusted with sugar and cinnamon, served with thick Mexican-style chocolate). The historic churrería has been serving churros in Mexico City since 1935.

Begin in Coyoacán, one of Mexico City's most atmospheric historic neighborhoods, browsing the neighborhood's independent shops and artisan stores.

Visit the Coyoacán Market, where food stalls and vendors sell crafts, textiles, ceramics, kitchenware, traditional sweets, and other Mexican products. Stop for a casual market lunch or snack, including tostadas (crisp fried tortillas topped with ingredients such as seafood, meat, beans, or vegetables).

Continue to San Ángel, an elegant historic neighborhood known for galleries, artisan shops, antiques, and Mexican crafts. Browse the selection of folk art, jewelry, textiles, ceramics, woodwork, clothing, and contemporary Mexican crafts at El Bazar Sábado before exploring the surrounding shops and galleries.

For lunch or an early dinner, seek out pozole (hominy, chile, and pork soup), a comforting Mexican specialty traditionally served with garnishes such as lettuce, onion, radishes, lime, and oregano.

Optional add-on: Head to Xochimilco, a historic network of canals and floating gardens to board a traditional trajinera for a leisurely ride through the canals, with colorful boats, floating gardens, food vendors, and musicians creating a lively atmosphere.

Return to Coyoacán for a relaxed dinner and evening stroll around its illuminated plazas, cafés, and lively local atmosphere.

Preview the Medellín Market, a lively neighborhood market known for fresh produce, Mexican ingredients, prepared foods, and products reflecting Mexico City's broader Latin American connections.

Participate in a hands-on Mexican cooking class, beginning with a guided market visit and then preparing a traditional meal using fresh ingredients. The cooking class provides an opportunity to learn about Mexican ingredients and cooking techniques rather than simply sampling the finished dishes.

Explore Roma Norte, browsing independent Mexican fashion, jewelry, ceramics, homewares, galleries, bookstores, and specialty-food shops. Take a break for coffee and pan dulce (traditional Mexican sweet bread and pastries). Roma Norte is known for specialty coffees from locally sourced beans.

Continue into La Condesa to explore independent boutiques, design shops, cafés, and galleries.

Continue to Polanco, one of Mexico City's most elegant neighborhoods, combining contemporary architecture, museums, designer boutiques, and restaurants. End the day with dinner in Polanco, where contemporary Mexican cuisine and international restaurants offer a contrast to the traditional flavors of the historic center.