Before you leave your hotel on the second day, try getting tickets to the ballet or opera at the Muziektheater for an evening performance. See the Anne Frankhuis first and go early because there's always a line (although during summer, when the museum is busiest and open until 10pm, it may be better to go in the evening).
Start: Trams 13, 14, or 17 to Westermarkt.
1. Anne Frankhuis
The Prinsengracht canal house where Anne Frank hid from the Nazis during World War II seems haunted by tragic ghosts, yet filled with her brave spirit.
2. Westerkerk
A bronze statue of Anne Frank graces the square outside the 17th-century Protestant church where Rembrandt was laid to rest. Head up the steeple for heavenly views of the city.
3. Homomonument
The world's first ever monument to persecuted gays and lesbians takes the form of three rose-colored granite triangles, recalling the shape of the badge the Nazis forced homosexuals to wear.
4. De Prins
Though it's in a heavily touristed area, De Prins has kept the finest qualities of a quintessential Amsterdam eetcafé.
5. Houseboat Museum
Ever wondered what it would be like to own a houseboat? Find out aboard the vintage canal-barge Hendrika Maria. Be sure to duck when you go below.
6. Amsterdam Museum
Amsterdam manages to stay on the cutting edge of just about every trend even while remaining immersed in more history than is easy to digest. That's where the Amsterdam Museum's breezy traipse through 800 years comes in handy.
7. Kantjil & de Tijger
Nothing is more typical of Amsterdam than its love affair with Indonesian cuisine. This elegant eatery is a master of the genre.
8. Muntplein
This misshaped "square" doesn't quite cut it as a visitor attraction, despite boasting the medieval Munttoren (Mint Tower) with its graceful spire and tinkling carillon. Most people are preoccupied with staying alive at this busy tram intersection.
9. Rembrandtplein
A city square that makes up in sheer tackiness for what it lacks in sophistication. Actually, that's not quite fair. There are a few decent cafes, and the determination to have a good time can be infectious, or at any rate loud. Don't miss Rembrandt's so-so statue in the center of the square.
11. Café Schiller
While it can seem too cool for Rembrandtplein — perhaps the reason it's often empty — Schiller has Art Deco style and a calm-oasis character locals find engaging.
12. Magere Brug
The "Skinny Bridge" over the Amstel River has about as many tales associated with its creation as lights that illuminate it at night. In daylight or darkness, the view from this wooden drawbridge is memorable.
13. Muziektheater
A synthetic-modern architecture has earned the city's opera and dance venue the biting epithet of the "False Teeth." The Amsterdam-based Netherlands Opera and National Ballet, and the regularly visiting Netherlands Dance Theater (from The Hague), do their impressive best to keep it real on the inside.
14. Breitner
For pre- or post-Muziektheater dining, and even during the performance (if you didn't attend), Breitner puts on a pretty refined show.
Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.
