Amsterdam's reputation for its red-light district and coffee shops only tells a sliver of the story. Spend a little time here, whether over a rich Indonesian rice table, an evening walk along the glowing canals or an afternoon browsing the boutiques of the Nine Streets, and you'll quickly see this city has far more depth than its headlines suggest.

Amsterdam is a wonderful choice for couples and even families. Rent a bike and pedal along the maze of canals like a local. Visit the Anne Frank House for a moving look at the Holocaust through the eyes of a young girl. Stand in front of Vincent van Gogh's swirling masterpieces at the Van Gogh Museum, then stretch out on the lawns of Vondelpark. Add a canal cruise, cozy brown cafes and world-class museums, and you have a city that suits nearly every traveler.

Amsterdam is also a popular starting point for European river cruises. I'll book the hard-to-get museum tickets well ahead, choose a canal-side hotel and add day trips to windmills, cheese towns or tulip fields in spring.