How would you spend two full days in Amsterdam? Flying out on third day

Sue - When is your trip to Amsterdam? What are your interests and things you want to see in Amsterdam? Museums, Windmills, Canal tour? You have the option to stay in Haarlem Netherlands too. From Shiphol airport to Haarlem is a 30 minutues train ride. From Haarlem to Amsterdam city center, it is a 20 to 30 minutes train ride.

We thought we would take a guided tour, a canal tour, visit Anne Franks house..see windmills..I know silly question about windmills how do we get to where they are? I better start more research. We arrive August 20.
Thanks for the ideas. Haven’t picked a hotel yet.

If you find the Anne Frank Huis sold out, visit the Jewish Historical Museum.
The easiest to reach windmills are those at the Zaanse Schans: 15 mins on the train, 15 mins walk. For its proximity to Amsterdam it can be very, very busy.

It depends on your interests and there is a lot of info out there to reference e.g.
https://www.iamsterdam.com/en/see-and-do

Stay in the center if you can find lodging in your budget as it is very limited and expensive most of the year

I would not stay in the center. I would stay in the outer canal rings somewhere around the Jordaan /Leidseplein/Museum/De Pijp region, and then take a tram to the center if there is something you want to see (or better yet, rent bikes, but that option does not seem to be one that most RS forum users employ). I would walk all around the Jordaan/Leidseplein area. I would visit the Rijks, but not all of it, and the Van Gogh. I would not take a canal tour because you could see so much just walking or from a tram en route to seeing something. The sites you visit, whether you do choose to visit museums or the Ann Franke Huis, imo, matter less than the experience of being on the streets as you walk between these (there are many to recommend, so which of those you choose is not make or break). Yes there are alternatives to Anne Franke. If you stay in the outer rings, you can tram to Central station for a train to Zans Schanse in the morning, then upon return, walk around central AMS, before returning the outer rings for dinner and more walking. The other day can be spent visiting a museum or two, the Anne Frank Huis and walking more around that area. In central AMS The Church in the Attic was very enjoyable, the OUde Kerk less so but still interesting. Puri Mas is great for Rijstafel in the Leidseplein area...

We are staying in Amsterdam center. @ IBIS Center ... anyone ever stayed there? What would be the best and easiest way to go see the windmills?
Since I was a child I have wanted to visit windmills.
Thanks

Zaans Shans is a 30 minute trip from Amsterdam. You can see windmills, watch wooden shoes being made, taste cheese and have a great chance to be outside. It is a pleasant 20 minute walk from the train station.
For dinner one night consider Martine's Table. Reservations are required as she only seats eight each evening.