PEOPLE living in the Georgian townhouses south of Dublin's River Liffey must, by now, be indifferent to passers-by casing their joints. After all, for anyone new to the rarefied atmosphere of Merrion Square, it’s impossible not to stand gazing at those auspicious front doors. Handsome portals of every colour, they are flanked by graceful columns and capped with beautifully etched lunette windows.

Every door is the starting point to a story of course, and a 10-minute bus journey takes you to Marino Crescent in Clontarf on the city's north side, where the houses are equally impressive. One property – Number 15 – is of particular interest. Behind this rather neutral door, on November 8, 1847, Bram Stoker was born, and although this was his childhood home, the connection with Dracula, his literary behemoth, is strong.

Stoker is just one of a whole bookshelf of literary giants to have started their lives in Dublin. Dracula was published when he was living in London in 1897, but the Count surely comes from his Irish soul and the legends and folklore he would have heard as a child. Every year, Stoker is celebrated in the city with a festival that celebrates all things vampiric. This year's Bram Stoker Festival promises "four nights of deadly adventure" and runs from October 28 to 31.

Dracula is one reason that Dublin became a UNESCO City of Literature in 2010, but on a stroll around these streets, keen readers will encounter many statues dedicated to some of the towering literary greats who were born here.

In Merrion Square, Oscar Wilde lounges languorously above us, while Patrick Kavanagh invites us to have a seat alongside him on a bench on the banks of the Grand Canal at Baggot Street Bridge.

James Joyce, George Bernard Shaw and Brendan Behan are scattered throughout the city centre and were joined in 2005 by musician, lyricist and Thin Lizzie founding member, Phil Lynott, standing in Harry Street outside Bruxelles Bar, one of his favourite haunts.

Ireland’s most famous poet is celebrated in an extensive exhibition at the National Library of Ireland entitled Yeats: The Life And Works Of William Butler Yeats. Even for those who don’t “do” poetry, his story and his typically Victorian zeal for the supernatural is fascinating. For poetry enthusiasts, it’s heaven.

Dublin’s creative side extends to more than the written word, of course, and its vibrancy is taking it in every direction.

The creative life has long been envied, but making a living hasn’t always been so easy. Dublin has designated an area stretching from South William Street to George’s Street, and from Lower Stephen’s Street to Exchequer Street as its Creative Quarter.

This area has a long history of nurturing design, fashion and good food and drink. If it’s modern-day Dublin you're after, rather than the sound of haunting pipes drifting from souvenir boutiques resplendent with emerald green, then this is the place to come. We’re too used to seeing identikit malls with their uniform chainstore shopfronts, but George’s Street is different, offering plenty to gladden the heart of architecture fiends and shopping enthusiasts alike.

George's Street Arcade was Ireland's first purpose-built shopping centre, and one of Europe’s oldest built in neo-gothic style in 1881. It’s a Victorian pleasure palace of independent shops and stalls, with clothing, jewellery, music, some souvenirs that can be put on display in a non-ironic way, and a few places to eat and drink.

It’s not far from the famous Grafton Street and its upmarket stores, but if local makers and crafts are of more interest, make sure any stay includes a Saturday for the Ha’penny Flea Market.

Taking place in the Grand Social music venue on Lower Liffey from 12 to 6, think retro, vintage, and vinyl, with DJs on site spinning it while customers peruse. There’s everything from books to furniture, with stallholders featured on a rota basis rather than appearing every week. Some of the cooler city-centre shops also take stalls here and it’s not too unusual to find a pop-up from established designers getting back to their roots. Oh, and you can buy a pint from the bar for that thirsty shopping work … what’s not to love?

This year the city’s creatives have had the challenge of commemorating the 100th anniversary of the Easter Rising, the week beginning April 24, 1916, the historic insurrection against British rule that acted as a catalyst to the eventual establishment of an independent Republic of Ireland.

The centre of the rebellion was the handsome GPO building on O’Connell Street. This is where the Proclamation of Independence was read by Padraig Pearse on Easter Monday and where many of the rebels left a week later to be captured and in the majority of cases, executed.

This year, the GPO Witness History visitor experience has opened in part of the building itself. The exhibition offers a 21st-century interactive experience without losing any of the atmosphere of the time. The issues leading up to the Rising are explained clearly and simply; the week of the Rising itself is presented through not only artefacts of the time but film and digital presentations that have a properly immersive feel; then the aftermath that eventually led to the Irish Republic is described in a way that everyone can understand.

The next step is, of course, to buy a postcard of the Proclamation and send it from the GPO itself.

It’s not too much of an exaggeration to say that the city itself is an outdoor museum. The procession of bridges across the Liffey, from the charm of the 1816 Ha’penny Bridge to the harp-shaped Samuel Beckett bridge from 2007. The architecture, traditional and contemporary, such as the Bord Gais Theatre, is head-swivelling and the street art isn’t restricted to the cultural figures.

Although it’s difficult to move this year without exhibitions or banners pertaining to the Rising, significant episodes further back in history have also been recognised.

Head down to Custom House Quay in the Docklands and walk among the haunting bronze sculptures of Dublin sculptor Rowan Gillespie’s Famine.

It was presented to the city in 1997 and dedicated to all those who perished and were forced to leave their country in search of survival during the 19th century Irish Famine.

This is where many of the families would have boarded ships, leaving Ireland forever. The Jeanie Johnston ship nearby gives visitors a chance to see what conditions would have been like for those boarding tall ships to leave. What it can’t convey is the emotion of leaving home for good, being starved out of her nation and maybe leaving deceased family behind.

Dublin, a city of creativity, but also of deep emotion.

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5 things to do in Dublin

Hold hands: Loving couples should visit the Shrine of St Valentine in Whitefriar Street Church. The remains of the saint were gifted to the city from Rome in 1836 and now it’s a favourite place for couples to visit, religious or not.

Be part of history: Recently opened at Custom House Quay, EPIC Ireland is the city's newest visitor attraction. It looks at how those who have left Ireland over the centuries have influenced the rest of the world.

Eat local: The Irish Village Markets take place on Wednesdays from 11.30am to 2pm in Spencer Dock, Thursdays from 12pm-3pm at Christ Church Cathedral and 11am to 2pm on Mespil Road, Fridays from 11.30am to 2pm on the Grand Canal, and Saturdays from 10am to 5pm at Christ Church.

Get some sea air: Take the DART (city rail network) and arrive in the fishing village of Howth in less than half an hour. It has all the charm visitors are looking for. Have a wander around the harbour, explore the cliffs, and coincide a visit with meal time for some stupendous fish and chips.

Love live music: There are some decent traditional music locations, but Dublin has an incredible depth of rock and pop. Take a look at what’s on at The Button Factory in Curved St, Whelan’s in Wexford St, Vicar Street in Thomas Street, and The Grand Social in Lower Liffey Street.