Most of Dubrovnik is outside the walls of the old town. The city is built along a steep slope with the mountains of Herzegovina towering above. In addition to the regular urban construction, the Lovrijenac fortress, just outside the Pile Gate, stands guard over the city. It was originally built opposite the smaller Bokar Fortress, to protect the port. By the time the two were completed the port had outgrown the harbor and was moved to the Ploca Gate area. Hamlet was produced in one of the fortress towers during the Summer Festival, giving it a spectacular setting.

Walks along the ramparts take an hour (more than two km.). Reaching an elevation of 25 meters, the wall features two round towers and 14 square towers, two corner forts and one big fortress. The views from the ramparts may be the high point of a visit to Dubrovnik.