Nonntal (Salzburg) Travel Guide - Free

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Nonntal
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Nonntal in Salzburg blends Nonnberg Abbey, leafy university grounds, historic lanes, local cafés and easy walks towards Hellbrunn and the Untersberg.

Abbey, Hillside and University Quarter

Nonntal occupies the southern side of Salzburg’s historic centre, rising gently from the old town towards the wooded slopes of the Gaisberg. Its name, generally understood as “nuns’ valley”, reflects the long influence of nearby Nonnberg Abbey, whose walls and red-roofed buildings overlook the district from the rocky rise above it. The neighbourhood feels less enclosed than the medieval centre across the Salzach: broad streets, university buildings, gardens and residential lanes create a spacious transition between the city and its surrounding landscape.
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Streets with a Local Rhythm

The district’s character is shaped by a mixture of historic villas, modest apartment buildings, academic facilities and institutional architecture. Nonntaler Hauptstraße and Petersbrunnstraße carry everyday traffic, while quieter streets around the university invite slower exploration. The UNIPARK Nonntal campus brings students and cultural activity, and the Schauspielhaus Salzburg provides one of the city’s important theatre venues. At the neighbourhood’s edges, views open towards the Untersberg and the southern Salzburg basin.

From Heritage to Open Countryside

Nonntal is especially rewarding on foot. Visitors can approach Nonnberg Abbey, follow lanes towards the Freisaal area, pause near university gardens and continue south towards Hellbrunner Straße and the parklands beyond the built-up district. Dining is more local and understated than in the old town, with cafés, bakeries and small restaurants serving residents, students and theatre-goers. The atmosphere changes noticeably through the day: commuter traffic and university life give way to quiet residential streets, church bells and mountain light in the evening.

Best attractions in Nonntal

Nonntal’s principal attractions are found in the contrast between its elevated religious landmark and its open southern setting. Nonnberg Abbey, approached by a steep lane from the old town, is the district’s defining sight, with a historic church, monastic buildings and views over the city. The university quarter around UNIPARK Nonntal adds contemporary architecture and a sense of everyday student life, while Schauspielhaus Salzburg brings theatre and cultural programming to the neighbourhood. Walkers can continue through the Freisaal area, where gardens, open spaces and views towards the mountains offer a different perspective from the crowded lanes of the Altstadt. The streets around Nonntaler Hauptstraße and Petersbrunnstraße are less about individual monuments than about observing the gradual change from historic city to residential Salzburg, with villas, institutional buildings and glimpses of the surrounding landscape.

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Best landmarks in Nonntal

Nonnberg Abbey is Nonntal’s essential landmark, occupying a prominent rocky rise above the district and linking Salzburg’s present-day streets with the city’s early Christian history. Its church and monastic complex are visually important even when viewed from below, while the approach through the old town and up the hillside emphasises the historical relationship between the abbey and the southern edge of Salzburg. In the lower neighbourhood, UNIPARK Nonntal represents the area’s contemporary educational identity, and Schauspielhaus Salzburg is a significant cultural building whose role is social as well as architectural. The district also contains a varied background of villas, institutional structures and older residential buildings rather than a single monumental ensemble. Together, these elements mark Nonntal as a transition zone: religious Salzburg on the ridge, modern academic life below and the open southern landscape beyond.

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Explore Nonntal on the map

A handpicked selection of must-see spots in Nonntal, mapped for you.

Best restaurants in Nonntal

Nonntal’s dining scene is modest and locally oriented rather than concentrated around a single restaurant strip. Cafés, bakeries and small eateries around Nonntaler Hauptstraße, Petersbrunnstraße and the university quarter serve residents, students and theatre audiences, making daytime coffee, pastries, light meals and straightforward Austrian cooking more prominent than destination dining. The presence of Salzburg’s university gives the area a younger, practical rhythm, while traditional establishments and neighbourhood businesses connect it with the city’s wider food culture. Visitors may find useful places to eat before a performance at Schauspielhaus Salzburg or while walking between the old town and the southern districts. For a larger choice of restaurants, the Altstadt is nearby, but Nonntal’s appeal lies in its everyday atmosphere: meals are encountered alongside residential streets, academic buildings and the routes towards Nonnberg and Freisaal rather than in a purpose-built tourist quarter.

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Best bars in Nonntal

Nonntal is not one of Salzburg’s principal clubbing districts, and its evenings are generally quieter than those around the busiest parts of the Altstadt. The most distinctive after-dark activity is associated with Schauspielhaus Salzburg, where theatre performances bring audiences into the neighbourhood and create a cultural rather than heavily commercial nightlife. Local cafés and modest bars provide places for conversation, while students contribute a degree of evening movement around the university quarter without transforming the area into a late-night entertainment zone. Visitors seeking a broad choice of cocktail bars, music venues or clubs will usually continue towards the central districts, which are close by. In Nonntal itself, the character after dark is shaped by performances, supper, residential calm and softly lit streets near the abbey hill; visitors should be considerate of neighbours when returning from the theatre.

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Best nightclubs in Nonntal

Nonntal is not one of Salzburg’s principal clubbing districts, and its evenings are generally quieter than those around the busiest parts of the Altstadt. The most distinctive after-dark activity is associated with Schauspielhaus Salzburg, where theatre performances bring audiences into the neighbourhood and create a cultural rather than heavily commercial nightlife. Local cafés and modest bars provide places for conversation, while students contribute a degree of evening movement around the university quarter without transforming the area into a late-night entertainment zone. Visitors seeking a broad choice of cocktail bars, music venues or clubs will usually continue towards the central districts, which are close by. In Nonntal itself, the character after dark is shaped by performances, supper, residential calm and softly lit streets near the abbey hill; visitors should be considerate of neighbours when returning from the theatre.

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Best shops in Nonntal

Shopping in Nonntal is primarily practical and neighbourhood-based, with bakeries, cafés, small food businesses and everyday retailers serving local residents and the university community. The most useful concentration is along the principal streets, particularly around Nonntaler Hauptstraße and the routes near the academic buildings, rather than in a dedicated pedestrian shopping quarter. Visitors should not expect the extensive souvenir, fashion and specialist retail found in the Altstadt, which is within easy walking distance. The commercial character changes as the streets move towards Freisaal, becoming more residential and less densely lined with shops. Nonntal is therefore better suited to picking up provisions, finding a coffee or browsing ordinary local businesses than to a planned shopping expedition. Independent establishments and bakery counters offer a more representative glimpse of daily life than branded retail, while Salzburg’s central shopping streets provide a wider choice nearby.

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Nonntal essentials

Getting There
Nonntal is readily reached from Salzburg’s Altstadt on foot across the southern side of the historic centre, with routes leading through the Nonnberg area and along Petersbrunnstraße. City buses and trolleybuses serve the main corridors around Nonntaler Hauptstraße, Akademiestraße and the university quarter; the exact service depends on the destination and current timetable. From Salzburg Hauptbahnhof, visitors can change to the city network towards the centre and continue south, or walk from the old town if carrying little luggage. Salzburg Airport is elsewhere in the city, so an airport bus or taxi normally requires a connection through the central area.
Getting Around
Nonntal is best explored on foot, especially around Nonnberg Abbey, the university buildings and the quieter streets leading towards Freisaal. The terrain rises towards the abbey and some lanes have uneven surfaces, steps or cobbles, while the main roads are flatter and easier for wheeled luggage. Bus stops on the principal streets are useful for longer journeys towards southern Salzburg, but local sightseeing distances are generally manageable without transport. Walkers should use marked crossings on Nonntaler Hauptstraße and Hellbrunner Straße, where traffic can be considerably heavier than on the residential lanes.
Safety
Nonntal is primarily a residential, academic and cultural district, and ordinary urban precautions are generally appropriate. Keep bags and phones secure in crowded buses, around theatre entrances and on routes linking the neighbourhood with the old town. After performances, use well-lit main streets or public transport rather than cutting across unfamiliar unlit paths, particularly near the edge of the built-up area. Traffic deserves attention on the larger roads, while cyclists and pedestrians share some narrow streets. Visitors exploring the abbey hill should take care on steep or uneven paving, especially in wet weather.
Emergency Situations
In Austria, call 112 for the European emergency number; police can be reached on 133, the fire service on 122 and ambulance services on 144. State the address or nearest street junction in Nonntal, describe the problem clearly and follow the operator’s instructions. The Salzburg city centre has pharmacies, medical practices and hospitals outside the immediate neighbourhood, so visitors needing urgent care should use the emergency services rather than assuming a local clinic can provide it. For less urgent medical advice, ask accommodation staff or a pharmacy to identify an appropriate current service.
Do's and Don'ts
Treat Nonnberg Abbey and other religious spaces as working institutions: dress and behave respectfully, keep voices low and follow any photography instructions. Do not enter closed courtyards, university areas or residential properties simply because they look historic. Queue patiently on public transport and allow passengers to leave before boarding. Around Schauspielhaus Salzburg, keep noise down after evening performances, particularly on residential streets. Independent cafés and shops appreciate unhurried, polite service, while photographs of residents, students or worshippers should be taken only with permission.
Local Tips
Begin near the old town and climb towards Nonnberg before continuing south, so the district’s relationship between medieval Salzburg, the abbey ridge and the open landscape becomes clear. The university quarter offers a useful pause between heritage sights, while Freisaal provides a quieter route towards the southern edge of the city. For mountain views, look beyond the immediate street frontage rather than expecting a single formal viewpoint: openings along the roads and pathways reveal the Untersberg and Gaisberg in different directions. Check cultural listings if the theatre is part of the visit.
Eve, your Evendo local guide

From Eve

Local phrases worth knowing

You don't need to get them perfect. A few words go a long way, and locals appreciate the effort.

6 phrase groups · English, local and pronunciation

Basics
EnglishLocalSay it
HelloServus[SAYR-voos]
GoodbyeAuf Wiedersehen[owf VEE-der-zayn]
YesJa[yah]
NoNein[nine]
Please/You're welcomeBitte[BIT-tuh]
Thank youDanke[DAHN-kuh]
Excuse me/SorryEntschuldigung[ent-SHOOL-dee-goong]
How are you?Wie geht es dir?[vee gayt es deer?]
Fine. And you?Gut. Und dir?[goot oont deer?]
Do you speak English?Sprechen Sie Englisch?[SHPRE-khen zee ENG-lish?]
I don't understandIch verstehe nicht[ikh fer-SHTAY-uh nikht]
Eating & Drinking
EnglishLocalSay it
I'd like to see the menu, pleaseIch hätte gerne die Speisekarte, bitte[ikh HET-uh GAIR-nuh dee SHPY-zuh-kahr-tuh, BIT-tuh]
I don't eat meatIch esse kein Fleisch[ikh ESS-uh kine flysh]
Cheers!Prost![prohst]
I would like to pay, pleaseIch möchte bitte zahlen[ikh MERKH-tuh BIT-tuh ZAH-len]
Emergencies
EnglishLocalSay it
Help!Hilfe![HIL-fuh]
Go away!Geh weg![gay veg]
Call the Police!Rufen Sie die Polizei![ROO-fen zee dee poh-LEE-tsigh]
Call a doctor!Rufen Sie einen Arzt![ROO-fen zee EYE-nen AHRTSHT]
I'm lostIch habe mich verirrt[ikh HAH-buh meesh fer-EERT]
I'm illIch bin krank[ikh been krAHNGK]
Shopping
EnglishLocalSay it
I'd like to buy...Ich möchte ... kaufen[ikh MERKH-tuh ... KOW-fen]
I'm just lookingIch schaue nur[ikh SHOW-uh noor]
How much is it?Wie viel kostet das?[vee feel KOSS-tet doss]
That's too expensiveDas ist zu teuer[doss ist tsoo TOO-er]
Can you lower the price?Können Sie den Preis senken?[KERN-en zee den PRYS ZEN-ken]
Time & Numbers
EnglishLocalSay it
What time is it?Wie spät ist es?[vee SHPAYT ist es]
It's one o'clockEs ist ein Uhr[es ist iyn oor]
Half past (10)Halb elf[halb elf]
MorningMorgen[MOR-guhn]
AfternoonNachmittag[NAKH-mit-tahg]
EveningAbend[AH-bent]
YesterdayGestern[GESH-tern]
TodayHeute[HOY-teh]
TomorrowMorgen[MOR-guhn]
1Eins[ayns]
2Zwei[tsvay]
3Drei[dry]
4Vier[feer]
5Fünf[fuhnf]
6Sechs[zeks]
7Sieben[zee-ben]
8Acht[akht]
9Neun[noyn]
10Zehn[tsayn]
Transport & Directions
EnglishLocalSay it
Where's a/the...?Wo ist ein/der...?[voh ist iyn/der]
What's the address?Was ist die Adresse?[vahs ist dee ah-DREH-suh]
Can you show me (on the map)?Kannst du mir zeigen (auf der Karte)?[kahnst doo meer TSAY-gen (owf der KAR-tuh)]
When's the next (bus)?Wann kommt der nächste (Bus)?[vahn kohmt der NAKHS-teh (boos)]
A ticket (to ....)Eine Fahrkarte (nach ....)[IY-nuh FAR-kahr-tuh (nahkh)]

History of Nonntal

Nonnberg and the Name Nonntal

Nonntal developed below Nonnberg Abbey, the Benedictine women’s monastery traditionally founded by Saint Rupert around 714 or 715. The abbey’s religious estate shaped land use on the southern side of Salzburg for centuries, and the name Nonntal refers to the nuns’ valley or lands. Although the monastery stands on its own elevated ridge at the edge of the old town, its history is inseparable from the district below: roads, fields and later housing grew within a landscape influenced by ecclesiastical ownership and the approach to the southern city gates.

Fields, Estates and the Southern Approach

For much of its history, Nonntal was less densely built than Salzburg’s medieval centre. Agricultural plots, gardens and country estates occupied the ground between the old town and the routes leading towards Hellbrunn and the southern Salzburg basin. The district’s position made it a passage between the walled city and rural land, while the nearby Nonnberg rise supplied a prominent religious and visual landmark. Gradual urban expansion brought villas, institutional buildings and more continuous streets, but the open fields and estate landscapes remained visible in areas such as Freisaal.

Urban Growth Beyond the Old Town

During the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, Salzburg expanded beyond its historic core, and Nonntal acquired a more mixed urban character. Residential buildings appeared alongside older houses, gardens and public institutions, while improved roads connected the old town with southern districts. The area retained its relationship with Nonnberg Abbey but increasingly served ordinary city life rather than functioning mainly as an ecclesiastical fringe. Its broad streets and less concentrated building pattern distinguish it from the tightly enclosed lanes of the Altstadt.

University and Cultural Renewal

Modern Nonntal became closely associated with education and culture through the development of the University of Salzburg’s southern campus and the presence of Schauspielhaus Salzburg. The UNIPARK Nonntal building, opened in the early twenty-first century, added a conspicuous contemporary layer to a district already marked by historic religious and residential architecture. This combination of students, theatre audiences, long-established institutions and nearby green spaces has reinforced Nonntal’s role as a bridge between Salzburg’s heritage centre and its everyday southern neighbourhoods.

Nonntal in Photos

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