Technopolis 20 Jazz Festival at Ibrahim's Khan: What to Know and Where to Eat Nearby

The essentials

The Technopolis 20 Jazz Festival brings two evenings of jazz to Ibrahim's Khan in Pafos old town this weekend. These are the details confirmed on the official Visit Pafos events listing:

• Dates: Friday 2 and Saturday 3 October 2026
• Venue: Ibrahim's Khan, Pafos old town (Ktima)
• Format: two separate evenings of jazz
• Friday start: 20:00, with doors open at 19:00
• Tickets: one-day tickets cost €15–€30, depending on age and seating category, and are available at technopolis20.com
• Information: +357 70 002420 or info@technopolis20.com

We could not confirm the Saturday start time or the lineup on the official listing when we wrote this, so check the official listing or technopolis20.com before you go. Seating categories usually mean the better seats go first, so don't leave it too late.

Why the Khan suits jazz

A khan was a traveller's inn. Merchants stopped there with their animals and goods, and the buildings were usually arranged around an enclosed yard, with thick stone walls that kept the street outside. That layout turns out to be very good for small concerts. The walls hold the sound in and keep traffic noise out, and the audience sits close to the musicians rather than looking up at a distant stage.

Ibrahim's Khan stands in the upper town, Ktima, which is the older commercial heart of Paphos and quite different from the harbour strip at Kato Paphos. Over the past decade the old town has been restored and its historic buildings reused for events, and the Khan is now one of its regular cultural venues.

The festival carries the name of Technopolis 20, the Paphos arts and culture centre, which runs a year-round programme of concerts, talks and exhibitions. If you enjoy this weekend, its calendar is worth following through the winter.

Getting there

The Khan is in the old town, up the hill from the harbour. From Kato Paphos you have three options:

• Bus: local services run between the harbour area and Karavella bus station in the upper town. From Karavella you can walk into the old town.
• Taxi: the simplest choice if you are staying along the coast road. Allow for queues at the end of the evening, when everyone leaves at once.
• Car: the old town has municipal car parks. The streets near the Khan are narrow and partly pedestrianised, so park a little way out and walk the last stretch.

October nights in Paphos are mild, but it can cool down after dark. A light layer is worth bringing, and comfortable shoes help on the old town's uneven paving.

Where to eat and drink nearby

The advantage of a gig in Ktima is that dinner and a drink are only a short walk away. We have not been able to confirm opening hours for individual restaurants this week, so here is a guide to the areas rather than a list of tables. All of them are a few minutes on foot from the Khan.

Around the Municipal Market

The streets around the old Municipal Market are the most atmospheric part of the old town for eating out. You will find traditional tavernas serving meze, small cafés and a growing number of wine and cocktail bars. Meze is a long meal, often a dozen or more small plates, so sit down early if you want to make the start of the set. The other option is to treat it as a late supper once the music ends.

Kennedy Square and Makarios Avenue

Kennedy Square and the area around Makarios Avenue form the busy centre of the upper town. They are useful for a quicker meal, coffee and dessert before the doors open, or a nightcap afterwards. Cafés here tend to stay open into the evening, especially at weekends.

A few practical tips

• Book for Friday: 2 October is a Friday night, so reserve a table if you have a particular taverna in mind.
• Ask for halloumi and loukaniko: grilled halloumi and village sausage are staples on most old town meze menus, and they make a good shorter order if you are short on time.
• Try a local wine: the Paphos hills produce a lot of Cyprus's wine. Ask for something from the region, such as a white made from the Xynisteri grape.

More live music in Paphos this autumn

If you miss this weekend, or it leaves you wanting more, the season does not end here. Autumn is a busy time for culture in Paphos, as the heat eases and outdoor venues can be used comfortably into the evening.

The best single place to see what is coming up is the official Visit Pafos events calendar, which lists concerts, festivals and theatre across the district. Other places to watch:

• Technopolis 20: its own programme of concerts and cultural events continues after the festival.
• Markideion Theatre: the old town theatre hosts music and stage productions through the cooler months.
• Ibrahim's Khan itself: the Khan hosts other events through the year, so the festival is a good introduction to it as a venue.

Lineups, start times and ticket prices can change. Check before you go on the Visit Pafos listing or with the organisers.