Apokoronas: traffic rules for Agios Fanourios feast

New traffic regulations for the celebration at the Holy Church of Agios Fanourios in the Municipality of Apokoronas have been announced by the General Regional Police Directorate of Crete, through the Chania Police Directorate. The decision is supplementary to that of 18 August 2026 and is in force from 13:00 on Wednesday 26 August 2026 to 13:00 on Thursday 27 August 2026. During this period, parking is banned along the whole length of Apteras street, from the Megala Chorafia junction to the Stylos local community, on the Stylos–Neo Chorio connecting road, and on the Chania–Rethymno Old National Road from Neo Chorio to the Agioi Pantes junction.

At the same time, the Chania–Rethymno Old National Road becomes one-way from the Agioi Pantes junction to its junction with Provincial Road 51, near Vamos, with traffic running only towards Rethymno. On the same stretch, heavy vehicles are banned in both directions. A specific route has been set for pilgrims on foot, starting from Megala Chorafia and following Apteron street, Stylos, Neo Chorio and the Agioi Pantes junction, ending via the Old National Road at the south entrance of the Church.

These regulations concern one of the largest religious gatherings of the summer in the west of the island, with crowds of worshippers covering sections of the road network on foot. Police note that compliance with the provisions of the new Road Traffic Code, Law 5209/2025, will be checked, both regarding pedestrian behaviour and parking on motorways and the placing of illegal stalls on the roadside. The same framework had also led to the earlier decision, under which pedestrians were moved off the BOAK for the same celebration, so that pilgrims would not walk on the motorway itself.

For those who want to avoid travelling by private vehicle, the Chania–Rethymno KTEL has announced special services for 26 and 27 August 2026; the detailed schedule with departure times is not given here, as it was not available in the sources checked. The regulations end at 13:00 on Thursday, with no extension or additional measure for the following days announced. Drivers travelling between Chania and Rethymno who are not heading to the celebration will need to use an alternative route for that 24-hour period. The announcements do not include an estimate of the number of pilgrims expected this year, nor do they say whether organised parking areas will operate outside the ban zone. It is also not specified which forces will be deployed to enforce the measures or which units will be responsible for checks.