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There's a good 60 Minutes segment on this from a few years back: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6mXl8C4-M_4 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6mXl8C4-M_4 I also

• JKolios 5y ago
  I personally know a Catholic who had no trouble getting a permit to visit, so I don't think that's true.
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• throwaway_se099 5y ago
  > I also believe you have to follow the Greek Orthodox religion to be able to visit - they might make some rare exceptions. You need a permit (effectively, a visa) to enter the peninsula, and there is a daily quota. About a tenth of available permits can be issued to non-Orthodox visitors. They don't single out the Greek church from other Orthodox churches (AFAIK). [I researched the entry requirements a couple of years ago out of curiosity, but never tried to actually visit. Something may have changed in the meantime, but somehow I doubt it :)]
• srcreigh 5y ago
  Greek Orthodox religion is somewhat of a misnomer. There are other Eastern Orthodox churches which are in communion with the church in Greece. The religion is Eastern Orthodox, Greek is a language/hierarchy within orthodoxy. Also, I'm reading a book about Mt Athos now, it was mentioned that a tourist was on the island. That must have taken place ~100 years ago, mind you.
• elorant 5y ago
  No, that's not correct. People from other religions are allowed. It's just that there's a daily limit to the amount of people who can enter the region and the analogy is like 10:1 orthodox/non-orthodox. I think it's like 120 people in total, or something like that.