Pirenópolis divides naturally into two kinds of activity: wandering the colonial town itself, and heading into the surrounding cerrado for waterfalls and trails. The town's historic centre is compact and pleasant, with the Igreja Matriz de Nossa Senhora do Rosário anchoring the main square and dozens of craft shops, galleries, and restaurants opening onto the cobblestone streets. Most visitors combine a morning in town with an afternoon at one of the nearby waterfalls.
The biggest event in the Pirenópolis calendar is the Festa do Divino Espírito Santo, held 50 days after Easter, which brings the Cavalhadas — a theatrical horseback re-enactment of medieval Christian-Moorish battles — to the town's main arena. The costumes are extraordinary and the event draws visitors from across Brazil.