Guidebooks contain important sources of information for travellers. It can be assumed that they influence the reader's choice of tourist sites, as a selection of tourist attractions is presented in the books. In this study, the influence of guidebooks on German tourists' choice of tourist sites in Sweden was examined. Nine guidebooks were analysed. In order to analyse the relationship between the presentation in the guidebooks and tourist journeys to these places, a comparison between presented tourist sites and accommodation statistics (for the year 2002) was accomplished. Further, the content of the presented tourist regions was analysed. The results indicate that the distance from home affects how strongly tourists are influenced by guidebooks. In addition, it was found that individually created tourist regions are regularly used in guidebooks and that a stereotype picture of these tourist regions is provided.