Listing the best travel destinations in the world is no mean feat and the task of culling down the list is nothing short of an art form. So, how is the list actually made? Each year, Lonely Planet’s Best in Travel lists start with nominations from Lonely Planet’s vast community of staff, writers, bloggers, publishing partners and more. The nominations are then whittled down by its panel of travel experts to just 30 destinations. Each is chosen for its topicality, unique experiences, ‘wow’ factor and its ongoing commitment to sustainability, community, and diversity. The 2023 edition of the top travel destinations list is slightly different this year. Rather than one big list, the destinations have been split up into five categories: