Cinque Terre is a lovely gem in Italy. 4 years later, I had the opportunity to also visit Amalfi Coast (a coastal competitor) and the two have such completely different vibes.
Cinque Terre felt more low key with minimal glitz/glamour in comparison to Amalfi Coast. The train that connects the 5 towns makes for interesting day trips. Each town has a slightly different edge - my favourite being Riomaggiore. The colourful vibe of Cinque Terre creates a romantic vibe, one that is enjoyable even for gal travelling solo.
A recommended trip is to take the coastal trail that connects the 5 towns (if you are keen). I was lazy/not fit, so I stuck with the easy 1KM pedestrian walkway that connects the first two towns. Via dell Amore (all romance). In 2012, Cinque Terre had a terrible earthquake/mudslide so the full trail was blocked off so let's just blame that natural disaster instead.
Monterosso
Vernazza
Corniglia
Manarola
Riomaggiore
Back in 2012, I didn't have access to a very fancy camera. So, my pictures really do not do the place justice (and none are "Edited"). So, please do not judge the pictures! Just visit the place in-person :)