Is the Italian Cinque Terre really worth visiting?

Cinque Terre is located on the rugged coastline of the Liguria region in Italy, consisting of five colorful villages nestled between the mountains and the sea. It is listed as a World Cultural Heritage site, famous for its colorful houses, terraced landscapes, and coastal hiking trails.

【Village Introduction】
Village: Riomaggiore ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️P7
The gateway to Cinque Terre, the largest and most representative village. Walking along the main road to the sea offers the best photo spots, with some reddish-brown houses adding vibrant colors to the village.

Village: Manarola ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️P2-P6
The most famous village in Cinque Terre, featured on the cover of National Geographic. A short mountain walk leads to the best viewpoint, capturing the entire second village panorama, the same spot as on postcards. P3 shows the sunset and post-sunset views. The village is full of visitors swimming 🏊‍♀️, diving, and sunbathing. If staying overnight, Manarola is recommended, with many nice guesthouses.

Village: Corniglia ⭐️⭐️⭐️
The highest village in elevation among the three, not directly by the sea. You need to climb 382 steps to reach it. Consider this if you have enough time and enjoy hiking; if time is tight or you lack stamina, it can be skipped.

Village: Vernazza ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️P8
Known as the "postcard town" with a natural harbor and a Gothic church, Vernazza is the most poetic village in Cinque Terre. The color scheme of the houses here is my favorite among the five villages. Although it was cloudy when I arrived, I still found it very beautiful.

Village: Monterosso al Mare ⭐️⭐️⭐️P9-P10
The only village in Cinque Terre with a proper beach 🏖️. Recommended for those with enough time to experience it; if time is limited, it can be skipped.

【Transportation & Tickets】
Travel between the five villages is by train, with very frequent service. The train ride between each village takes only about 3-5 minutes. It is recommended to purchase the Cinque Terre Pass [available for 1, 2, or 3 days], which can be bought at La Spezia station and the train stations of the five villages [see P11 for details].

【Review & Recommendations】
My overall ranking of the five villages is Manarola > Vernazza > Riomaggiore > Monterosso al Mare > Corniglia.
Manarola is a must-visit. If time is tight, you can skip Monterosso and Corniglia. Objectively, Cinque Terre is quite weather-dependent. On sunny days ☀️, the highly saturated colorful houses and the blue-green jelly-like sea are truly worth the trip. On rainy or cloudy days, it can be less impressive [refer to P7, P8].
There is no car noise here, only the whistle of trains, the sound of waves, and the leisurely Italian atmosphere. When the weather is good, Cinque Terre is definitely not to be missed.