There is so much more to Liguria beyond just the Cinque Terre. Dont get me wrong, we love Riomaggiore, but we also fell in love with Dolceacqua, Apricale, Busana Vecchia, Sanremo, Santa Marghertia and on our recent trip this summer (2019) to Camogli, Finale Ligure, and Noli. If you've visited the Cinque Terre you know it's busy, and everyone speaks English. It's not quite the same for the villages I just mentioned. If this doesn't bother you I strongly recommend these beautiful areas.
In particular we loved Camogli. Just a one hour train ride past Monterosso. It is a beachfront town with many good restaurants and a great beach for swimming. There is not much to do here but relax, swim and eat. Rent an umbrella and lounge chairs and enjoy the water that never seems cold. This area is the home of foccatia, troffie pasta, and pesto. Great seafood here. We particularly enjoyed eating at O'Magazin (the BEST!), Pasta Fiorella, Paticceria Focacceria, and Primula Bar Boccacondivino. Farther north is the tiny beachfront village of Noli. Not so tiny that there is nothing to do. The town sports a castle on the hill, and at least 3 medieval towers. Again, the food is great, and swimming is excellent. The village is big enough that you can spend quite awhile exploring the narrow lanes. Our favorite restaurants here were the beachfront Vittoria, L'Alice Inamorata (the BEST carbonara I've ever had), Ponte Antica (ate there twice) and Pappus with the best gelato north of Roma.
While we didn't stay in nearby Finale Ligure, it's a much larger town, but with great shopping. We enjoyed eating at Osteria Grotesque, who's food is nothing like it's name. Very good. BTW, dont ask for an after dinner disgestif. We did, and they brought us 5 bottles of different liquers! We tried them all (hiccup!).
These towns are not as overwelmed as the Cinque Terre. In the summer their tourists are mainly Italians. We felt at times like the only Americans here. Buon Viaggio!