Best After-School Activities and Youth Sports in Yerevan (Don’t Ask Me Why I’m Doing This)
okay, so like, i’m staring at this map of Yerevan
and it’s drizzling this weird, grey-ish rain - not like a proper storm, more like the sky’s decided to take a really long, disappointed sigh. it’s that kind of Yerevan weather, you know? like, perpetually melancholic but also… kinda beautiful in a gritty way. it’s 11 degrees, which is basically arctic for someone who sweats just thinking about a salad.
my friend, boris - he’s a mechanic, smells permanently of motor oil and regret - told me the job market’s tight. seriously tight. like, you’re looking at maybe 800-1200 USD a month for a decent gig, if you’re lucky. and rent? don’t even get me started. a studio apartment in Kentron will set you back around 600-900, depending on how desperate the landlord is. check out Reddit Yerevan for some brutally honest takes: Reddit Yerevan.
so, after-school stuff. i was trying to figure out what a kid would actually want to do here, not just what’s plastered all over TripAdvisor. it’s not exactly overflowing with options, you know? it’s not like Barcelona, with its endless skate parks and street art collectives. but there’s stuff. i’ve been digging.
*Sports - The Usual Suspects
*FC Mika: This is the big one. Youth football. Apparently, they’ve got a pretty decent academy. Cost? Around 150-250 USD a month. My drunk advice? Go watch a game. The atmosphere’s… intense. Like, aggressively enthusiastic. FC Mika Website
*Yerevan Sports Club: Swimming, gymnastics, basketball. The usual. Prices vary wildly, but expect to pay somewhere between 100-300 USD a month depending on the sport and the level. They have a surprisingly good pool, which is a godsend in this climate.
*Karate Yerevan: I overheard a rumor - a really loud, slightly slurred rumor - that they’re pretty strict. Like, “no smiling” strict. But the kids seem to be getting into it. Around 200-350 USD a month.
Beyond the Ball - Slightly Weird Stuff
Okay, this is where it gets interesting. Yerevan’s got this weird undercurrent of… well, something. I’m not entirely sure what. Maybe it’s the history. Maybe it’s the constant drizzle. Whatever it is, it’s led to some genuinely odd extracurriculars.
*Armenian Dance School (Hayastan Dance Academy): Don’t laugh. Seriously. It’s surprisingly popular. They teach everything from traditional folk dances to more modern styles. Around 180-280 USD a month. My grandma would have a fit, but honestly? It looks kinda cool.
*Creative Workshops (Various Locations): There are a bunch of small studios offering everything from pottery to painting to… miniature sculpting? I saw a kid making tiny, incredibly detailed figurines of Armenian cats. Prices vary, but you can probably find something for 120-250 USD a month.
*Hiking Clubs: This is huge. Yerevan is basically built on a giant rock, so there’s tons of hiking. The mountains are a short drive away - Mount Ararat is about 3 hours, which is a serious commitment, but there are plenty of closer options. Expect to pay around 80-150 USD a month for a club membership.
Cost of Living Snapshot (Rough Estimates - As Told By a Sleep-Deprived Botanist)Category Estimated Monthly Cost (USD) Notes Rent (Studio) 600 - 900 Kentron is pricier. Areas further out are cheaper. Food (Groceries) 150 - 250 Cooking at home is key. Street food is cheap but… risky. Transportation 50 - 100 Metro is your friend. Taxis are… an experience. Utilities 80 - 120 Expect to pay for water and electricity. Entertainment 100 - 200 Drinks are cheap. Museums aren’t.
Overheard Gossip (From a Taxi Driver - He Was Clearly Pissed)
“The kids these days… they don’t appreciate the history. They just want TikTok and… football. They don’t understand the weight of this city. It’s been through wars, revolutions… it’s seen everything. And they’re just… kicking a ball.”
Overheard Gossip (From a Shopkeeper - She Was Offering Me Tea)
“My grandson, he wants to be a DJ. A DJ. In Yerevan! He says he’s going to make music that ‘moves the soul.’ I don’t know about that. But he’s happy. And that’s… something.”
Seriously, check out Yelp for some more local reviews: Yerevan Yelp. And if you’re feeling brave, head over to the Yerevan subreddit: Yerevan Subreddit. Just… be prepared for honesty. Lots of it.
Okay, I need coffee. Like, a lot* of coffee. And maybe a nap. This is exhausting. But hey, at least I’ve got a slightly less depressing map of Yerevan to look at. And a vague sense that there are kids kicking balls and making music and… existing. That’s enough, I guess. For now.”
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