Condensed Consolidated Quarterly Results (Unaudited) - Schedule of Quarterly Financial Information (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended																12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013		Sep. 30, 2013		Jun. 30, 2013		Mar. 31, 2013		Dec. 31, 2012		Sep. 30, 2012		Jun. 30, 2012		Mar. 31, 2012		Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Revenues:
Revenues:	$ 201,842,000		$ 236,473,000		$ 249,314,000		$ 285,163,000		$ 202,552,000		$ 307,457,000		$ 246,450,000		$ 268,772,000		$ 972,792,000	$ 1,025,231,000	$ 942,364,000
Operating income (loss):
Ongoing operations	(2,441,000)	[1]	24,624,000	[1]	10,881,000	[1]	12,827,000	[1]	(8,351,000)	[1]	34,182,000	[1]	10,498,000	[1]	5,533,000	[1]
Corporate activities	(2,748,000)		(2,034,000)		(1,167,000)		(806,000)		(3,408,000)		(2,036,000)		(2,187,000)		(1,777,000)
Restructuring charges	(1,684,000)		(714,000)		(773,000)		(720,000)		(1,431,000)		(608,000)		(678,000)		(2,225,000)		(3,891,000)	(4,942,000)	(3,782,000)
Goodwill impairment charge	0		(5,413,000)		0		0		0		0		0		0		(5,413,000)	0	0
Operating income (loss)	(6,873,000)		16,463,000		8,941,000		11,301,000		(13,190,000)		31,538,000		7,633,000		1,531,000		39,136,000	32,454,000	17,694,000
Amounts reclassified from AOCI, net of tax	(4,740,000)	[2]	10,849,000	[2]	6,253,000	[2]	8,065,000	[2]	(21,181,000)	[2]	19,976,000	[2]	5,451,000	[2]	1,027,000	[2]	20,558,000	5,959,000	9,292,000
Net income	(4,618,000)	[2]	11,855,000	[2]	6,253,000	[2]	8,065,000	[2]	(21,196,000)	[2]	19,976,000	[2]	6,090,000	[2]	1,027,000	[2]	21,555,000	5,897,000	9,210,000
Diluted income per common share:
Income (loss) from continuing operations attributable to Viad	$ (0.24)	[2],[3]	$ 0.53	[2],[3]	$ 0.31	[2],[3]	$ 0.40	[2],[3]	$ (1.07)	[2],[3]	$ 0.99	[2],[3]	$ 0.27	[2],[3]	$ 0.05	[2],[3]	$ 1.01	$ 0.26	$ 0.43
Net income (loss) attributable to Viad	$ (0.23)	[2],[3]	$ 0.58	[2],[3]	$ 0.31	[2],[3]	$ 0.40	[2],[3]	$ (1.07)	[2],[3]	$ 0.99	[2],[3]	$ 0.30	[2],[3]	$ 0.05	[2],[3]	$ 1.06	$ 0.29	$ 0.45
Basic income per common share:
Income (loss) from continuing operations attributable to Viad	$ (0.24)	[2],[3]	$ 0.53	[2],[3]	$ 0.31	[2],[3]	$ 0.40	[2],[3]	$ (1.07)	[2],[3]	$ 0.99	[2],[3]	$ 0.27	[2],[3]	$ 0.05	[2],[3]	$ 1.01	$ 0.26	$ 0.43
Net income (loss) attributable to Viad	$ (0.23)	[2],[3]	$ 0.58	[2],[3]	$ 0.31	[2],[3]	$ 0.40	[2],[3]	$ (1.07)	[2],[3]	$ 0.99	[2],[3]	$ 0.30	[2],[3]	$ 0.05	[2],[3]	$ 1.06	$ 0.29	$ 0.45
Foreign Tax Authority
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Tax Credit Carryforward, Valuation Allowance	$ 10,900,000								$ 13,400,000								$ 10,900,000	$ 13,400,000

[1] Represents revenues less costs of services and products sold.

[2] The fourth quarter of 2012 includes a tax charge of $13.4 million representing a valuation allowance for certain deferred tax assets associated with foreign tax credit carryforwards.

[3] The sum of quarterly income per share amounts may not equal annual income per share due to rounding.