Selected Quarterly Financial Information (Unaudited) - Schedule of Quarterly Financial Information (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands		3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
		Dec. 31, 2017	Sep. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2017	Mar. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Sep. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2016	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Quarterly Financial Information Disclosure [Abstract]
Revenue:		$ 277,285	$ 339,099	$ 364,774	$ 325,807	$ 256,396	$ 382,465	$ 324,747	$ 241,362	$ 1,306,965	$ 1,204,970	$ 1,089,048
Operating income (loss):
Ongoing operations	[1]	(4,726)	47,066	39,402	12,684	(1,466)	58,917	34,014	(6,280)
Corporate activities		(2,785)	(4,474)	(3,008)	(2,610)	(2,932)	(2,772)	(2,707)	(1,911)
Restructuring charges		(187)	(255)	(168)	(394)	(1,519)	(1,697)	(975)	(992)	(1,004)	(5,183)	(2,956)
Impairment recoveries (charges)			24,467	2,247	2,384	(98)	(120)			29,098	(218)	(96)
Operating income (loss)		(7,698)	66,804	38,473	12,064	(6,015)	54,328	30,332	(9,183)	84,241	74,863	44,864
Income (loss) from continuing operations attributable to Viad		(21,814)	44,758	27,438	7,593	(4,136)	34,013	19,873	(6,797)	58,452	43,479	27,442
Net income (loss) attributable to Viad		$ (21,674)	$ 44,657	$ 27,947	$ 6,777	$ (4,049)	$ 33,792	$ 19,509	$ (6,983)	$ 57,707	$ 42,269	$ 26,606
Basic and Diluted income (loss) per common share:
Continuing operations attributable to Viad	[2]	$ (1.08)	$ 2.19	$ 1.35	$ 0.37	$ (0.21)	$ 1.68	$ 0.98	$ (0.34)
Net income (loss) attributable to Viad common stockholders	[2]	$ (1.07)	$ 2.19	$ 1.37	$ 0.33	$ (0.20)	$ 1.67	$ 0.96	$ (0.35)

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

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