Income (Loss) Per Share - Reconciliation of Basic and Diluted Income Per Share (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended																12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020		Sep. 30, 2020		Jun. 30, 2020		Mar. 31, 2020		Dec. 31, 2019		Sep. 30, 2019		Jun. 30, 2019		Mar. 31, 2019		Dec. 31, 2020		Dec. 31, 2019		Dec. 31, 2018
Numerator:
Net income (loss) attributable to Viad (diluted)	$ (50,473)		$ (30,758)		$ (206,278)		$ (86,585)		$ (5,428)		$ 31,416		$ 13,824		$ (17,777)		$ (374,094)		$ 22,035		$ 49,170
Less: Allocation to non-vested shares																			(147)		(458)
Dividends on convertible preferred stock																	(3,006)
Adjustment to the redemption value of redeemable noncontrolling interest																	(926)		(1,318)		(251)
Net income (loss) allocated to Viad common stockholders (basic)																	$ (378,026)		$ 20,570		$ 48,461
Denominator:
Weighted-average outstanding common shares																	20,279		20,146		20,168
Additional dilutive shares related to share-based compensation																			138		236
Diluted weighted-average outstanding shares																	20,279		20,284		20,404
Basic income (loss) attributable to Viad common stockholders																	$ (18.64)		$ 1.02		$ 2.40
Diluted income (loss) attributable to Viad common stockholders	$ (2.58)	[1]	$ (1.59)	[1]	$ (10.19)	[1]	$ (4.29)	[1]	$ (0.31)	[1]	$ 1.53	[1]	$ 0.67	[1]	$ (0.89)	[1]	$ (18.64)	[2]	$ 1.02	[2]	$ 2.40	[2]

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

[2] Diluted loss per share amount cannot exceed basic loss per share.