Identified Intangible Assets and Intangible Liabilities (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Gross amount	$ 502,080	$ 583,862
Accumulated amortization	(225,841)	(276,426)
Net	276,239us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsNet	307,436us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsNet
Gross amount	885,763vno_FiniteLivedIntangibleLiabilityGross	855,860vno_FiniteLivedIntangibleLiabilityGross
Accumulated amortization	(396,895)	(359,371)
Net	488,868vno_FiniteLivedIntangibleLiabilitiesNet	496,489vno_FiniteLivedIntangibleLiabilitiesNet
Below Market Leases Net Of Above Market Leases [Member]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Amortization of Intangible Assets	46,277	50,128	51,271
2015	57,202
2016	45,333
2017	42,457
2018	41,311
2019	30,950
Other Identified Intangible Assets [Member]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Amortization of Intangible Assets	29,870	64,196	49,442
2015	27,210
2016	21,437
2017	17,859
2018	13,533
2019	11,553
Tenant Under Ground Leases [Member]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Amortization of Intangible Assets	3,363	4,290	1,261
2015	3,363
2016	3,363
2017	3,363
2018	3,363
2019	$ 3,363

The aggregate expense charged against earnings to allocate the cost of intangible assets (nonphysical assets not used in production) in a systematic and rational manner to the periods expected to benefit from such assets. As a noncash expense, this element is added back to net income when calculating cash provided by or used in operations using the indirect method.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 230

-SubTopic 10

-Section 45

-Paragraph 28

-Subparagraph (b)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=31042434&loc=d3e3602-108585

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 350

-SubTopic 30

-Section 45

-Paragraph 2

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6388964&loc=d3e16225-109274

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 350

-SubTopic 30

-Section 50

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (a)(2)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=26713463&loc=d3e16323-109275

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_AmortizationOfIntangibleAssets
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Accumulated amount of amortization of assets, excluding financial assets and goodwill, lacking physical substance with a finite life.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 350

-SubTopic 30

-Section 50

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (a)(1)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=26713463&loc=d3e16323-109275

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAccumulatedAmortization
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of amortization expense for assets, excluding financial assets and goodwill, lacking physical substance with a finite life expected to be recognized during the next fiscal year following the latest fiscal year. Excludes interim and annual periods when interim periods are reported on a rolling approach, from latest balance sheet date.

+ References