The invention provides a small-sized, wide viewing virtual image display device configured to allow an observer to view a high quality image. A half mirror (21) provided in an optical path bends the optical path, and a semi-transmissive polarizing plate (23) increases the transmittance of image light (GL) in a direction along alignment of the eyes of an observer while the virtual image display device has a wide angle of view and is downsized, thus reducing luminance unevenness between the central region and the peripheral region in the image in the direction and allowing the observer to view ahigh quality image.