Partners' Capital (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended				12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Sep. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2015	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Class A Units [Abstract]
Distributions to Vornado (in USD)					$ 474,751	$ 547,831	$ 545,913
Quarterly Common Distributions (in USD)	$ 0.63	$ 0.63	$ 0.63	$ 0.63
Details Of Preferred Units Of Beneficial Interest [Abstract]
General Partners' Capital Account, Balance (in USD)	$ 8,417,454				$ 8,417,454	$ 8,157,544
Redeemable Preferred Stock [Member]
Class A Units [Abstract]
General Partners' Capital Account, Units Outstanding (in units)	52,676,629				52,676,629	52,678,939
Details Of Preferred Units Of Beneficial Interest [Abstract]
General Partners' Capital Account, Balance (in USD)	$ 1,276,954				$ 1,276,954	$ 1,277,026
Class A Units Owned By Vornado [Member]
Class A Units [Abstract]
General Partners' Capital Account, Units Outstanding (in units)	188,576,853				188,576,853
Capital Unit Class A [Member]
Class A Units [Abstract]
Redeemable partnership units outstanding, Class A units	12,242,820				12,242,820
Series A Preferred Stock [Member] | Convertible Preferred Stock [Member]
Class A Units [Abstract]
General Partners' Capital Account, Units Outstanding (in units)	26,629				26,629	28,939
Preferred Units [Abstract]
Preferred Stock Dividend Rate Percentage					6.50%
Details Of Preferred Units Of Beneficial Interest [Abstract]
General Partners' Capital Account, Balance (in USD)	$ 1,321				$ 1,321	$ 1,393
Per Unit Liquidation Preference (in dollars per unit)	$ 50.00				$ 50.00
Annual Distribution Rate (in dollars per unit)					$ 3.25
General Partners' Capital Account, Units Authorized (in units)	83,977				83,977	83,977
Conversion rate of Class A units per Series A Preferred unit	1.5934				1.5934	1.4334
Series G Preferred Stock [Member] | Redeemable Preferred Stock [Member]
Class A Units [Abstract]
General Partners' Capital Account, Units Outstanding (in units)	8,000,000				8,000,000	8,000,000
Preferred Units [Abstract]
Preferred Stock Dividend Rate Percentage					6.625%
Preferred Stock Redemption Price Per Share	$ 25.00				$ 25.00
Details Of Preferred Units Of Beneficial Interest [Abstract]
General Partners' Capital Account, Balance (in USD)	$ 193,135				$ 193,135	$ 193,135
Per Unit Liquidation Preference (in dollars per unit)	$ 25.00				$ 25.00
Annual Distribution Rate (in dollars per unit)					$ 1.65625
General Partners' Capital Account, Units Authorized (in units)	8,000,000				8,000,000	8,000,000
Series I Preferred Stock [Member] | Redeemable Preferred Stock [Member]
Class A Units [Abstract]
General Partners' Capital Account, Units Outstanding (in units)	10,800,000				10,800,000	10,800,000
Preferred Units [Abstract]
Preferred Stock Dividend Rate Percentage					6.625%
Preferred Stock Redemption Price Per Share	$ 25.00				$ 25.00
Details Of Preferred Units Of Beneficial Interest [Abstract]
General Partners' Capital Account, Balance (in USD)	$ 262,379				$ 262,379	$ 262,379
Per Unit Liquidation Preference (in dollars per unit)	$ 25.00				$ 25.00
Annual Distribution Rate (in dollars per unit)					$ 1.65625
General Partners' Capital Account, Units Authorized (in units)	10,800,000				10,800,000	10,800,000
Series J Preferred Stock [Member] | Redeemable Preferred Stock [Member]
Class A Units [Abstract]
General Partners' Capital Account, Units Outstanding (in units)	9,850,000				9,850,000	9,850,000
Preferred Units [Abstract]
Preferred Stock Dividend Rate Percentage					6.875%
Preferred Stock Redemption Price Per Share	$ 25.00				$ 25.00
Details Of Preferred Units Of Beneficial Interest [Abstract]
General Partners' Capital Account, Balance (in USD)	$ 238,842				$ 238,842	$ 238,842
Per Unit Liquidation Preference (in dollars per unit)	$ 25.00				$ 25.00
Annual Distribution Rate (in dollars per unit)					$ 1.71875
General Partners' Capital Account, Units Authorized (in units)	9,850,000				9,850,000	9,850,000
Series K Preferred Stock [Member] | Redeemable Preferred Stock [Member]
Class A Units [Abstract]
General Partners' Capital Account, Units Outstanding (in units)	12,000,000				12,000,000	12,000,000
Preferred Units [Abstract]
Preferred Stock Dividend Rate Percentage					5.70%
Preferred Stock Redemption Price Per Share	$ 25.00				$ 25.00
Details Of Preferred Units Of Beneficial Interest [Abstract]
General Partners' Capital Account, Balance (in USD)	$ 290,971				$ 290,971	$ 290,971
Per Unit Liquidation Preference (in dollars per unit)	$ 25.00				$ 25.00
Annual Distribution Rate (in dollars per unit)					$ 1.425
General Partners' Capital Account, Units Authorized (in units)	12,000,000				12,000,000	12,000,000
Series L Preferred Stock [Member] | Redeemable Preferred Stock [Member]
Class A Units [Abstract]
General Partners' Capital Account, Units Outstanding (in units)	12,000,000				12,000,000	12,000,000
Preferred Units [Abstract]
Preferred Stock Dividend Rate Percentage					5.40%
Preferred Stock Redemption Price Per Share	$ 25.00				$ 25.00
Details Of Preferred Units Of Beneficial Interest [Abstract]
General Partners' Capital Account, Balance (in USD)	$ 290,306				$ 290,306	$ 290,306
Per Unit Liquidation Preference (in dollars per unit)	$ 25.00				$ 25.00
Annual Distribution Rate (in dollars per unit)					$ 1.35
General Partners' Capital Account, Units Authorized (in units)	12,000,000				12,000,000	12,000,000