Document and Entity Information	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013	Nov. 06, 2013 Class A Common Shares [Member]	Nov. 06, 2013 Class B Common Shares [Member]
Entity Registrant Name	HERSHA HOSPITALITY TRUST
Entity Central Index Key	0001063344
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	Yes
Entity Voluntary Filers	No
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		202,675,886	0
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2013
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q3
Document Type	10-Q
Amendment Flag	false
Document Period End Date	Sep. 30, 2013