Debt (Narrative) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	0 Months Ended	12 Months Ended				12 Months Ended	1 Months Ended	0 Months Ended				0 Months Ended		12 Months Ended						12 Months Ended
	Apr. 24, 2013	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012 loan	Dec. 31, 2011	Jan. 03, 2013	Dec. 31, 2013 Residence Inn, Tysons Corner, VA [Member]	Jan. 31, 2014 Duane Street Hotel, New York, NY [Member]	Apr. 24, 2013 Courtyard by Marriott, Westside, Los Angeles, CA [Member]	Jan. 31, 2012 Capitol Hill Suites, Washington, D.C. [Member]	May 09, 2012 Courtyard by Marriott, Miami, FL [Member]	Jul. 02, 2012 Courtyard by Marriott, Miami, FL [Member]	May 23, 2012 Hotel 373, Fifth Avenue, NY [Member]	Jun. 29, 2012 Holiday Inn Express, New York, NY [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Holiday Inn Express, New York, NY [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Holiday Inn Express, Times Square, NY [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Mortgages [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Mortgages [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Mortgages [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Mortgages [Member] Assets Held-for-sale [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Junior Subordinated Debt [Member] Hersha Statutory Trust I and Hersha Statutory Trust II [Member] loan	Dec. 31, 2012 Junior Subordinated Debt [Member] Hersha Statutory Trust I and Hersha Statutory Trust II [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Junior Subordinated Debt [Member] Hersha Statutory Trust I and Hersha Statutory Trust II [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Junior Subordinated Debt [Member] Hersha Statutory Trust I [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Junior Subordinated Debt [Member] Hersha Statutory Trust II [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Secured Credit Facility [Member]
Mortgages and Notes Payable [Abstract]
Long-term debt		$ 819,336														$ 617,788	$ 641,160		$ 45,835
Interest rate range, minimum (in hundredths)																3.79%
Interest rate range, maximum (in hundredths)																8.25%
Net unamortizaed premiums		2,466														2,466	3,245
Interest expense																34,854	38,343	39,786		1,712	1,810	1,727
Debt covenant compliance status																We have determined that certain debt service coverage ratio covenants contained in the loan agreements securing seven of our hotel properties were not met as of December 31, 2013. Pursuant to these loan agreements, the lender has elected to escrow the operating cash flow for a number of these properties. However, these covenants do not constitute an event of default for these loans.
Maturity date range, start																Oct. 01, 2014
Maturity date range, end																Feb. 01, 2018
Subordinated Notes Payable [Abstract]
Number of debt instruments																				2
Subordinated notes payable																				51,548			25,774	25,774
Maturity date							Feb. 01, 2017	Sep. 29, 2017	Feb. 01, 2015	Jul. 01, 2016		Jun. 01, 2017		Nov. 05, 2016						Jul. 30, 2035
Debt instrument, description of variable rate basis																							LIBOR	LIBOR
Debt instrument, basis spread on variable rate (in hundredths)	3.00%						4.50%	3.00%	3.25%	3.50%		3.85%											3.00%	3.00%
Number of business days prior to quarterly interest payments for resetting rates																				2 days
Debt instrument, interest rate during period (in hundredths)																				3.32%	3.51%	3.35%
Capitalized Interest [Abstract]
Capitalized interest		1,320	1,542	1,372
Deferred Financing Costs [Abstract]
Deferred costs, net of accumulated amortization		7,570	8,695
Accumulated amortization		7,070	4,841
Amortization of deferred costs		2,886	2,991	3,535
New Debt/Refinance and Payoffs [Abstract]
Company funded remaining tranche of the unsecured portion of the credit facility					50,000
Mortgage loan extinguishment						7,928	5,175		32,500	29,730		22,000
Mortgage loan							9,500	30,000	27,500	45,000		19,000		54,602
Advance in principal								5,000
Additional draw on mortgage loan, amount										5,000
Number of days between additional draw on mortgage loan										90 days
Fixed interest rate							5.433%	4.947%						6.50%
Mezzanine debt, principal														15,000
Unamortized deferred costs and defeasance premiums expensed		545	3,189	102			65	284	7			66	176	261	530										2,410
Unsecured Term Loan		$ 150,000	$ 100,000		$ 50,000
Number of mortgage loans paid off			7
Effective interest rate								4.10%	3.79%		4.32%	5.85%
Interest variable rate, floor								0.75%