Debt (Unsecured Notes Payable) (Details) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2019 USD ($) loan	Jun. 30, 2018 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2019 USD ($) loan	Jun. 30, 2018 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2018 USD ($)
Subordinated Notes Payable [Abstract]
Net unamortized deferred financing costs	$ 2,341		$ 2,341		$ 2,698
Junior Subordinated Debt [Member] | Hersha Statutory Trust I and Hersha Statutory Trust II [Member]
Subordinated Notes Payable [Abstract]
Number of debt instruments | loan	2		2
Subordinated notes payable	$ 51,548		$ 51,548
Maturity date			Jul. 30, 2035
Number of business days prior to quarterly interest payments for resetting rates			2 days
Net unamortized deferred financing costs	$ 838		$ 838		$ 864
Debt instrument, interest rate during period (in hundredths)	5.64%	5.23%	5.66%	4.93%
Interest expense	$ 734	$ 674	$ 1,466	$ 1,288
Junior Subordinated Debt [Member] | Hersha Statutory Trust I [Member]
Subordinated Notes Payable [Abstract]
Subordinated notes payable	25,774		$ 25,774
Debt instrument, description of variable rate basis			LIBOR
Debt instrument, basis spread on variable rate (in hundredths)			3.00%
Junior Subordinated Debt [Member] | Hersha Statutory Trust II [Member]
Subordinated Notes Payable [Abstract]
Subordinated notes payable	$ 25,774		$ 25,774
Debt instrument, description of variable rate basis			LIBOR
Debt instrument, basis spread on variable rate (in hundredths)			3.00%