Debt (Subordinated Notes Payable Narrative) (Details) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2019 USD ($) loan	Dec. 31, 2018 USD ($)
Subordinated Debt [Abstract]
Deferred costs, net of accumulated amortization		$ 3,717	$ 2,698
Junior Subordinated Debt [Member] | Hersha Statutory Trust I and Hersha Statutory Trust II [Member]
Subordinated Debt [Abstract]
Number of debt instruments | loan		2
Subordinated notes payable		$ 51,548
Maturity date		Jul. 30, 2035
Number of business days prior to quarterly interest payments for resetting rates		2 days
Deferred costs, net of accumulated amortization		$ 812	$ 864
Debt instrument, interest rate during period (in hundredths)	4.24%	5.50%	5.23%
Interest expense	$ 2,358	$ 2,837	$ 2,695
Junior Subordinated Debt [Member] | Hersha Statutory Trust I [Member]
Subordinated Debt [Abstract]
Subordinated notes payable		$ 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 Debt [Abstract]
Subordinated notes payable		$ 25,774
Debt instrument, description of variable rate basis		LIBOR
Debt instrument, basis spread on variable rate (in hundredths)		3.00%