Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Cash Flows from Operating Activities:
Net income	$ 564,740	$ 694,541	$ 740,000
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization (including amortization of deferred financing costs)	561,998	557,888	580,990
Net gain on sales of real estate	(414,502)	(245,799)	(51,623)
Equity in net loss (income) of partially owned entities including Toys "R" Us	338,785	(423,126)	(118,612)
Net unrealized gains on Real Estate Fund investments	(85,771)	(55,361)	(17,386)
Straight-lining of rental income	(69,391)	(69,648)	(45,788)
Return of capital from Real Estate Fund investments	56,664	63,762	0
Distributions of income from partially owned entities	54,030	226,172	93,635
Amortization of below-market leases, net	(52,876)	(54,359)	(63,044)
Other non-cash adjustments	41,663	52,082	27,325
Non-cash impairment loss on J.C. Penney common shares	39,487	224,937	0
Impairment losses and tenant buy-outs	37,170	133,977	58,173
Loss (income) from the mark-to-market of J.C. Penney derivative position	33,487	75,815	(12,984)
Net gain on disposition of wholly owned and partially owned assets	(3,407)	(13,347)	(15,134)
Gain on sale of Canadian Trade Shows	0	(31,105)	0
Net gain on extinguishment of debt	0	0	(83,907)
Mezzanine loans loss reversal and net gain on disposition	0	0	(82,744)
Recognition of disputed account receivable from Stop & Shop	0	0	(23,521)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Real Estate Fund investments	(37,817)	(262,537)	(184,841)
Tenant and other receivables, net	83,897	(23,271)	8,869
Prepaid assets	(2,207)	(10,549)	(7,779)
Other assets	(50,856)	(46,573)	(89,186)
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	(41,729)	21,595	(28,699)
Other liabilities	(12,576)	9,955	18,755
Net cash provided by operating activities	1,040,789	825,049	702,499
Cash Flows from Investing Activities:
Proceeds from sales of real estate and related investments	1,027,608	445,683	140,186
Development costs and construction in progress	(469,417)	(156,873)	(93,066)
Proceeds from sales of, and return of investment in, marketable securities	378,709	60,258	70,418
Distributions of capital from partially owned entities	290,404	144,502	318,966
Additions to real estate	(260,343)	(205,652)	(165,680)
Proceeds from the sale of LNR	240,474	0	0
Investments in partially owned entities	(230,300)	(134,994)	(571,922)
Acquisitions of real estate and other	(193,417)	(673,684)	(90,858)
Funding of J.C. Penney derivative collateral; and settlement of derivative in 2013	(186,079)	(191,330)	(43,850)
Return of J.C. Penney derivative collateral	101,150	134,950	56,350
Proceeds from sales and repayments of mortgage and mezzanine loans receivable and other	50,569	38,483	187,294
Restricted cash	(26,892)	(75,138)	126,380
Investments in mortgage and mezzanine loans receivable and other	(390)	(94,094)	(98,979)
Proceeds from the sale of Canadian Trade Shows	0	52,504	0
Proceeds from the repayment of loan to officer	0	13,123	13,123
Loan to officer	0	0	(13,123)
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	722,076	(642,262)	(164,761)
Cash Flows from Financing Activities:
Repayments of borrowings	(3,580,100)	(2,747,694)	(3,740,327)
Proceeds from borrowings	2,262,245	3,593,000	3,412,897
Distributions to Vornado	(545,913)	(699,318)	(508,745)
Purchases of outstanding preferred units	(299,400)	(243,300)	(28,000)
Proceeds from the issuance of preferred units	290,306	290,971	238,842
Distributions to redeemable security holders and noncontrolling interests	(215,247)	(104,448)	(116,510)
Distributions to preferred unitholders	(83,188)	(73,976)	(61,464)
Contributions from noncontrolling interests in consolidated subsidiaries	43,964	213,132	204,185
Debt issuance and other costs	(19,883)	(39,073)	(47,395)
Proceeds received from exercise of Vornado stock options	7,765	11,853	25,507
Repurchase of Class A units related to stock compensation agreements and related tax withholdings	(443)	(30,168)	(964)
Net Cash (used in) provided by financing activities	(2,139,894)	170,979	(621,974)
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents	(377,029)	353,766	(84,236)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	960,319	606,553	690,789
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	583,290	960,319	606,553
Supplemental Disclosure Of Cash Flow Information [Abstract]
Cash payments for interest (net of amounts capitalized of $42,303, $16,801 and $1,197)	465,260	491,869	531,174
Cash payments for income taxes	9,023	21,709	26,187
Non-Cash Investing and Financing Activities:
Financing assumed in acquisitions	79,253	0	0
Financings transferred in dispositions	0	(163,144)	0
L.A. Mart seller financing	0	35,000	0
Marriott Marquis Times Square - retail and signage capital lease:
Asset (included in development costs and construction in progress)	0	240,000	0
Liability (included in other liabilities)	0	(240,000)	0
Increase in assets and liabilities resulting from the consolidation of partially owned entities:
Real Estate, net	0	342,919	0
Notes and mortgages payable	0	334,225	0
Decrease in assets and liabilities resulting from deconsolidation of discontinued operations and /or investments that were previously consolidated:
Real Estate, Net	(852,166)	0	(145,333)
Notes and Mortgages Payable	(322,903)	0	(232,502)
Acquisitions [Member]
Non-Cash Investing and Financing Activities:
Like-kind exchange of real estate	66,076	230,913	21,999
Dispositions [Member]
Non-Cash Investing and Financing Activities:
Like-kind exchange of real estate	(128,767)	(230,913)	(45,625)
Toys R Us [Member]
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Equity in net loss (income) of partially owned entities including Toys "R" Us	362,377	(14,859)	(48,540)
All Equity Method Investees Excluding Toys [Member]
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Equity in net loss (income) of partially owned entities including Toys "R" Us	$ (23,592)	$ (408,267)	$ (70,072)