Label

Element

Value

Risk/Return:

rr_RiskReturnAbstract

Document Type

dei_DocumentType

485BPOS

Document Period End Date

dei_DocumentPeriodEndDate

Sep. 30, 2014

Registrant Name

dei_EntityRegistrantName

VIRTUS OPPORTUNITIES TRUST

Central Index Key

dei_EntityCentralIndexKey

0001005020

Amendment Flag

dei_AmendmentFlag

false

Trading Symbol

dei_TradingSymbol

VOT

Document Creation Date

dei_DocumentCreationDate

Jan. 26, 2015

Document Effective Date

dei_DocumentEffectiveDate

Jan. 28, 2015

Prospectus Date

rr_ProspectusDate

Jan. 28, 2015

Virtus Greater European Opportunities Fund

Risk/Return:

rr_RiskReturnAbstract

Risk/Return [Heading]

rr_RiskReturnHeading

Virtus Greater European Opportunities Fund

Objective [Heading]

rr_ObjectiveHeading

Investment Objective

Objective, Primary [Text Block]

rr_ObjectivePrimaryTextBlock

The fund has an investment objective of long-term capital appreciation.

Expense [Heading]

rr_ExpenseHeading

Fees and Expenses

Expense Narrative [Text Block]

rr_ExpenseNarrativeTextBlock

The tables below illustrate the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the fund. You may qualify for sales charge discounts if you and your family invest, or agree to invest in the future, at least $50,000 in Virtus Mutual Funds. More information about these and other discounts is available from your financial advisor and under “Sales Charges” on page 214 of the fund’s prospectus and “Alternative Purchase Arrangements” on page 108 of the fund’s statement of additional information.

Shareholder Fees Caption [Text]

rr_ShareholderFeesCaption

Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment)

Operating Expenses Caption [Text]

rr_OperatingExpensesCaption

Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)

Portfolio Turnover [Heading]

rr_PortfolioTurnoverHeading

Portfolio Turnover

Portfolio Turnover [Text Block]

rr_PortfolioTurnoverTextBlock

The fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the example, affect the fund’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the fund’s portfolio turnover rate was 65%of the average value of its portfolio.

Portfolio Turnover, Rate

rr_PortfolioTurnoverRate

65.00%

Expenses Deferred Charges [Text Block]

rr_ExpensesDeferredChargesTextBlock

The deferred sales charge is imposed on Class C Shares redeemed during the first year only.

Expense Breakpoint Discounts [Text]

rr_ExpenseBreakpointDiscounts

You may qualify for sales charge discounts if you and your family invest, or agree to invest in the future, at least $50,000 in Virtus Mutual Funds.

Expense Breakpoint, Minimum Investment Required [Amount]

rr_ExpenseBreakpointMinimumInvestmentRequiredAmount

50,000

Expenses Not Correlated to Ratio Due to Acquired Fund Fees [Text]

rr_ExpensesNotCorrelatedToRatioDueToAcquiredFundFees

The Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses do not correlate to the ratio of expense to average net assets appearing in the Financial Highlights tables, which tables reflect only the operating expenses of the fund and do not include acquired fund fees and expenses.

Expense Example [Heading]

rr_ExpenseExampleHeading

Example

Expense Example Narrative [Text Block]

rr_ExpenseExampleNarrativeTextBlock

This example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the fund for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the fund’s operating expenses remain the same. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:

Strategy [Heading]

rr_StrategyHeading

Investments, Risks and Performance

Principal Investment Strategies

Strategy Narrative [Text Block]

rr_StrategyNarrativeTextBlock

This fund seeks to offer investors exposure to European market economies through well-established companies. The securities selected for inclusion in the fund are believed by the subadviser to be well-managed businesses with consistent operating histories and financial performance that have favorable long-term economic prospects and, in most cases, generate free cash flow. Over full market cycles, the investment style is designed with the objective of capturing part of the up market cycles and may offer protection in down market cycles.

Under normal circumstances, at least 80% of the fund’s assets are invested in equity securities or equity-linked instruments of issuers located in Europe, including issuers in emerging markets countries. Equity-linked securities are hybrid debt securities whose return is connected to an underlying equity, usually a stock. The fund intends to diversify its investments among countries and normally to have represented in the portfolio business activities of a number of different countries. In determining the “location” of an issuer, the subadviser primarily relies on the country where the issuer is incorporated. However, the country of risk is ultimately determined based on analysis of the following criteria: actual building address (domicile), primary exchange on which the security is traded and country in which the greatest percentage of company revenue is generated. This evaluation is conducted so as to determine that the issuer’s assets are exposed to the economic fortunes and risks of the designated country.

Risk [Heading]

rr_RiskHeading

Principal Risks

Risk Narrative [Text Block]

rr_RiskNarrativeTextBlock

The fund may not achieve its objective, and it is not intended to be a complete investment program. The value of the fund’s investments that supports your share value may decrease. If between the time you purchase shares and the time you sell shares the value of the fund’s investments decreases, you will lose money. Investment values can decrease for a number of reasons. Conditions affecting the overall economy, specific industries or companies in which the fund invests can be worse than expected, and investments may fail to perform as the subadviser expects. As a result, the value of your shares may decrease. Purchase and redemption activities by fund shareholders may impact the management of the fund and its ability to achieve its investment objective(s). The redemption by one or more large shareholders or groups of shareholders of their holdings in the fund could have an adverse impact on the remaining shareholders in the fund including by accelerating the realization of capital gains and increasing the fund's transaction costs. The principal risks of investing in the fund are:

>

• Emerging Market Investing Risk.  The risk that prices of emerging markets securities will be more volatile, or will be more greatly affected by negative conditions, than those of their counterparts in more established foreign markets.

>

• Equity-Linked Instruments Risk.  The risk that, in addition to market risk and other risks of the referenced equity security, the fund may experience a return that is different from that of the referenced equity security. Equity-linked instruments also subject the fund to counterparty risk, including the risk that the issuing entity may not be able to honor its financial commitment, which could result in a loss of all or part of the fund’s investment.

>

• Equity Securities Risk.  The risk that events negatively affecting issuers, industries or financial markets in which the fund invests, will impact the value of the stocks held by the fund and thus, the value of the fund’s shares over short or extended periods. Investments in a particular style or in small or medium-sized companies may enhance that risk.

>

• Foreign Investing Risks.  The risk that the prices of foreign securities in the fund’s portfolio will be more volatile than those of domestic securities, or will be negatively affected by currency fluctuations or economic, political or other developments.

>

• Geographic Concentration Risk.  The risk that events negatively affecting the geographic location where the fund focuses its investments will cause the value of the fund’s shares to decrease, perhaps significantly.

>

• Market Volatility Risk.  The risk that the value of the securities in which the fund invests may go up or down in response to the prospects of individual companies and/or general economic conditions. Price changes may be temporary or may last for extended periods.

Risk Lose Money [Text]

rr_RiskLoseMoney

If between the time you purchase shares and the time you sell shares the value of the fund’s investments decreases, you will lose money.

Bar Chart and Performance Table [Heading]

rr_BarChartAndPerformanceTableHeading

Performance Information

Performance Narrative [Text Block]

rr_PerformanceNarrativeTextBlock

The bar chart and table below provide some indication of the potential risks of investing in the fund. The fund’s past performance, before and after taxes, is not necessarily an indication of how the fund will perform in the future.

The bar chart shows the fund’s performance from year to year over the life of the fund. The table shows how the fund’s average annual returns compare to those of a broad-based securities market index. Updated performance information is available at virtus.com or by calling 800-243-1574.

Performance Information Illustrates Variability of Returns [Text]

rr_PerformanceInformationIllustratesVariabilityOfReturns

The bar chart shows the fund’s performance from year to year over the life of the fund. The table shows how the fund’s average annual returns compare to those of a broad-based securities market index.

Performance Availability Phone [Text]

rr_PerformanceAvailabilityPhone

800-243-1574

Performance Availability Website Address [Text]

rr_PerformanceAvailabilityWebSiteAddress

virtus.com

Performance Past Does Not Indicate Future [Text]

rr_PerformancePastDoesNotIndicateFuture

The fund’s past performance, before and after taxes, is not necessarily an indication of how the fund will perform in the future.

Bar Chart [Heading]

rr_BarChartHeading

Calendar year total returns for Class A Shares

Bar Chart Narrative [Text Block]

rr_BarChartNarrativeTextBlock

Returns do not reflect sales charges and would be lower if they did.

Annual Return (%)

Bar Chart Does Not Reflect Sales Loads [Text]

rr_BarChartDoesNotReflectSalesLoads

Returns do not reflect sales charges and would be lower if they did.

Bar Chart Closing [Text Block]

rr_BarChartClosingTextBlock

Best Quarter: Q1/2012: 11.53% Worst Quarter: Q3/2011: -13.30%

Performance Table Heading

rr_PerformanceTableHeading

Average Annual Total Returns (for the periods ended 12/31/14)

Performance Table Does Reflect Sales Loads

rr_PerformanceTableDoesReflectSalesLoads

Returns reflect deduction of maximum sales charges and full redemption at end of periods shown.

Performance Table Uses Highest Federal Rate

rr_PerformanceTableUsesHighestFederalRate

After-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes.

Performance Table Not Relevant to Tax Deferred

rr_PerformanceTableNotRelevantToTaxDeferred

Actual after-tax returns depend on the investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown. After-tax returns are not relevant to investors who hold fund shares in tax-deferred accounts or to shares held by non-taxable entities.

Performance Table One Class of after Tax Shown [Text]

rr_PerformanceTableOneClassOfAfterTaxShown

After-tax returns are shown only for Class A Shares; after-tax returns for other classes will vary.

Performance Table Explanation after Tax Higher

rr_PerformanceTableExplanationAfterTaxHigher

In certain cases, the Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares for a period may be higher than other return figures for the same period. This will occur when a capital loss is realized upon the sale of fund shares and provides an assumed tax benefit that increases the return.

Performance Table Narrative

rr_PerformanceTableNarrativeTextBlock

Returns reflect deduction of maximum sales charges and full redemption at end of periods shown.

Performance Table Closing [Text Block]

rr_PerformanceTableClosingTextBlock

The MSCI Europe Index (net) is a free float-adjusted market capitalization weighted index that measures equity market performance of the developed markets in Europe. The MSCI Europe Index (net) is calculated on a total-return basis with net dividends reinvested. The index is unmanaged and not available for direct investment.

After-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. After-tax returns are shown only for Class A Shares; after-tax returns for other classes will vary. Actual after-tax returns depend on the investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown. After-tax returns are not relevant to investors who hold fund shares in tax-deferred accounts or to shares held by non-taxable entities. In certain cases, the Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares for a period may be higher than other return figures for the same period. This will occur when a capital loss is realized upon the sale of fund shares and provides an assumed tax benefit that increases the return.

Virtus Greater European Opportunities Fund | Class A

Risk/Return:

rr_RiskReturnAbstract

Registrant Name

dei_EntityRegistrantName

VGEAX

Maximum Sales Charge (load) Imposed on Purchases (as a percentage of offering price)

rr_MaximumSalesChargeImposedOnPurchasesOverOfferingPrice

5.75%

Maximum Deferred Sales Charge (as a percentage)

rr_MaximumDeferredSalesChargeOverOther

none

Management Fees

rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets

0.85%

Distribution and Shareholder Servicing (12b-1) fees

rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets

0.25%

Total Other Expenses

rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets

0.81%

Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses

rr_AcquiredFundFeesAndExpensesOverAssets

0.01%

Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses

rr_ExpensesOverAssets

1.92%

^[1]

1 Year

rr_ExpenseExampleYear01

759

3 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleYear03

1,143

5 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleYear05

1,552

10 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleYear10

2,689

1 Year

rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear01

759

3 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear03

1,143

5 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear05

1,552

10 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear10

2,689

2010

rr_AnnualReturn2010

7.19%

2011

rr_AnnualReturn2011

0.94%

2012

rr_AnnualReturn2012

25.64%

2013

rr_AnnualReturn2013

12.02%

2014

rr_AnnualReturn2014

(4.27%)

Highest Quarterly Return, Label

rr_HighestQuarterlyReturnLabel

Best Quarter:

Highest Quarterly Return, Date

rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturnDate

Mar. 31, 2012

Highest Quarterly Return

rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturn

11.53%

Lowest Quarterly Return, Label

rr_LowestQuarterlyReturnLabel

Worst Quarter:

Lowest Quarterly Return, Date

rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturnDate

Sep. 30, 2011

Lowest Quarterly Return

rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturn

(13.30%)

Label

rr_AverageAnnualReturnLabel

Return Before Taxes

1 Year

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01

(9.77%)

5 Years

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05

6.56%

Since Inception

rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception

11.72%

Inception Date

rr_AverageAnnualReturnInceptionDate

Apr. 21, 2009

Virtus Greater European Opportunities Fund | Class C

Risk/Return:

rr_RiskReturnAbstract

Registrant Name

dei_EntityRegistrantName

VGECX

Maximum Sales Charge (load) Imposed on Purchases (as a percentage of offering price)

rr_MaximumSalesChargeImposedOnPurchasesOverOfferingPrice

none

Maximum Deferred Sales Charge (as a percentage)

rr_MaximumDeferredSalesChargeOverOther

1.00%

^[2]

Management Fees

rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets

0.85%

Distribution and Shareholder Servicing (12b-1) fees

rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets

1.00%

Total Other Expenses

rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets

0.81%

Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses

rr_AcquiredFundFeesAndExpensesOverAssets

0.01%

Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses

rr_ExpensesOverAssets

2.67%

^[1]

1 Year

rr_ExpenseExampleYear01

370

3 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleYear03

829

5 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleYear05

1,415

10 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleYear10

3,003

1 Year

rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear01

270

3 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear03

829

5 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear05

1,415

10 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear10

3,003

Label

rr_AverageAnnualReturnLabel

Return Before Taxes

1 Year

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01

(4.96%)

5 Years

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05

7.05%

Since Inception

rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception

12.07%

Inception Date

rr_AverageAnnualReturnInceptionDate

Apr. 21, 2009

Virtus Greater European Opportunities Fund | Class I

Risk/Return:

rr_RiskReturnAbstract

Registrant Name

dei_EntityRegistrantName

VGEIX

Maximum Sales Charge (load) Imposed on Purchases (as a percentage of offering price)

rr_MaximumSalesChargeImposedOnPurchasesOverOfferingPrice

none

Maximum Deferred Sales Charge (as a percentage)

rr_MaximumDeferredSalesChargeOverOther

none

Management Fees

rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets

0.85%

Distribution and Shareholder Servicing (12b-1) fees

rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets

none

Total Other Expenses

rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets

0.81%

Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses

rr_AcquiredFundFeesAndExpensesOverAssets

0.01%

Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses

rr_ExpensesOverAssets

1.67%

^[1]

1 Year

rr_ExpenseExampleYear01

170

3 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleYear03

526

5 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleYear05

907

10 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleYear10

1,976

1 Year

rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear01

170

3 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear03

526

5 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear05

907

10 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear10

1,976

Label

rr_AverageAnnualReturnLabel

Return Before Taxes

1 Year

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01

(4.05%)

5 Years

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05

8.10%

Since Inception

rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception

13.16%

Inception Date

rr_AverageAnnualReturnInceptionDate

Apr. 21, 2009

Virtus Greater European Opportunities Fund | Return After Taxes on Distributions | Class A

Risk/Return:

rr_RiskReturnAbstract

Label

rr_AverageAnnualReturnLabel

Return After Taxes on Distributions

1 Year

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01

(10.07%)

5 Years

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05

5.91%

Since Inception

rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception

10.95%

Inception Date

rr_AverageAnnualReturnInceptionDate

Apr. 21, 2009

Virtus Greater European Opportunities Fund | Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares | Class A

Risk/Return:

rr_RiskReturnAbstract

Label

rr_AverageAnnualReturnLabel

Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares

1 Year

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01

(5.06%)

5 Years

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05

5.54%

Since Inception

rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception

9.77%

Inception Date

rr_AverageAnnualReturnInceptionDate

Apr. 21, 2009

Virtus Greater European Opportunities Fund | MSCI Europe Index

Risk/Return:

rr_RiskReturnAbstract

Index No Deduction for Fees, Expenses, Taxes [Text]

rr_IndexNoDeductionForFeesExpensesTaxes

(reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)

Label

rr_AverageAnnualReturnLabel

MSCI Europe Index (net) (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)

1 Year

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01

(6.18%)

5 Years

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05

5.28%

Since Inception

rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception

12.47%

Inception Date

rr_AverageAnnualReturnInceptionDate

Apr. 21, 2009

[1] The Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses do not correlate to the ratio of expense to average net assets appearing in the Financial Highlights tables, which tables reflect only the operating expenses of the fund and do not include acquired fund fees and expenses.

[2] The deferred sales charge is imposed on Class C Shares redeemed during the first year only.