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 CA TAX-EXEMPT BOND FUND

Risk/Return:

rr_RiskReturnAbstract

Risk/Return [Heading]

rr_RiskReturnHeading

Virtus CA Tax-Exempt Bond Fund

Objective [Heading]

rr_ObjectiveHeading

Investment Objective

Objective, Primary [Text Block]

rr_ObjectivePrimaryTextBlock

The fund has investment objectives of obtaining a high level of current income exempt from California state and local income taxes, as well as federal income tax, consistent with the preservation of capital.

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 7% of the average value of its portfolio.

Portfolio Turnover, Rate

rr_PortfolioTurnoverRate

7.00%

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

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

The fund seeks current income free from federal and state income taxes by investing in municipal bonds issued in the state of California. The management team focuses on high quality California tax-exempt municipal bonds, gauging the value of a security by issue type, credit quality, and bond structure; however, the fund may invest up to 20% of its net assets in below investment grade tax-exempt municipal bonds. Below investment grade tax-exempt municipal bonds are considered high-yield/high-risk fixed income securities.

Under normal circumstances, as a matter of fundamental policy, the fund invests at least 80% of its assets in bonds, the income from which is exempt from California state income tax and federal income tax, and may invest 100% of its assets in such securities. The portion of the fund’s assets not invested in tax-exempt securities may be invested in taxable fixed income securities. Income from these investments may be subject to federal, state and local taxes.

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:

>

• Credit Risk.  The risk that the issuer of a security will fail to pay interest or principal in a timely manner, or that negative perceptions of the issuer’s ability to make such payments will cause the price of the security to decline.

>

• 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.

>

• High-Yield/High-Risk Fixed Income Securities (Junk Bond) Risk.  The risk that issuers of high-yield/high-risk securities in the fund’s portfolio will default, that the prices of such securities will be volatile, and that the securities will not be liquid.

>

• Interest Rate Risk.  The risk that when interest rates rise, the values of the fund’s debt securities, especially those with longer maturities, will fall.

>

• Long-Term Maturities/Durations Risk.  The risk of greater price fluctuations than would be associated with securities having shorter maturities or durations.

>

• 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.

>

• Municipal Bond Market Risk.  The risk that events negatively impacting a particular municipal security, or the municipal bond market in general, will cause the value of the fund’s shares to decrease, perhaps significantly.

>

• Tax-Exempt Securities Risk.  The risk that tax-exempt securities may not provide a higher after-tax return than taxable securities, or that the tax-exempt status of such securities may be lost or limited.

>

• Unrated Fixed Income Securities Risk.  The risk that the subadviser will be unable to accurately assess the quality of an unrated fixed income security, so that the fund invests in a security with greater risk than intended, or that the liquidity of unrated fixed income securities in which the fund invests will be hindered, making it difficult for the fund to sell them.

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 changes in the fund’s performance from year to year over a 10-year period. The table shows how the fund’s average annual returns compare to those of a broad-based securities market index and a more narrowly-based benchmark that reflects the market sectors in which the fund invests. 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 changes in the fund’s performance from year to year over a 10-year period. The table shows how the fund’s average annual returns compare to those of a broad-based securities market index and a more narrowly-based benchmark that reflects the market sectors in which the fund invests.

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 (includes returns of a predecessor fund)

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: Q3/2009: 8.13% Worst Quarter: Q4/2010: -4.63%

Performance Table Heading

rr_PerformanceTableHeading

Average Annual Total Returns (for the periods ended 12/31/14; includes returns of a predecessor fund)

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 Barclays U.S. Aggregate Bond Index measures the U.S. investment grade fixed rate bond market. The Barclays California Municipal Bond Index measures long term investment grade, tax-exempt and fixed rate bonds issued in California. The indexes are calculated on a total return basis. The indexes are 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 CA TAX-EXEMPT BOND FUND | Class A

Risk/Return:

rr_RiskReturnAbstract

Trading Symbol

dei_TradingSymbol

CTESX

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

rr_MaximumSalesChargeImposedOnPurchasesOverOfferingPrice

2.75%

Maximum Deferred Sales Charge (load) (as a percentage of the lesser of purchase price or redemption proceeds)

rr_MaximumDeferredSalesChargeOverOther

none

Management Fees

rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets

0.45%

Distribution and Shareholder Servicing (12b-1) fees

rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets

0.25%

Total Other Expenses

rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets

0.41%

Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses

rr_ExpensesOverAssets

1.11%

1 Year

rr_ExpenseExampleYear01

385

3 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleYear03

618

5 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleYear05

870

10 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleYear10

1,590

1 Year

rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear01

385

3 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear03

618

5 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear05

870

10 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear10

1,590

2005

rr_AnnualReturn2005

2.37%

2006

rr_AnnualReturn2006

4.16%

2007

rr_AnnualReturn2007

2.36%

2008

rr_AnnualReturn2008

(4.06%)

2009

rr_AnnualReturn2009

11.05%

2010

rr_AnnualReturn2010

1.63%

2011

rr_AnnualReturn2011

11.09%

2012

rr_AnnualReturn2012

8.45%

2013

rr_AnnualReturn2013

(2.84%)

2014

rr_AnnualReturn2014

10.25%

Highest Quarterly Return, Label

rr_HighestQuarterlyReturnLabel

Best Quarter:

Highest Quarterly Return, Date

rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturnDate

Sep. 30, 2009

Highest Quarterly Return

rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturn

8.13%

Lowest Quarterly Return, Label

rr_LowestQuarterlyReturnLabel

Worst Quarter:

Lowest Quarterly Return, Date

rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturnDate

Dec. 31, 2010

Lowest Quarterly Return

rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturn

(4.63%)

Label

rr_AverageAnnualReturnLabel

Return Before Taxes

1 Year

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01

7.22%

5 Years

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05

4.99%

10 Years

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10

4.02%

VIRTUS CA TAX-EXEMPT BOND FUND | Class I

Risk/Return:

rr_RiskReturnAbstract

Trading Symbol

dei_TradingSymbol

CTXEX

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

rr_MaximumSalesChargeImposedOnPurchasesOverOfferingPrice

none

Maximum Deferred Sales Charge (load) (as a percentage of the lesser of purchase price or redemption proceeds)

rr_MaximumDeferredSalesChargeOverOther

none

Management Fees

rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets

0.45%

Distribution and Shareholder Servicing (12b-1) fees

rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets

none

Total Other Expenses

rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets

0.41%

Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses

rr_ExpensesOverAssets

0.86%

1 Year

rr_ExpenseExampleYear01

88

3 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleYear03

274

5 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleYear05

477

10 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleYear10

1,061

1 Year

rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear01

88

3 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear03

274

5 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear05

477

10 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear10

1,061

Label

rr_AverageAnnualReturnLabel

Return Before Taxes

1 Year

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01

10.36%

5 Years

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05

5.81%

10 Years

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10

Since Inception

rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception

4.77%

Inception Date

rr_AverageAnnualReturnInceptionDate

Sep. 29, 2006

VIRTUS CA TAX-EXEMPT BOND FUND | Return After Taxes on Distributions | Class A

Risk/Return:

rr_RiskReturnAbstract

Label

rr_AverageAnnualReturnLabel

Return After Taxes on Distributions

1 Year

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01

6.42%

5 Years

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05

4.68%

10 Years

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10

3.82%

VIRTUS CA TAX-EXEMPT BOND FUND | After Taxes on Distributions and Sales | Class A

Risk/Return:

rr_RiskReturnAbstract

Label

rr_AverageAnnualReturnLabel

Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares

1 Year

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01

6.23%

5 Years

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05

4.71%

10 Years

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10

3.93%

VIRTUS CA TAX-EXEMPT BOND FUND | Barclays U.S. Aggregate Bond 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

Barclays U.S. Aggregate Bond Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)

1 Year

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01

5.97%

5 Years

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05

4.45%

10 Years

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10

4.71%

VIRTUS CA TAX-EXEMPT BOND FUND | Barclays U.S. Aggregate Bond Index | Class I

Risk/Return:

rr_RiskReturnAbstract

Label

rr_AverageAnnualReturnLabel

Barclays U.S. Aggregate Bond Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)

Since Inception

rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception

5.04%

Inception Date

rr_AverageAnnualReturnInceptionDate

Sep. 29, 2006

VIRTUS CA TAX-EXEMPT BOND FUND | Barclays California Municipal Bond 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

Barclays California Municipal Bond Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)

1 Year

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01

9.96%

5 Years

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05

6.20%

10 Years

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10

5.04%

VIRTUS CA TAX-EXEMPT BOND FUND | Barclays California Municipal Bond Index | Class I

Risk/Return:

rr_RiskReturnAbstract

Label

rr_AverageAnnualReturnLabel

Barclays California Municipal Bond Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)

Since Inception

rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception

5.13%

Inception Date

rr_AverageAnnualReturnInceptionDate

Sep. 29, 2006