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Label Element Value
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Document Type dei_DocumentType 485BPOS
Document Period End Date dei_DocumentPeriodEndDate Sep. 30, 2015
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. 27, 2016
Document Effective Date dei_DocumentEffectiveDate Jan. 28, 2016
Prospectus Date rr_ProspectusDate Jan. 28, 2016
Virtus Emerging Markets Equity Income Fund  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Risk/Return [Heading] rr_RiskReturnHeading
Virtus Emerging Markets Equity Income Fund
Objective [Heading] rr_ObjectiveHeading
Investment Objective
Objective, Primary [Text Block] rr_ObjectivePrimaryTextBlock
The fund has investment objectives of capital appreciation and income.
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 201 of the fund’s prospectus and “Alternative Purchase Arrangements” on page 105 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)
Fee Waiver or Reimbursement over Assets, Date of Termination rr_FeeWaiverOrReimbursementOverAssetsDateOfTermination January 31, 2017
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 72% of the average value of its portfolio.
Portfolio Turnover, Rate rr_PortfolioTurnoverRate 72.00%
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 expenses 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, that the fund’s operating expenses remain the same and that the expense reimbursement agreement remains in place for the contractual period. 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 offers investors exposure to emerging markets. The securities chosen for inclusion in the fund are those that, in the opinion of the subadviser, are high quality companies that pay above average dividends, have above average dividend growth potential, strong balance sheets and cash flow, and adhere to better corporate governance. Companies selected must have the financial strength to maintain and grow their dividend payout commitments. The subadviser's investment process is focused on identifying companies that have chosen to generate high levels of cash flow and to pay a high proportion of it to their shareholders. It is the belief of the subadviser that those companies offer the best opportunity for capital appreciation as well as superior income generation.
Under normal circumstances, the fund invests at least 80% of its assets in equity securities of issuers located in emerging markets countries; such issuers may be of any capitalization. The equity securities in which the fund invests include common stocks, preferred stocks and American Depositary Receipts (ADRs), Exchange-Traded Funds (ETFs) and Exchange-Traded Notes (ETNs). Emerging markets countries generally include every nation in the world except the U.S., Canada, Japan, Australia, New Zealand and most nations located in Western Europe. 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 “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(s), 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. In addition, you will also be subject to the risks associated with the principal investment strategies of any ETFs in which the fund invests. 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: 
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  • Depositary Receipts Risk.  The risk that investments in foreign companies through depositary receipts will expose the fund to the same risks as direct investment in securities of foreign issuers.
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  • 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.
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  • 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.
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  • Exchange-Traded Funds (ETFs) Risk.  The risk that the value of an ETF will be more volatile than the underlying portfolio of securities the ETF is designed to track, or that the costs to the fund of owning shares of the ETF will exceed those the fund would incur by investing in such securities directly.
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  • Exchange-Traded Notes (ETNs) Risk.  The risk that the value of an ETN will be more volatile than securities making up the index the ETN is designed to track, or that the costs to the fund of owning shares of the ETN will exceed those the fund would incur by investing in the underlying securities directly.
>
  • Foreign Investing Risk.  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, less regulated or liquid securities markets, or economic, political or other developments.
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  • 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.
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  • 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 changes in 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 changes in 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
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Best Quarter:
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Q2/2014:
​
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6.20%
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​
Worst Quarter:
​
​
Q3/2015:
​
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-16.83%
Performance Table Heading rr_PerformanceTableHeading
Average Annual Total Returns (for the periods ended 12/31/15)
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 Emerging Markets Index (net) is a free float-adjusted market capitalization-weighted index designed to measure equity market performance in the global emerging markets. The index 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 Emerging Markets Equity Income Fund | Class A  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Trading Symbol dei_TradingSymbol VEIAX
Maximum Sales Charge (load) Imposed on Purchases (as a percentage of offering price) rr_MaximumSalesChargeImposedOnPurchasesOverOfferingPrice 5.75%
Maximum Deferred Sales Charge (load) (as a percentage of the lesser of purchase price or redemption proceeds) rr_MaximumDeferredSalesChargeOverOther none
Management Fees rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets 1.05%
Distribution and Shareholder Servicing (12b-1) fees rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets 0.25%
Other Expenses rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets 0.46%
Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses rr_AcquiredFundFeesAndExpensesOverAssets 0.02%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses rr_ExpensesOverAssets 1.78% [1]
Less: Fee Waiver and/or Expense Reimbursement rr_FeeWaiverOrReimbursementOverAssets (0.01%) [2]
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Expense Reimbursement rr_NetExpensesOverAssets 1.77% [1],[2]
1 Year rr_ExpenseExampleYear01 $ 745
3 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear03 1,102
5 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear05 1,483
10 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear10 2,548
1 Year rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear01 745
3 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear03 1,102
5 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear05 1,483
10 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear10 $ 2,548
2013 rr_AnnualReturn2013 (6.24%)
2014 rr_AnnualReturn2014 (1.13%)
2015 rr_AnnualReturn2015 (18.51%)
Highest Quarterly Return, Label rr_HighestQuarterlyReturnLabel
Best Quarter:
Highest Quarterly Return, Date rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturnDate Jun. 30, 2014
Highest Quarterly Return rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturn 6.20%
Lowest Quarterly Return, Label rr_LowestQuarterlyReturnLabel
Worst Quarter:
Lowest Quarterly Return, Date rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturnDate Sep. 30, 2015
Lowest Quarterly Return rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturn (16.83%)
Label rr_AverageAnnualReturnLabel Return Before Taxes
1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 (23.19%)
Since Inception rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception (6.09%)
Inception Date rr_AverageAnnualReturnInceptionDate Sep. 05, 2012
Virtus Emerging Markets Equity Income Fund | Class C  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Trading Symbol dei_TradingSymbol VEICX
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 1.00% [3]
Management Fees rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets 1.05%
Distribution and Shareholder Servicing (12b-1) fees rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets 1.00%
Other Expenses rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets 0.46%
Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses rr_AcquiredFundFeesAndExpensesOverAssets 0.02%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses rr_ExpensesOverAssets 2.53% [1]
Less: Fee Waiver and/or Expense Reimbursement rr_FeeWaiverOrReimbursementOverAssets (0.01%) [2]
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Expense Reimbursement rr_NetExpensesOverAssets 2.52% [1],[2]
1 Year rr_ExpenseExampleYear01 $ 355
3 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear03 787
5 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear05 1,345
10 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear10 2,865
1 Year rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear01 255
3 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear03 787
5 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear05 1,345
10 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear10 $ 2,865
Label rr_AverageAnnualReturnLabel Return Before Taxes
1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 (19.08%)
Since Inception rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception (5.09%)
Inception Date rr_AverageAnnualReturnInceptionDate Sep. 05, 2012
Virtus Emerging Markets Equity Income Fund | Class I  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Trading Symbol dei_TradingSymbol VEIIX
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 1.05%
Distribution and Shareholder Servicing (12b-1) fees rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets none
Other Expenses rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets 0.46%
Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses rr_AcquiredFundFeesAndExpensesOverAssets 0.02%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses rr_ExpensesOverAssets 1.53% [1]
Less: Fee Waiver and/or Expense Reimbursement rr_FeeWaiverOrReimbursementOverAssets (0.01%) [2]
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Expense Reimbursement rr_NetExpensesOverAssets 1.52% [1],[2]
1 Year rr_ExpenseExampleYear01 $ 155
3 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear03 482
5 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear05 833
10 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear10 1,823
1 Year rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear01 155
3 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear03 482
5 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear05 833
10 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear10 $ 1,823
Label rr_AverageAnnualReturnLabel Return Before Taxes
1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 (18.20%)
Since Inception rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception (4.13%)
Inception Date rr_AverageAnnualReturnInceptionDate Sep. 05, 2012
Virtus Emerging Markets Equity Income Fund | Return After Taxes on Distributions | Class A  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Label rr_AverageAnnualReturnLabel Return After Taxes on Distributions
1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 (22.84%)
Since Inception rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception (6.09%)
Inception Date rr_AverageAnnualReturnInceptionDate Sep. 05, 2012
Virtus Emerging Markets Equity Income 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 (11.71%)
Since Inception rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception (3.85%)
Inception Date rr_AverageAnnualReturnInceptionDate Sep. 05, 2012
Virtus Emerging Markets Equity Income Fund | MSCI Emerging Markets Index (net)  
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 Emerging Markets Index (net) (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)
1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 (14.92%)
Since Inception rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception (2.65%)
Inception Date rr_AverageAnnualReturnInceptionDate Sep. 05, 2012
[1] The Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses do not correlate to the ratio of expenses 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 fund's investment adviser has contractually agreed to limit the fund's total operating expenses (excluding dividend and interest expenses, taxes, brokerage commissions, extraordinary expenses and acquired fund fees and expenses) so that such expenses do not exceed 1.75% for Class A Shares, 2.50% for Class C Shares and 1.50% for Class I Shares through January 31, 2017. Following the contractual period, the adviser may discontinue these expense reimbursement arrangements at any time. Under certain conditions, the adviser may recapture operating expenses reimbursed under these arrangements for a period of three years following the fiscal year in which such reimbursement occurred.
[3] The deferred sales charge is imposed on Class C Shares redeemed during the first year only.