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Label Element Value
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Document Type dei_DocumentType 485BPOS
Document Period End Date dei_DocumentPeriodEndDate Sep. 30, 2016
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 Apr. 10, 2017
Document Effective Date dei_DocumentEffectiveDate Apr. 10, 2017
Prospectus Date rr_ProspectusDate Apr. 10, 2017
VIRTUS GLOBAL OPPORTUNITIES FUND  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Risk/Return [Heading] rr_RiskReturnHeading
Virtus Global Opportunities Fund
Objective [Heading] rr_ObjectiveHeading
Investment Objective
Objective, Primary [Text Block] rr_ObjectivePrimaryTextBlock
The fund has an investment objective of capital appreciation.
Expense [Heading] rr_ExpenseHeading
Fees and Expenses
Expense Narrative [Text Block] rr_ExpenseNarrativeTextBlock
The tables below illustrate all fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the fund. You may qualify for sales charge discounts in Class A Shares if you and your family invest, or agree to invest in the future, at least $50,000 in Virtus Funds. You may qualify for sales charge discounts in Class T Shares if you invest at least $250,000 in the fund. More information on these and other discounts is available: (i) from your financial advisor or other financial intermediary; (ii) under “Sales Charges” on page 209 of the fund’s prospectus; (iii) with respect to purchase of shares through specific intermediaries, in Appendix A to the fund’s prospectus, entitled “Intermediary Sales Charge Discounts and Waivers;” and (iv) under “Alternative Purchase Arrangements” on page 107 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 29% of the average value of its portfolio.
Portfolio Turnover, Rate rr_PortfolioTurnoverRate 29.00%
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 in Class A Shares if you and your family invest, or agree to invest in the future, at least $50,000 in Virtus Funds. You may qualify for sales charge discounts in Class T Shares if you invest at least $250,000 in the fund.
Other Expenses, New Fund, Based on Estimates [Text] rr_OtherExpensesNewFundBasedOnEstimates
Estimated for current fiscal year, as annualized.
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 provide investors with exposure to high-quality global companies. The securities selected for inclusion in the fund are those 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, the fund invests in equity securities or equity-linked instruments of issuers located throughout the world, including issuers in emerging markets countries and issuers in the United States. 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.
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. 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.

>      Growth Stocks Risk.  The risk that the fund's investments in growth stocks will be more volatile than investments in other types of stocks, or will perform differently from the market as a whole and from other types of stocks.

>      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.

>      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 issuers 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.
 
Performance for Class T Shares is not shown here as Class T Shares were not available prior to the date of this prospectus.
 
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. 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. 
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:
 ​ ​
Q2/2009:
 ​ ​
14.31%
 ​ ​
Worst Quarter:​
 ​ ​
Q4/2008:
 ​ ​
-20.92%
 ​ ​
Year to Date (3/31/17):​
 ​ ​
10.44%
 ​
Performance Table Heading rr_PerformanceTableHeading
Average Annual Total Returns (for the periods ended 12/31/16; 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 MSCI ACWI (net) is a free float-adjusted market capitalization-weighted index that measures equity performance of developed and emerging markets. The MSCI ACWI (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 GLOBAL OPPORTUNITIES FUND | Class A  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Trading Symbol dei_TradingSymbol NWWOX
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 0.85%
Distribution and Shareholder Servicing (12b-1) fees rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets 0.25%
Other Expenses rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets 0.37%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses rr_ExpensesOverAssets 1.47%
Expense Breakpoint, Minimum Investment Required [Amount] rr_ExpenseBreakpointMinimumInvestmentRequiredAmount $ 50,000
1 Year rr_ExpenseExampleYear01 716
3 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear03 1,013
5 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear05 1,332
10 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear10 2,231
1 Year rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear01 716
3 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear03 1,013
5 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear05 1,332
10 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear10 $ 2,231
2007 rr_AnnualReturn2007 8.55%
2008 rr_AnnualReturn2008 (43.05%)
2009 rr_AnnualReturn2009 17.03%
2010 rr_AnnualReturn2010 16.01%
2011 rr_AnnualReturn2011 5.37%
2012 rr_AnnualReturn2012 19.41%
2013 rr_AnnualReturn2013 15.94%
2014 rr_AnnualReturn2014 6.35%
2015 rr_AnnualReturn2015 4.54%
2016 rr_AnnualReturn2016 4.34%
Year to Date Return, Label rr_YearToDateReturnLabel Year to Date
Bar Chart, Year to Date Return, Date rr_BarChartYearToDateReturnDate Mar. 31, 2017
Bar Chart, Year to Date Return rr_BarChartYearToDateReturn 10.44%
Highest Quarterly Return, Label rr_HighestQuarterlyReturnLabel
Best Quarter:
Highest Quarterly Return, Date rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturnDate Jun. 30, 2009
Highest Quarterly Return rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturn 14.31%
Lowest Quarterly Return, Label rr_LowestQuarterlyReturnLabel
Worst Quarter:
Lowest Quarterly Return, Date rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturnDate Dec. 31, 2008
Lowest Quarterly Return rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturn (20.92%)
Label rr_AverageAnnualReturnLabel Return Before Taxes
1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 (1.66%)
5 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 8.64%
10 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 2.96%
VIRTUS GLOBAL OPPORTUNITIES FUND | Class C  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Trading Symbol dei_TradingSymbol WWOCX
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% [1]
Management Fees rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets 0.85%
Distribution and Shareholder Servicing (12b-1) fees rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets 1.00%
Other Expenses rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets 0.37%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses rr_ExpensesOverAssets 2.22%
1 Year rr_ExpenseExampleYear01 $ 325
3 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear03 694
5 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear05 1,190
10 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear10 2,554
1 Year rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear01 225
3 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear03 694
5 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear05 1,190
10 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear10 $ 2,554
Label rr_AverageAnnualReturnLabel Return Before Taxes
1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 3.59%
5 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 9.10%
10 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 2.80%
VIRTUS GLOBAL OPPORTUNITIES FUND | Class I  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Trading Symbol dei_TradingSymbol WWOIX
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 0.85%
Distribution and Shareholder Servicing (12b-1) fees rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets none
Other Expenses rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets 0.37%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses rr_ExpensesOverAssets 1.22%
1 Year rr_ExpenseExampleYear01 $ 124
3 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear03 387
5 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear05 670
10 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear10 1,477
1 Year rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear01 124
3 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear03 387
5 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear05 670
10 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear10 $ 1,477
Label rr_AverageAnnualReturnLabel Return Before Taxes
1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 4.61%
Since Inception rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception 9.19%
Inception Date rr_AverageAnnualReturnInceptionDate Aug. 08, 2012
VIRTUS GLOBAL OPPORTUNITIES FUND | Class T  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Trading Symbol dei_TradingSymbol WWOTX
Maximum Sales Charge (load) Imposed on Purchases (as a percentage of offering price) rr_MaximumSalesChargeImposedOnPurchasesOverOfferingPrice 2.50%
Maximum Deferred Sales Charge (load) (as a percentage of the lesser of purchase price or redemption proceeds) rr_MaximumDeferredSalesChargeOverOther none
Management Fees rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets 0.85%
Distribution and Shareholder Servicing (12b-1) fees rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets 0.25%
Other Expenses rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets 0.37% [2]
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses rr_ExpensesOverAssets 1.47%
Expense Breakpoint, Minimum Investment Required [Amount] rr_ExpenseBreakpointMinimumInvestmentRequiredAmount $ 250,000
1 Year rr_ExpenseExampleYear01 396
3 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear03 703
5 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear05 1,033
10 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear10 1,963
1 Year rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear01 396
3 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear03 703
5 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear05 1,033
10 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear10 $ 1,963
VIRTUS GLOBAL 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 (1.86%)
5 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 8.54%
10 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 2.80%
VIRTUS GLOBAL 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 (0.77%)
5 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 6.85%
10 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 2.45%
VIRTUS GLOBAL OPPORTUNITIES FUND | MSCI All Country World 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 All Country World Index (net) (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)
1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 7.86%
5 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 9.36%
10 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 3.56%
VIRTUS GLOBAL OPPORTUNITIES FUND | MSCI All Country World Index (net) | Class I  
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 All Country World Index (net) (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)
Since Inception rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception 8.48%
Inception Date rr_AverageAnnualReturnInceptionDate Aug. 08, 2012
[1] The deferred sales charge is imposed on Class C Shares redeemed during the first year only.
[2] Estimated for current fiscal year, as annualized.