After 7 nights in Istanbul, how to plan another week
 

I have started with going north to Edirne for 2 nights to take in the Ottoman Empire (its 240 km northwest of Istanbul!)
So therein lies the problem - going back to Istanbul and on to Bursa, also of Ottoman interest will take a whole day of travel - I can stop over in Istanbul for a night to break up the journey but its a hassle all that checking in etc only to leave the next morning for Bursa. However, to get to, probably, Izmir far in the south (to take in Ephesus )it seems the best way is to fly - BUT one needs to fly ex Istanbul - what a quandary!

Help!