The EASIEST bus is the METRO BUS #4 or the METRO BUS #304. They both travel on the same road (Santa Monica Bl) and they go from Santa Monica through West Los Angeles, Century City, Beverly Hills, West Hollywood, Hollywood and eventually into downtown Los Angeles.
The #304 is faster as it stops at only major intersections (which is fine for you). The downside to these 2 buses is that you’ll have to walk over to Sunset Bl when you reach West Hollywood (a distance of 3 blocks but up a hill of sorts). You can take other buses that will drop you on Sunset Bl directly but that would require taking 2 buses from your starting point.
Of course, if that starting point is far from Santa Monica Bl (in Santa Monica) then you’ll need to take another bus.
Bus routes and schedules are at MTA.NET.
Enter starting and ending points in the upper right corner. Follow the directions adjacent to the place that you enter this info to be sure to enter your request properly.
Keep in mind that in the late evening the buses run less frequently. Be sure to take a schedule with you or take a taxi back to Santa Monica (which will probably run $30 or so).
you mean by car or by bus?
by bus take a 217 or 780 bus to Wilshire blvd then change to 720 bus to Santa Monica
car you could take Hollywood blvd to Highland to Wilshire to Santa Monica
I’d take Sunset or SM Blvd.
Metro Rapid 780 and then Metro Rapid 704.