David is the provincial capital and Panama's third-largest city, set in the hot lowland plain about 30 km south of Boquete. Most travellers pass through it on their way to the highlands without stopping; the city is not unattractive but does not offer much that the highland towns do not do better.
What you might do here: walk the central Parque Cervantes, eat in the food court at the Multiplaza Mall, or catch a baseball game at the Estadio Kenny Serracín — baseball is the local obsession and the David team is competitive in the national league. The Feria de San José de David in mid-March is one of the largest agricultural and cultural fairs in Central America, worth timing a visit around.
David's main role for visitors is logistical. It has the regional airport (Enrique Malek International) with flights to Panama City and San José, the main bus terminal for the entire region, and the largest supermarkets in the province for stocking up before heading into the mountains.