It is about 11am on Sunday but at Notre Dame Cathedral, one of Paris' most iconic structures, a line of more than 50 people has formed outside the church entrance.

The Seine flanking it is still swollen, but at least the rubbish that had piled up after garbage workers went on strike before the Euro 2016 football tournament is gone.

What can be seen in the capital instead are the blues and greens of the French police and soldiers, many toting assault rifles, standing guard at street corners and key tourist sites or patrolling metro stations and the airport.

The city is one of stark contrasts - the festive, rowdy football fans draped in the colours of their country, watched by no-nonsense, stoic law enforcers; their songs and merry-making periodically drowned out by wailing sirens of passing ambulances or police cars.

Many had feared that France, which seemed to have had a run of bad luck, would be stretched beyond its limits when it opened its doors to 1.5 million tourists for the month-long Euro 2016.

Its fatigued security forces, already embattled by at least six terror attacks since last year, plus months of labour protests and migrant camp duty, were primed to deal with possibly more during this season.

As parliamentarians voted to extend the country's state of emergency - declared after the Nov 13 Paris terror attacks that killed 130 people last year - until the end of July, the authorities beefed up its law enforcement pool by roping in a record 90,000 police officers, soldiers and private security guards for the tournament.

But ill-timed floods and labour protests put a greater toll on the country's resources as it struggled to get itself ready for the world.

The Seine burst its banks in the worst flooding in Paris in 35 years, while the country faced fuel shortages, a crippled public transport network and uncollected rubbish after air, rail and garbage workers went on strike.

Despite all that, the French seem to be coping well. Wait staff in bars and cafes are surprisingly good-natured and relaxed, debunking the snooty service myth that has come to characterise them.

"We've been very busy and working harder during this time, but we need the tourists," said a hotel employee matter-of-factly.

Euro 2016 is important to France in many ways, not least of which is the economic benefit it will bring: €1.26 billion (S$2.4 billion) in revenues, 20,000 jobs created, and nearly 100,000 people employed.

Tourism in France, the world's most popular destination with 83 million visitors a year, was hit hard after the November terror attacks.The country has spared no effort in making sure its visitors are safe. Security is tight almost everywhere.

A mountain of discarded umbrellas lies next to a line of fans being patted down before being allowed to enter the biggest fan zone near the Eiffel Tower. Bags are scanned by security guards stationed at mall entrances. Armed police keep spectators in check outside stadiums while closing an eye to scalpers hawking €200 tickets.

The government spent nearly €2 million setting up CCTV surveillance cameras in fan zones, and months carrying out drills in various cities.

This investment has paid off, giving confidence to tourists like Mr Damien Wright, a 27-year-old teacher from Newcastle in Australia, who was standing outside the Parc des Princes stadium on Saturday night holding up an "I need tickets" sign.

"As you can see here, there's a lot of police presence. We feel quite safe," he said.

Singaporeans Jerlyn Lee, 21, Bryan Goh, 22, Mark Weng, 22, and Felicia Chua, 21, were also undeterred.

"When news broke about the fights among the football hooligans, we got a bit worried," said Mr Goh, a geography undergraduate at King's College London. "But we had already made travel plans."

The French themselves seem determined to lead their lives normally. At Le Petit Cambodge and Le Carillon, where a gunman shot and killed 15 patrons, trendy Parisians pack the sidewalks. There is no hint of the blood shed on that street just seven months ago.

Activist Manon Piazza, 22, of the Nuit Debout movement, which has occupied Paris' Republic Square since March 31 this year to protest against the labour reforms, said the authorities have been heavy-handed at times.

"They would come here and just throw people out when there were no violent protests," said the undergraduate. She does not think protesters like her are adding to the country's problems.

"We're just exercising our right to come together in specific places. But I do think Paris is one of the safest places to live in now because the authorities are so prevalent."